CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With the major championship season now at its halfway point, the Ryder Cup is just four months away. The composition of both the US and European teams remains far from finalized, as captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald continue to assess players before making their crucial selections.
Captain Bradley continues to perform well on tour and rise in the US team standings. Meanwhile, Captain Donald made the cut at the PGA Championship and then visited Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, on Monday for a scouting trip. Bethpage Black is the venue for this year`s Ryder Cup, scheduled for September 26-28.
“I`m going to have a quick look,” Donald mentioned regarding his visit.
The top six players in each team`s points standings will automatically qualify for a spot. Captains Bradley and Donald will then each choose an additional six players as captain`s picks.
Here is a look at the current situation for each team:
U.S. Team
Players Expected to Qualify Automatically or Be Certain Picks
Scottie Scheffler
The world`s top-ranked golfer recently secured his third major championship title at the PGA Championship, returning to his dominant form. Scheffler will be aiming for a stronger performance after a 0-2-2 record in the US team`s 16.5-11.5 loss at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome in 2023. Notably, he and Brooks Koepka suffered the largest defeat in an 18-hole match in Ryder Cup history, losing 9 & 7 to Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland, a match that visibly affected Scheffler.
Scheffler`s exceptional driving distance and accuracy, along with his superior iron play, should be a significant advantage at Bethpage Black. He had a successful debut as a Ryder Cup rookie in the US team`s 19-9 victory in 2021 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, another long course, where he went 2-0-1.
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele won two major championships last year and is currently playing well, having recovered from a painful rib injury earlier in the season. His previous two Ryder Cup experiences were contrasting: a strong 3-1-0 record at Whistling Straits followed by 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 been a consistent contender in five of the last six major championships. He claimed his second U.S. Open title last year at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina and was in the final group at the Masters in April. Furthermore, his putting skills often go underestimated.
After a tough Ryder Cup debut in Paris in 2018 (0-3), DeChambeau bounced back with a 2-0-1 record at Whistling Straits. Omitting him from the 2023 team was arguably a misstep. He is expected to be a fan favorite at Bethpage Black and will bring significant energy to the team.
Justin Thomas
Thomas experienced a considerable dip in form for two years but rebounded by winning the RBC Heritage on April 20 in South Carolina. Although he didn`t perform well at the Masters and surprisingly missed the cut at the PGA Championship, he is likely to make the team if his game doesn`t decline significantly again.
Thomas is a proven performer in team events for the US, holding a 7-4-2 record over three appearances. His selection for Rome was debated, and he finished with a 1-2-1 record, though few other US players had better outcomes that weekend.
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa`s Ryder Cup history mirrors Schauffele`s, with a 3-0-1 record at Whistling Straits and 1-3 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 could secure a victory or two before the Ryder Cup. Morikawa is once again hitting the ball with the precision of a top player, ranking high in strokes gained: tee to green and approach. His game also complements that of many potential teammates.
Strong Contenders for Captain`s Picks or Automatic Spots
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay`s last win on tour was the BMW Championship in August 2022. In the 2024 majors, he finished in the top 25 three times but missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship this year.
Cantlay is a seasoned Ryder Cup player and performed well in the last two events, going 3-0-1 at Whistling Straits and 2-2 in Rome. In Rome, he faced criticism from European fans regarding the “hatgate” issue concerning player compensation. Despite this, Cantlay remained composed. His overall record in the Ryder Cup is 5-2-1, and 10-4 in Presidents Cups. Captain Bradley is unlikely to overlook this experience and track record of success.
Russell Henley
Henley is recognized as one of the world`s best iron players and a proficient putter when on form. While not a long hitter off the tee, not every player needs to be a `bomber`. He earned his fifth PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 9 but missed the cut at the subsequent Masters and PGA Championship.
Henley had a strong 3-1 record at last year`s Presidents Cup in Montreal. He partnered effectively with Scottie Scheffler, winning two out of three matches together, a pairing that could potentially work well at Bethpage Black.
Players In Contention for a Spot
Brooks Koepka
The five-time major champion has not performed strongly outside of the LIV Golf League circuit in the past two seasons, finishing outside the top 25 in his last seven major starts. However, he is one of the more experienced American Ryder Cup players with a 7-6-2 record. Notably, he won the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black Course, the site of this year`s event.
Harris English
English won his fifth PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and has shown solid play in the recent majors, tying for 12th at the Masters and finishing second at the PGA Championship. At 35, he possesses sufficient length off the tee and is considered one of the best putters on tour. He had a 1-2-0 record as a Ryder Cup rookie in 2021.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth`s inconsistent performance last season can partly be attributed to a painful wrist injury that required surgery in August. Recent results suggest he is close to regaining form, with a tied-fourth finish at the WM Phoenix Open and 14th at the Masters. He missed the cut at Quail Hollow while attempting to complete the career Grand Slam. Despite a less-than-ideal performance in Rome, his career Ryder Cup record stands at 8-9-5. It`s challenging to envision Captain Bradley leaving such an experienced player off the team.
Brian Harman
Harman secured his fourth tour victory at the Valero Texas Open on April 6. Some might argue that Bethpage Black is too long for his game, but he is an exceptional putter and demonstrated strong match-play skills as an amateur. The pairing of Homa and Harman was one of the few positives for the American side in Rome.
Maverick McNealy
The former Stanford standout earned his first PGA Tour win at the RSM Classic in November. This season, he has also been a runner-up at the Genesis Invitational and tied for third at the Valero Texas Open and RBC Heritage. The 29-year-old would be a Ryder Cup newcomer but has prior experience on the Arnold Palmer Cup and Walker Cup teams.
