CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The major championship season is now halfway over, bringing us closer to the Ryder Cup, which is just four months away. Neither the U.S. nor the European team is fully set, as captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald continue to evaluate potential players ahead of key decisions.
While Bradley is currently performing well and climbing the U.S. standings, Donald recently made a scouting trip to Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, the designated site for the event from September 26-28. Donald mentioned he was simply going to “have a quick look” at the course.
The top six players from each team`s points list will automatically qualify for their respective teams. Captains Bradley and Donald will then each make six additional captain`s choices to round out their rosters.
Here is a look at the current situation for both the U.S. and European teams:
U.S. Team
Locks to Make the Team
Scottie Scheffler: The top-ranked player in the world recently secured his third major title at the PGA Championship, showcasing his dominant form. Scheffler will likely be aiming for redemption after the U.S. team`s 16 ½-11 ½ loss in Rome in 2023, where he posted a 0-2-2 record. Notably, he and Brooks Koepka suffered a historic 9 & 7 defeat against Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland in an 18-hole match. Scheffler`s powerful and accurate driving, combined with his world-class iron play, should be a significant asset at Bethpage Black. In his Ryder Cup debut during the USA`s 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021 (another long course), he had a strong 2-0-1 record.
Xander Schauffele: Schauffele won two major championships last year and appears to be playing well again after recovering from a rib injury earlier this season. His two previous Ryder Cup appearances have been contrasting: a 3-1-0 record at Whistling Straits followed by a 1-3 record in Rome. Regardless, he remains one of the world`s elite golfers.
Bryson DeChambeau: Few players in professional golf hit the ball further off the tee than DeChambeau, who has been a strong contender in five of the last six major championships. He claimed his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst No. 2 last year and was in the final group at the Masters in April. His putting skills are also often underestimated. After a tough 0-3 debut in Paris in 2018, DeChambeau rebounded with a 2-0-1 performance at Whistling Straits. His exclusion from the 2023 team was debated, and he is expected to be a fan favorite at Bethpage Black, bringing significant energy to the team.
Justin Thomas: Thomas experienced a two-year slump but showed recovery by winning the RBC Heritage in April. Although he didn`t play well at the Masters and surprisingly missed the cut at the PGA Championship, he is likely to make the team provided his form stabilizes. Thomas is one of the U.S. team`s most effective players in team formats, holding a 7-4-2 record across three appearances. His selection for Rome was controversial, resulting in a 1-2-1 record, but many other U.S. players also struggled 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 winner hasn`t won since the Zozo Championship in October 2023 but is playing well enough to contend before the Ryder Cup. Morikawa is once again hitting the ball with the precision of a top player. Recently, he ranked high in strokes gained: tee to green and approach. His game style complements various potential partners on the team.
Should Be on the Team
Patrick Cantlay: Cantlay hasn`t won on the PGA Tour since the BMW Championship in August 2022. While he made the top 25 in three of four majors in 2024, he missed the cut at both the Masters and PGA Championship this year. Cantlay is an experienced Ryder Cup participant and was among the team`s better performers in the last two events, going 3-0-1 at Whistling Straits and 2-2 in Rome. In Rome, he attracted attention regarding the `hatgate` issue concerning player compensation but remained unfazed. With a 5-2-1 Ryder Cup record and a 10-4 Presidents Cup record, Captain Bradley is unlikely to overlook his experience and consistent success in team play.
Russell Henley: Henley is considered one of the world`s premier iron players and a capable putter when on form. Although he doesn`t hit the ball particularly long, distance isn`t everything at the Ryder Cup. He earned his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March but then missed the cut at the Masters and PGA Championship. Henley had a successful 3-1 record at last year`s Presidents Cup, partnering effectively with Scheffler to win two of their three matches, suggesting a potentially strong pairing again at Bethpage Black.
In Contention
Brooks Koepka: The five-time major winner hasn`t shown his best form outside the LIV Golf League recently, finishing outside the top 25 in his last seven major starts. However, he is one of the most experienced American Ryder Cup players with a 7-6-2 record and won the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.
Harris English: English won his fifth PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and performed well in the last two majors, finishing T12 at the Masters and second at the PGA Championship. At 35, he has sufficient length off the tee and is known as 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 struggles last season were partly attributed to a painful wrist injury requiring surgery. Recent signs suggest he is close to regaining form, with a T4 finish at the WM Phoenix Open and T14 at the Masters. He missed the cut at Quail Hollow while attempting the career Grand Slam and didn`t have his best outing in Rome (8-9-5 career record), but it`s difficult to imagine Bradley leaving his experience at home.
Brian Harman: Harman achieved his fourth tour victory at the Valero Texas Open in April. Some might argue Bethpage Black is too long for him, but he is an excellent putter and had a strong match-play record as an amateur. The pairing of Homa and Harman was one of the few positive highlights for the American team in Rome.
