CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With the major championship season now at its halfway point, the Ryder Cup is just four months away. Neither the U.S. nor European teams are finalized, as captains Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley assess potential players before making their final selections.
While Bradley is still playing competitively and moving up the U.S. points list, Donald recently made the cut at the PGA Championship and then visited Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, which is the venue for the Ryder Cup from September 26-28.
“I’m going to have a quick look,” Donald stated.
The top six golfers in each team’s points standings will automatically qualify. Bradley and Donald will each add six captain’s picks to complete their twelve-man rosters.
Here is a current overview of the potential composition for each team.
U.S. team
Locks to make the team
Scottie Scheffler
The world No. 1 golfer recently secured his third major championship victory at the PGA Championship, returning to his dominant form. Scheffler will be seeking redemption after a challenging 0-2-2 record in the U.S. team`s 16 ½-11 ½ defeat at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome in 2023. His pairing with Brooks Koepka suffered a historic 9 & 7 loss to Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland, the largest margin of victory in an 18-hole Ryder Cup match, leaving Scheffler visibly emotional.
Scheffler`s driving distance and accuracy, combined with his elite iron play, should make him a formidable asset at Bethpage Black. He had a successful rookie appearance in 2021 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, another long course, finishing with a 2-0-1 record in the U.S. team`s commanding 19-9 victory.
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele won two major championships last year and is currently performing well after recovering from a rib injury earlier in the season. His two previous Ryder Cup showings have been contrasting: he went 3-1-0 at Whistling Straits but recorded a 1-3 record in Rome two years later. Despite this, he remains undeniably one of the world`s premier golfers.
Bryson DeChambeau
Few professional golfers drive the ball further than DeChambeau, who has consistently been in contention on the weekend in five of the last six major championships. He won his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina last year and was in the final pairing at the Masters in April. Furthermore, his putting skills are often underestimated.
After a tough 0-3 debut at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris, DeChambeau bounced back strongly with a 2-0-1 record at Whistling Straits. His exclusion from the 2023 team was likely a mistake. He is expected to be a fan favorite at Bethpage Black and will undoubtedly bring significant energy to the U.S. team room.
Justin Thomas
Thomas experienced a significant dip in form for two years but rebounded with a victory at the RBC Heritage on April 20th at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. While his performance at the Masters was subpar and he surprisingly missed the cut at the PGA Championship, he is likely to make the team provided his game doesn`t regress significantly.
Thomas is recognized as one of the U.S. team`s top performers in team formats, holding a 7-4-2 record across three previous appearances. His selection for the Rome event was somewhat controversial, resulting in a 1-2-1 record, although many other U.S. players also struggled that weekend.
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa`s Ryder Cup history mirrors Schauffele`s: a strong 3-0-1 showing at Whistling Straits followed by a 1-3 record at Marco Simone. The two-time major champion hasn`t won since the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023, but his current form suggests he is capable of securing a win or two before the Ryder Cup. Morikawa has rediscovered the ball-striking prowess that ranks him among the world`s best. Heading into last week, he was in the top five on tour for strokes gained: tee to green (1.373) and approach (.930). His game is highly adaptable and complements almost any potential playing partner on the roster.
Should be on the team
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay`s last victory on tour was the BMW Championship in August 2022. While he secured top-25 finishes in three of the four majors in 2024, he missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship this year.
Cantlay is a seasoned Ryder Cup participant and was one of the stronger performers for the U.S. in the last two events, with a 3-0-1 record at Whistling Straits and a 2-2 record in Rome. He faced criticism from European fans there due to the `hatgate` situation regarding potential player compensation but remained focused. His overall Ryder Cup record is 5-2-1, complemented by a 10-4 record in Presidents Cups. Captain Bradley is unlikely to overlook this level of experience and success.
Russell Henley
Henley is considered one of the world`s top iron players and an excellent putter when performing at his best. Although he isn`t among the longest hitters, the team composition doesn`t require every player to be a bomber. He earned his fifth PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 9th but subsequently missed the cut at the Masters and PGA Championship.