Keegan Bradley
Captain Bradley has indicated he would need to be among the top six automatic qualifiers to be a playing captain. 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 and recently tied for eighth at the PGA Championship. This situation would be ironic, as Bradley was controversially not selected by US captain Zach Johnson in 2023.
Daniel Berger
Berger has not won in over four years, having been sidelined by a severe back injury for parts of two seasons. However, he has been appearing on leaderboards more frequently this year and was part of the victorious Ryder Cup team in 2021.
Max Homa
Homa has struggled with his game for much of the past year, but seems to be finding his rhythm again. He tied for 12th at the Masters and played better at the PGA Championship than his tied-for-60th finish suggests. He was the top performer for the US team in Rome, earning 3.5 points with a 3-1-1 record. He also boasts a strong 5-2 record in two Presidents Cups.
Other Names to Watch
- 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
Players Expected to Qualify Automatically or Be Certain Picks
Rory McIlroy
Although the Masters champion didn`t contend for a second consecutive major this past week (finishing tied for 47th at the PGA Championship), he has already had a stellar season, and it`s only May. With victories at Pebble Beach, the Players Championship, and the Masters, McIlroy leads Europe`s Ryder Cup standings by a significant margin.
Even without these wins, McIlroy`s status as the team`s leader and best player is unquestionable. He has a Ryder Cup record of 16-13-4 and stated earlier this year that winning an away Ryder Cup is a key remaining career goal. He will have that opportunity in New York this September.
Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm experienced an eventful week at the PGA Championship. Despite a disappointing finish, he was not only in contention but shared the lead on the back nine of a major for the first time since his 2023 Masters win. Although the final result was disappointing, Rahm expressed renewed energy from being back in the mix, saying it was the most fun he`d had on a golf course in a while.
Rahm redirected questions about his Ryder Cup selection to Captain Luke Donald (he is currently 24th in the Euro standings), but there is no doubt that Donald will use one of his captain`s picks to include the three-time participant on the team.
Strong Contenders for Captain`s Picks or Automatic Spots
Ludvig Åberg
Ludvig Åberg`s selection for the European team in Rome surprised some primarily because the then-23-year-old was a rookie. Looking back, Captain Donald`s choice proved astute and a sign of Åberg`s potential. He is now one of the world`s top players. Despite a challenging week at the PGA Championship and a slight dip in results recently, there is little concern about Åberg, who has already won this year.
Sepp Straka
A potential surprise from the past week was Sepp Straka missing the cut at the PGA Championship, especially after winning the Truist Championship (his second tour win of the year). Fatigue, having played 15 events this season, might have affected his performance. Although he has now missed the cut in both majors this season, Straka is virtually guaranteed a spot given his position in the standings (5th) and his experience from the last Ryder Cup team.
Shane Lowry
Ranked among the top 15 in the OWGR, Shane Lowry isn`t a guaranteed lock in May only because Rahm and McIlroy are in a class by themselves. The Irishman competed at the Masters before a difficult Sunday and missed the cut at this year`s PGA Championship. However, Lowry`s overall play remains strong, with four top-10 finishes this season and a second-place finish behind his friend McIlroy at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Their success as a pairing at the Zurich Classic suggests they are likely to be teamed up at Bethpage.
Tyrrell Hatton
Tyrrell Hatton moved to LIV Golf, but his performance has remained consistent, placing him as high as fourth in the European Cup standings. At Marco Simone, Hatton was a key player, achieving a 3-0-1 record in his matches, including defeating Brian Harman in Sunday singles. A significant downturn in form would be required for him to miss this team.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland`s past year has been fascinating, marked by ongoing struggles with his swing, even as he came close to winning last year`s PGA Championship and secured a PGA Tour victory at the Valspar Championship this season (immediately following three consecutive missed cuts). Hovland`s inconsistent form places him 12th in the current standings, but like Åberg, there`s little doubt he will be part of the European team in September.
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood might not hold a major title, but he is arguably one of the most consistent players without one. He has not missed a cut all season and has recorded three top-10 finishes while still pursuing his first PGA Tour win. He is a top-15 player in the OWGR (7th in Ryder Cup standings), and it would take considerable poor form for him not to be on this team.
Players In Contention for a Spot
Justin Rose
Many believed Marco Simone would likely be Justin Rose`s final Ryder Cup appearance. Think again. Not only did Rose nearly win the Masters, but he has also achieved three top-10 finishes this season and continues to play remarkably well. Don`t rule him out.
Rasmus Hojgaard
The 24-year-old Rasmus Hojgaard has the advantage of having been on the previous team at a young age, similar to Åberg. However, he has only one top-10 finish this season, at the Zurich Classic alongside his brother Nicolai. Nevertheless, the potential benefit of adding another young player to strengthen the team`s future over selecting someone older and more experienced remains a factor.
Robert MacIntyre
Robert MacIntyre`s situation is similar, having debuted at the last Ryder Cup. Although he was perceived by some as a potential weak point of the European team in Rome, he performed very well, finishing with a 2-0-1 record in his matches. He is currently ranked 15th in the standings.
Thomas Detry
Winning the WM Phoenix Open this year propelled Thomas Detry into the Ryder Cup discussion, and he has 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 performance over the coming months to solidify his case for a captain`s pick from Donald.
Other Names to Watch
- Aaron Rai
- Stephan Jaeger
- Nicolai Hojgaard
- Alex Noren