Who Will And Won't Play in The 2025 Ryder Cup

The 2025 Ryder Cup is one of the most hotly-anticipated in years. Europe hold the trophy after their one-sided victory in Rome in 2023 and there is a real hope that Luke Donald’s team could enjoy their first victory on American soil since Medinah in 2012.

If it was needed, further motivation has been provided by US captain Keegan Bradley’s speech to the US Presidents Cup team last year, which was captured on the Netflix series Full Swing. He said: "We are gonna go to Bethpage to kick their f****** ass."

European golfers have enjoyed huge success on the PGA Tour thus far in 2025 and Bradley’s words will surely have them fired up.

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It is early days, but how are the teams shaping up? Things will change as the year progresses but we thought it might be fun to look at how things currently stand.

The top six players in each qualification table will automatically make the teams, with Bradley and Donald each having six captain’s picks.

So let’s start off the with US team...

1. Scottie Scheffler

It is hard to believe that Scheffler can possibly emulate the year he had in 2024 but he is the best player on the planet and will be a key man for Bradley.

Will he make it? Does night follow day.

2. Xander Schauffele

Won two majors last year as he moved up in class. But he has had some injury problems in the early part of 2024 and is playing catch-up.

Will he make it? Yes.

3. Bryson DeChambeau

US Open champion DeChambeau will be the man who orchestrates the New York fans - Bradley will be hoping that he repeats the astonishing form he showed at both the US Open and US PGA last season.

Will he make it? Oh yes!

4. Collin Morikawa

Without a recent victory but looking like a potential champion almost every time he plays. Fabulous iron player who is riding high in the putting stats this year. Could be a key player.

Will he make it? Yes.

5. Maverick McNealy

Has been accused of not being hungry enough. His talent has never been in doubt and he finally has a first PGA Tour win under his belt - could well be the surprise package.

Will he make it? Yes.

6. Patrick Cantlay 

The man with the sweetest swing on either side was at the centre of a row in Italy over his refusal to wear a team cap. Now that he is being paid there will be no repeat. But don’t expect him to be warmly embraced by Rory McIlroy.

Will he make it? Yes.

7. Russell Henley 

One of the most underrated players on the PGA Tour. Henley does everything well, collects top-10 finishes for fun and possesses a wonderful temperament. He would be an asset for Bradley.

Will he make it? Probably not.

8. Tony Finau 

A big hitter who has been a fixture in the top 30 in the world rankings, but he does not win as often as he should. Likely to make the team but won’t have Europe quaking in their boots.

Will he make it? Yes.

9. Brian Harman 

Former Open champion had a purple patch with the putter a couple of years ago but the left-hander is definitely not the player he was.

Will he make it? No.

10. Billy Horschel 

I am a big fan of BMW PGA champion Horschel. He has been through some tough times with his game but keeps bouncing back. A feisty character, he would be an asset but is likely to miss out.

Will he make it? No.

11. Harris English 

Riding high because of his win at the Farmers Insurance Open in January but I expect him to slide down the table pretty quickly.

Will he make it? No.

12. Justin Thomas 

Has been struggling for a couple of years but there have been some recent positive signs that he may be about to find his best form again and if he does he is a certainty to start.

Will he make it? Yes.

Here are other Americans who I believe will be there...

Jordan Spieth

Endured a poor 2024 as he battled with a wrist injury. Now fully fit again, Spieth is playing some fine golf and I expect him to win again soon and climb the rankings in double-quick time.

Sahith Theegala

Theegala is now a proven winner. A ferocious competitor, he is made for the Ryder Cup. Expect him to claim one of the automatic qualifying spots and to be a key member of the US team.

Akshay Bhatia

Speaking of ferocious competitors, Bhatia and Theegala could make a formidable fourball pairing. Bhatia has a technique that is all his own, but it works. And he has a wonderful short game.

Wyndham Clark

The 2023 US Open champion has stumbled of late and has admitted that he is low on confidence. All it takes is one good week to turn things around - and I believe he will.

