Although the next edition of the Ryder Cup is still over a year away, preparations for both Team USA and Team Europe are already in full swing.
The bi-annual event is taking on growing significance every time it is played and it now ranks comfortably as one of the best events in all of sport.
The 2025 edition of this famous competition is arguably set to be its biggest and best. Due to be held at the monstrously difficult Bethpage Black, Europe will head over to the states hoping to win for the first time on American soil since their famous comeback in 2012 at Medinah.
With the emergence of LIV Golf, the selections behind both teams has never been so controversial. Whilst the Americans have been happy to select players from the Saudi funded tour, the Europeans have been altogether much stricter.
Not allowing anybody who isn’t a full member on the European Tour, the 2023 event saw European stalwarts Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter all effectively banished from the team. The rules meant that proposed captain Henrik Stenson also had to make away for Luke Donald. Whilst the omissions of the aforementioned players wasn’t too much of a blow, the more recent defections of Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton is a much tougher pill to swallow.
Regardless of tour, both Rahm and Hatton easily rank amongst the twelve best players in Europe and it seems that a pathway to being included in the 2025 team is now open.
What are the new rule changes for Team Europe?
With the future of LIV unknown and the prospect of more top European stars breaking away from the DP World and PGA Tours, a new qualifying system to make the team has now been announced.
Previously there were two lists that players can qualify from, this was a world list, mainly aimed for those playing exclusively on the PGA Tour and a European list for those playing on the DP World Tour. The top three from each list would be automatically selected, with the captain then able to make six selections.
However for 2025, the two lists have been whittled down to one and the top six in the list will be automatically selected.
Depending on the level of the tournament, the value of points on offer will differ.
Tournament Category | Points Available |
Major Championships | 5,000 points |
2025 PGA TOUR Signature events / The Players / FedExCup Playoffs | 3,000 points |
DP World Tour Rolex Series events | 2,000 points |
2025 PGA TOUR regular FedExCup events | 2,000 points |
DP World Tour 'Back 9' events | 1,500 points |
DP World Tour 'Global Series' events | 1,000 points |
2025 PGA TOUR 'Opposite' events | 1,000 points |
The move automatically opens the door for Rahm and Hatton to qualify for the team due to the fact that the majors carry a huge weighting. Even if they can’t play on the DP World Tour, the fact that the majors count will help LIV players potentially make the team.
Do players still need to be affiliated with the DP World Tour
In short, yes. In order to play for Team Europe, a player must still be registered for the DP World Tour. Currently both Rahm and Hatton are still registered as DP World Tour members but in order for both to play in next year’s tournament, both will need to pay any fines that are due and also serve a suspension that has arisen from their defection.
Failure to meet this criteria will mean that any LIV members will not be eligible to play in one of golf’s signature events.
What about Team America?
The rules for Team America are a lot more relaxed and any American player regardless of what Tour they are affiliated towards is open for a captain’s pick.
Brooks Koepka was the only LIV representative from LIV who teed it up in 2023 and it’s hugely likely that both he and Bryson DeChambeau will play a role in 2025.
New USA captain Keegan Bradley has stated that he wants to select the very best players available and there are currently no restrictions that U.S. players need to overcome.
Who could feature in the European team in 2025?
Winning away in the Ryder Cup is becoming an increasingly difficult thing to do. Since the turn of the century Europe have won in America just twice and look to have it all to do at Bethpage Black in a year's time. Despite plenty of golf needing to be played, here are some of the European players you can expect to see in New York.
Locks
Rory McIlroy
Europe’s talisman, Rory McIlroy has stated on numerous occasions how much he loves the Ryder Cup. He was devastated when Europe were crushed in the 2021 event the last time America hosted the competition and he will arrive in New York with a massive point to prove.
Jon Rahm
Although Rahm has obstacles to overcome, if Rahm makes all of the selection criteria, he will be one of the first names on the European team sheet. A two time major winner, Rahm has won on LIV and is firmly in the race to become LIV’s best player of the year.
Rahm was scintillating in Europe’s victory back in 2023 and will hope to win the tournament for the first time on American soil.
Viktor Hovland
One of the stars of Team Europe back in 2023, 2024 has largely been one to forget for Viktor Hovland but there is no way he will be omitted from Luke Donald’s team in 2025.
Donald will be relying on Hovland to pick up some form but thankfully for both him and Hovland there is plenty of time for the Norwegian to find his form.
Ludvig Aberg
Luke Donald shocked the golfing world when he selected Ludvig Aberg for the 2023 European side. At that time Aberg had just turned professional but has long been regarded as a generational talent.
Keen to see how he fared, Aberg certainly showed that he belonged on the Ryder Cup stage and since Rome he has risen into one of the game’s major forces.
Set to be a major force for Europe for potentially decades, there will be high hopes that Aberg can help power the team to glory in New York.
Tommy Fleetwood
Although Tommy Fleetwood is yet to win on the PGA Tour, there are no doubts that he is one of the best players in Europe.
Fleetwood often saves his best for the Ryder Cup and over the years has been able to boast a fairly formidable record. By the time that the Ryder Cup rolls around, Donald will hope that Fleetwood has been able to make his breakthrough and finally becomes a PGA Tour winner.
Robert MacIntyre
Ever since playing really well in his Ryder Cup debut back in 2023, Robert MacIntyre’s career has gone from strength to strength. A winner on the PGA Tour thanks to his Canadian Open win, MacIntyre also achieved one of his career goals when winning the Scottish Open in front of his home fans.
A fierce competitor, MacIntyre was able to contribute 2.5 points in Rome and there could be even more to come from the Scot by the time the 2025 competition rolls around.
Nicolai Hojgaard
Another rookie from 2023, Nicolai Hojgaard has enjoyed a good debut season on the PGA Tour and has played well in the majors and several other PGA events.
Hugely talented, Hojgaard has long been pinned for being one of Europe’s greatest hopes and he should be a lock for many future Ryder Cups.
Who else could make the team?
For decades Europe have liked to sprinkle their young exciting talent with established stars and after playing well in Rome, Justin Rose will still have hopes of making the team in 2025. Reaching the end of his career, time is running out for Rose and although he isn’t likely to qualify automatically he could be a good option to make the team as a captain’s pick.
Many believed that Polish golfer Adrian Meronk was hugely unlucky not to have made the 2023 team and since the last Ryder Cup the talented Pole has joined the LIV ranks.
Like Hatton and Rahm, Meronk is still a member of the DP World Tour but will have work to do in convincing Luke Donald of his credentials. Yet to make a mark since moving to LIV he will hope for a much better 2024 to put his name in contention.Rasmus Hojgaard is the twin of Nicolai and contains just as much talent as his brother. Again, unlucky not to have made the 2023 team, Rasmus has been playing well this season and will hope to be a fully fledged PGA Tour member next season. Donald would love to call upon both Hojgaard’s for 2025 but Rasmus will need to ensure his golf remains consistent until then.
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