Henley had a solid 3-1 record at last year`s Presidents Cup in Montreal. He paired effectively with Scheffler, winning two of their three matches together, a partnership that could potentially be utilized at Bethpage Black.
In contention
Brooks Koepka
The five-time major champion hasn`t shown his best form outside of the LIV Golf League over the past two seasons, finishing outside the top 25 in his last seven major championship starts. However, he is one of the more experienced American players in the Ryder Cup with a 7-6-2 record. Crucially, he won the 2019 PGA Championship held at Bethpage Black Course.
Harris English
English claimed his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and performed strongly in the last two majors, tying for 12th at the Masters and finishing second at the PGA Championship. The 35-year-old possesses sufficient length off the tee and is recognized as one of the tour`s best putters. He had a 1-2-0 record as a Ryder Cup rookie in 2021.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth`s struggles last season can likely be attributed to a painful wrist injury that required surgery in August. Recent results indicate a return to form, including a tie for fourth at the WM Phoenix Open and 14th at the Masters. He missed the cut at Quail Hollow Club, where he was aiming to complete the career Grand Slam. While his performance in Rome wasn`t stellar, his career Ryder Cup record stands at 8-9-5. It`s difficult to envision Captain Bradley leaving this level of experience off the team.
Brian Harman
Harman secured his fourth tour win at the Valero Texas Open on April 6th. Some critics suggest Bethpage Black might be too challenging for him given its length, but he is one of the tour`s elite putters and has a strong history as a match-play specialist during his amateur career. The pairing of Homa and Harman was one of the few positive aspects for the U.S. team in Rome.
Maverick McNealy
The former Stanford standout earned his first PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic in November. This season, he has also achieved a runner-up finish at the Genesis Invitational and tied for third at both the Valero Texas Open and RBC Heritage. At 29, he would be a Ryder Cup newcomer but has valuable past experience from competing in the Arnold Palmer Cup and Walker Cup.
Keegan Bradley
Bradley has indicated he would only serve as a playing captain if he automatically qualified among the top six. However, if other American players don`t step up their performance, Bradley might feel compelled to select himself as a captain`s pick. The 38-year-old had six top-25 finishes in his first 11 starts this season before tying for eighth at the PGA Championship. This situation would be ironic, considering Bradley was a notably controversial omission by U.S. captain Zach Johnson in 2023.
Daniel Berger
Berger hasn`t won in over four years, having been sidelined for parts of two seasons due to a debilitating back injury. He has recently returned to contention on numerous leaderboards this year and was part of the victorious Ryder Cup team in 2021.
Max Homa
Homa`s form has been inconsistent for much of the past year, but he appears to be finding his stride again. He tied for 12th at the Masters and played better at the PGA Championship than his tie for 60th position suggests. He was the standout performer for the U.S. team in Rome, earning 3 ½ points with a 3-1-1 record. He also boasts a strong 5-2 record in two Presidents Cup appearances.
Other names to keep an eye on
- Andrew Novak
- Sam Burns
- J.J. Spaun
- Wyndham Clark
- Michael Kim
- Tony Finau
- Lucas Glover
- Denny McCarthy
- Ben Griffin
- J.T. Poston
- Davis Riley
European team
Locks to make the team
Rory McIlroy
While the Masters champion didn`t contend for a second consecutive major title last week at Quail Hollow, finishing tied for 47th (3-over), he has already had an exceptional season before May even ends. His victories at Pebble Beach and the Players Championship, along with his Masters triumph, place him comfortably at the top of Europe`s Ryder Cup standings.
Even without these wins, McIlroy`s position as the leader and top player on the European team is unquestioned. With a Ryder Cup record of 16-13-4, he stated earlier this year that winning an away Ryder Cup is among his primary career ambitions. He will have the opportunity to pursue this goal in New York this September.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm experienced a rollercoaster week at the PGA Championship. Despite a challenging finish, Rahm was not only in contention but held a share of the lead on the back nine of a major for the first time since his 2023 Masters victory. Although the outcome was disappointing, Rahm expressed renewed energy from being in the mix, remarking it had been a long time since he had that much enjoyment on the golf course.