This is how the American team could line up:

Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa, Maverick McNealy, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Sahith Theegala, Akshay Bhatia, Wyndham Clark.

And now the European team...

1. Rory McIlroy

The world number three has started the season strongly, winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He adores the Ryder Cup and is desperate to be part of a winning team at Bethpage.

Will he make it? Is the Pope a Catholic?

2. Tyrrell Hatton

Although plying his trade on the LIV Golf Tour, Hatton has taken full advantage of his opportunities to play on the DP World Tour, where he has demonstrated some spectacular form. A shoo-in for Donald.

Will he make it? With bells on.

3. Rasmus Hojgaard

Enjoyed a great DP World Tour season last year and is now competing on the PGA Tour. If ever there was a golfer who is made for that tour it is Hojgaard. I expect his process to continue

Will he make it? Yes.

4. Ludvig Aberg

Has finally secured his second PGA Tour title. The only surprise is that it took him so long to do so. He will win again this season - and don’t be surprised to see him land a major, A complete golfer in every way.

Will he make it? Yes.

5. Shane Lowry

Passionate Irishman who has said he would pay to play for Europe. Has already shown some sparkling form in the USA this year and is highly motivated to make the Europan team again.

Will he make it? Yes.

6. Thomas Detry

His win at the Phoenix Open was long overdue. The Belgian has been a very good player for a long time. He is a beautiful ball striker and I expect him to kick on now that he knows how to win.

Will he make it? Yes.

7. Niklas Norgaard

Like Hojgaard, Norgaard is taking his first steps on the PGA Tour, I expect him to make the grade but he may have to wait a couple of years before making his Ryder Cup debut.

Will he make it? Unlikely.

8. Matt Wallace

When he is good he is really good, but Wallace lacks consistency and I can’t help but feeling that he may want to make Donald’s team rather too badly. I believe he is going to come up short again.

Will he make it? No.

9. Laurie Canter

Canter is living the dream. Since returning to the DP World Tour he has already won twice and also produced a number of other good finishes. He is now in the top 50 in the world rankings and I expect that upward curve to continue.

Will he make it? Might well be the surprise package.

10. Paul Waring

Gained one of the PGA Tour cards on offer because of his play on the DP World Tour late last year but is struggling horribly in America and looks to be out of his depth. 

Will he make it? Not a chance.

11. John Parry

After regaining his DP World Tour card following a tremendous season on the Challenge Tour, Parry wasted no time in winning again. He is walking on air but it would be a huge surprise if he qualifies for the team.

Will he make it? No.

12. Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood may still be looking for his maiden PGA Tour win but he is one of the most consistent players on the planet - and the Ryder Cup brings out the best of him.

Will he make it? A European team without Fleetwood is unthinkable.

I believe that these Europeans will be there...

Robert MacIntyre

Everything changed for MacIntyre when he won the Canadian Open, following it up with a hugely emotional win at the Scottish Open. Made his Ryder Cup debut in Italy two years ago and will surely be at Bethpage.

Jon Rahm

Rory McIlroy has already said that a European Ryder Cup team without the Spaniard is unthinkable. Despite his world ranking, he remains one of the best players in the world and will be at Bethpage.

Nicolai Hojgaard

Made his debut in 2023 and has enjoyed steady progress on the PGA Tour, Like his twin brother, Rasmus, his game is made for America and I expect the Hojgaards to be the first twins to play in the Ryder Cup.

Viktor Hovland

Hovland has gone off the boil somewhat since winning the FedEx Cup in 2023. Bizarrely, he changed his swing and coach afterwards but has now gone back to what he knows best. However, the jury is still out.

Sepp Straka

The Austrian is an unassuming character. In an era of super-fit golfers, he remains something of a throwback to a bygone era. But make no mistake - he is a world-class competitor.

So this is how I expect the European team to look:

Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Hojgaard, Ludvig Aberg, Shane Lowry, Thomas Detry, Laurie Canter, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Jon Rahm, Nicolai Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland or Sepp Straka.

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