Sometime shortly after 2pm today (Monday), the final half of the European side who’ll contest the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage in New York will be revealed, following on from the United States’ announcement last week.
Much to the disappointment of scribes like myself who routinely root for the story, Bradley opted not to pick himself, instead selecting Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young and Sam Burns to team up with Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Xander Schauffele, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.
This clears the path for Donald to have the final word.
Masters winner Rory McIlroy’s qualification was confirmed long ago, and Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Tyrrell Hatton had all joined him on the side prior to the final qualifying event last week where Rasmus Hojgaard leapfrogged Shane Lowry to take the sixth and automatic spot.
Rasmus wasn’t an official part of the European team in Rome back in 2023, but with twin brother Nicolai getting selected by Donald, Rasmus was there in an unofficial capacity so will at least have some idea of what to expect in New York, even if there’ll be a 180-degree shift in support.
But who is going to complete the European lineup? Here are our predictions.
Shane Lowry
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 2
Ryder Cup record: 2-3-1
Having been a captain’s pick for both the 2021 edition at Whistling Straits and the 2023 edition at Marco Simone, Lowry looked set to be an automatic qualifier for much of the season as he continued to produce exceptional golf on a consistent level on the PGA Tour. Had Rasmus Hojgaard qualified for the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship and Lowry not, then it’s more than likely that the Offaly man would’ve been the sixth automatic qualifier and the Dane waiting anxiously by his phone, but it’s the other way round.
His form over the past two months hasn’t mirrored that which he showed in the early season, but it’s hard to see him being left out now.
VERDICT: IN
Sepp Straka
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 1
Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0
Like Lowry, Straka’s early season form was excellent, winning twice on the PGA Tour, but he’s also gone off the boil a little since. Having withdrawn from the FedEx Cup’s BMW Championship for undisclosed family reasons, he returned at the Tour Championship and finished 30th out of 30. There are more important things than golf, so Straka’s inclusion will likely come down to matters off the course.
VERDICT: IN
Ludvig Aberg
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 1
Ryder Cup record: 2-2-0
Two years’ ago, the Swede played in a Ryder Cup before he’d even played in a major championship, and was impressive right out of the gate, teaming up with Viktor Hovland to take down Max Homa and Brian Harman in the opening foursomes match and then demolishing Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9&7 the following morning.
Now a two-time PGA Tour winner and serial Masters contender, he’s more deserving of his place than he was two years ago. An easy inclusion for the European skipper.
VERDICT: IN
Viktor Hovland
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 2
Ryder Cup record: 3-4-3
Entrusted to play all five matches by Pádraig Harrington on debut in 2021 and then again by Donald in 2023, Hovland will again be one of the cornerstones should Europe manage to secure an away victory for the first time since 2012.
His form during 2024 and the early part of 2025 would’ve been a concern for the European captain, but it’s been an upward trend over the past five months and he’ll be one of the players that the other 11 will be more than happy to be paired with. Another easy inclusion.
VERDICT: IN
Jon Rahm
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 3
Ryder Cup record: 6-3-3
Arguably the standout player from the last two Ryder Cups combined, Rahm was never not going to be part of the European side as long as the rules admitted it. What the future holds for LIV players is anybody’s guess, but it’s a competition he dearly loves and one that he’s excelled in.
In Rome, he won two and halved two of his four matches, but it arguably the two half-points that were more crucial as he holed a monster putt on the 18th to tie with Scheffler and Koepka in the day one fourballs, then won the 18th again to tie with Scheffler in Sunday singles.
He might not have won in 2025 on LIV, but he was by far the most consistent performer.
VERDICT: IN
Matt Fitzpatrick
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 3
Ryder Cup record: 1-7-0
Despite being a major winner and 10-time champion across both the DP World and PGA Tours, Fitzpatrick’s Ryder Cup record had been the stuff of nightmares before finally getting his first win alongside Rory McIlroy in the Friday fourball matches in Rome. It’s still not a good record, but sometimes records don’t tell the whole story, and Fitzpatrick’s recent form has been among the best of the European candidates and ranks 12th in the Data Golf Rankings.
His might be the spot that’s most in jeopardy, but statistics are hugely important for Donald and vice-captain Edoardo Molinari, so the strong current streak should be enough to get a favourable call.
VERDICT: IN
Marco Penge
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 0
Ryder Cup record: N/A
An excellent last six months has thrust the Englishman into contention, but, despite two DP World Tour victories, he probably needed to sustain his form over 18 months or so to push his way ahead of the likes of Lowry, Straka or Fitzpatrick in the reckoning.
2027 at Adare Manor is a distinct possibility if he reproduces similar form in the next two years.
VERDICT: OUT
Matt Wallace
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 0
Ryder Cup record: N/A
The 35-year-old was desperately unlucky not to get selected for 2018 at Le Golf National, and he’s consistently been in the conversation for picks ever since. His tearful reaction to missing out on victory at Crans-Sur-Sierre at the weekend means he probably thinks that only a win could’ve tipped the scales in his favour. We agree, but you can’t help but feel that the Ryder Cup could bring out the best in the Englishman.
Nicolai Hojgaard
Past Ryder Cup appearances: 1
Ryder Cup record: 0-2-1
Almost a perfect fit for the golf course at Bethpage Black, the other Hojgaard twin’s selection could easily be justified, but the truth is, he just hasn’t done enough to warrant a pick. Perhaps both Rasmus and Nicolai will be in the frame at Adare Manor, but it’s hard to see him getting the nod again this year after being the controversial last man in 2023 and only delivering a half-point from three matches.
VERDICT: OUT
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