Rahm deferred questions about his Ryder Cup selection to Captain Luke Donald (Rahm is currently 24th in the European standings), but there is virtually no doubt that Donald will include the three-time participant on his team when making the captain`s picks.
Should be on team
Ludvig Aberg
Ludvig Aberg`s inclusion on the European team in Rome was surprising only because the then-23-year-old was a newcomer. In hindsight, Captain Donald`s choice proved insightful and a precursor to Aberg`s rapid ascent. Aberg is now recognized as one of the world`s elite players. Despite a disappointing week at Quail Hollow and a recent dip in results, there are minimal concerns about his place on the team, especially as he has already secured a win this year.
Sepp Straka
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the week was Sepp Straka, who missed the cut at the PGA Championship after winning the Truist championship (his second PGA Tour victory of the year). Fatigue might have influenced his performance, as he has competed in 15 events this season. Despite now having missed the cut in two majors this season, Straka is almost certainly on the team given his high position in the standings (5th) and his successful participation in the previous Ryder Cup alongside Aberg.
Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry, a top-15 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, is not yet a guaranteed selection in May, primarily because Rahm and McIlroy occupy a distinct tier. The Irishman competed strongly at the Masters before a difficult Sunday and missed the cut at this year`s PGA Championship. However, Lowry`s overall game remains sharp, with four top-10 finishes this season and a second-place finish behind his friend McIlroy at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Their successful partnership at the Zurich Classic suggests they are likely candidates to be paired together at Bethpage.
Tyrrell Hatton
Although Tyrrell Hatton moved to LIV Golf, his performance has remained consistently high, propelling him to fourth place in the European Cup standings. At Marco Simone, Hatton was a formidable presence, achieving a 3-0-1 record in his matches, including a singles victory over Brian Harman. It would require significant negative developments for him to be left off the team.
Viktor Hovland
The past year has been intriguing for Viktor Hovland, who continues to grapple with his swing mechanics despite nearly winning last year`s PGA Championship and securing a PGA Tour victory at the Valspar Championship this season – remarkably, right after missing three consecutive cuts. Hovland`s inconsistent results place him 12th in the current standings, but similar to Aberg, his inclusion in the team wearing blue and gold come September is highly probable.
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood may not be the best player without a major win, but he is arguably the most consistent. He has not missed a cut all season and has three top-10 finishes while still pursuing his first PGA Tour victory. He is a top-15 player in the OWGR (7th on the Ryder Cup standings), and it would take a considerable downturn in form for him not to be on this team.
In contention
Justin Rose
Many believed Marco Simone might mark Justin Rose`s final Ryder Cup appearance. Think again. Not only did Rose nearly win the Masters, but he has also recorded three top-10 finishes this season and continues to play exceptionally well. Do not count him out.
Rasmus Hojgaard
The 24-year-old Rasmus Hojgaard holds an advantage having been on the team at a young age in the previous Ryder Cup, similar to Aberg. However, he has only one top-10 finish this season, achieved at the Zurich Classic partnering with his brother Nicolai. Nevertheless, the potential for his continued development through Ryder Cup participation, versus selecting an older, more experienced player, remains a consideration.
Robert MacIntyre
Robert MacIntyre shares a similar narrative, having debuted at the last Ryder Cup. Although some viewed him as a potential weak link on the European team in Rome, he performed admirably, finishing with a 2-0-1 record in his matches. He is currently ranked 15th in the standings.
Thomas Detry
Following his victory at the WM Phoenix Open this year, Thomas Detry entered the Ryder Cup conversation and has since climbed to 9th place in the European team standings. However, Detry`s results in the majors (two missed cuts) are not ideal, and he will likely need to improve his play over the next few months to convince Captain Donald to select him.
Other names to keep an eye on
- Aaron Rai
- Stephan Jaeger
- Nicolai Hojgaard
- Alex Noren