Maverick McNealy: The former Stanford standout earned his first PGA Tour win at the RSM Classic in November. This season, he`s also been a runner-up at the Genesis Invitational and finished T3 at both 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: Bradley has stated he would need to be among the automatic qualifiers to serve as a playing captain. If other American players don`t step up their game, Bradley might face the choice of picking himself. The 38-year-old had six top-25 finishes in his first eleven starts and recently finished T8 at the PGA Championship. This scenario would be notable, given Bradley`s controversial omission by U.S. captain Zach Johnson in 2023.
Daniel Berger: Berger hasn`t won in over four years, partly due to a significant back injury that sidelined him for parts of two seasons. He has been visible on leaderboards again this year and was part of the victorious Ryder Cup team in 2021.
Max Homa: Homa struggled with his game for much of the past year but seems to be finding form again. He tied for 12th at the Masters and played better at the PGA Championship than his T60 finish suggests. He was the top performer for the U.S. team in Rome, securing 3 ½ points with a 3-1-1 record, and holds a 5-2 record in two Presidents Cups.
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: Although the Masters champion didn`t follow up his Augusta win with a strong performance at the PGA Championship (T47), he has already had an outstanding season by May. Wins at Pebble Beach, The Players Championship, and the Masters place him significantly ahead atop Europe`s Ryder Cup standings. Beyond his wins, McIlroy is undeniably the leader and premier player of the European team, holding a 16-13-4 record in the event. He has expressed that winning an away Ryder Cup is a remaining career goal, and 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 in contention and even held a share of the lead on the back nine of a major for the first time since winning the Masters in 2023. Although he was disappointed with the outcome, Rahm felt re-energized by being in the mix, noting it was the most fun he`d had on a course in a while. While Rahm deferred questions about his Ryder Cup spot to Captain Luke Donald (he`s currently 24th in the Euro standings), there`s little doubt Donald will select the three-time participant for the team.
Should Be on Team
Ludvig Åberg: Åberg`s selection for the European team in Rome was surprising primarily because the then-23-year-old had never been on the team before. In hindsight, Donald`s choice proved insightful and a preview of his future success. Åberg is now a top global player. Despite a challenging week at Quail Hollow and a tough stretch of results recently, there`s little concern about Åberg`s form long-term, especially as he`s already won once this year.
Sepp Straka: Straka`s missed cut at the PGA Championship was unexpected, particularly after winning the Truist Championship (his second PGA Tour win of the year). Fatigue might have played a role, as he has already competed in 15 events this season. Despite two missed cuts in majors this year, Straka is almost certainly on the team, given his high standing (5th) and his previous appearance on the winning team.
Shane Lowry: Ranked within the top 15 of the OWGR, Lowry isn`t a guaranteed pick in May only because Rahm and McIlroy occupy a higher tier. The Irishman competed at the Masters but had a tough final round and missed the cut at this year`s PGA Championship. However, Lowry`s overall play remains solid, with four top-10 finishes this season and a runner-up finish to McIlroy at Pebble Beach. Their successful pairing at the Zurich Classic suggests they might team up again at Bethpage.
Tyrrell Hatton: Although Hatton has joined LIV, his performance has remained consistently strong, elevating him to fourth in the European Cup standings. At Marco Simone, Hatton was a standout player with a 3-0-1 record, including a singles win against Brian Harman. It would take significant negative developments for him not to be on the team.
Viktor Hovland: The past year has been fascinating for Hovland, who seems to struggle with his swing mechanics despite nearly winning last year`s PGA Championship and securing a PGA Tour win at the Valspar Championship this season (following three consecutive missed cuts). Hovland`s inconsistent results place him 12th in the current standings, but like Åberg, there`s very little doubt he will be representing Europe in September.
Tommy Fleetwood: Fleetwood might not be the best player without a major title, but he is arguably the most consistent. He has not missed a cut all season and boasts three top-10 finishes while still seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Ranked in the top 15 of the OWGR (7th in Ryder Cup standings), he is highly likely to make the team.
In Contention
Justin Rose: Many speculated that Marco Simone would be Rose`s final Ryder Cup appearance, but that seems unlikely now. Rose recently contended strongly at the Masters and has three top-10 finishes this season, demonstrating he is still playing remarkable golf. Do not count him out.
Rasmus Hojgaard: The 24-year-old Hojgaard benefited from being on the team at a young age in Rome, similar to Åberg. This season, however, he only has one top-10 finish, which came at the Zurich Classic with his brother Nicolai. The possibility of selecting a young player like Hojgaard to continue his development versus choosing an older, more experienced player remains a consideration for the captain.
Robert MacIntyre: MacIntyre is in a similar position, having debuted at the last Ryder Cup. Initially viewed by some as a potential weak link in Rome, he performed impressively with a 2-0-1 record. He is currently ranked 15th in the standings.
Thomas Detry: After winning the WM Phoenix Open this year, Detry entered the Ryder Cup discussion and has risen to 9th place in the European team standings. However, his results in majors (two missed cuts) have not been ideal. He will likely need to show improved form over the coming months to strengthen his case for a captain`s pick.
Other Names to Keep an Eye On
- Aaron Rai
- Stephan Jaeger
- Nicolai Hojgaard
- Alex Noren
