Three things to look out for at this year’s Ryder Cup
USUA TODAY Sports’ Chris Bumbaca breaks down the three biggest storylines surrounding the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The Ryder Cup will feature 12 of the top American golfers competing against 12 of the best European golfers.
Keegan Bradley (USA) and Luke Donald (Europe) were tabbed as captains. The respective rosters were constructed through a combination of golfers making the team as automatic qualifiers, while others were chosen as captain’s picks.
Here’s how USA TODAY Sports ranks all 24 golfers ahead of the event, which starts Friday, Sept. 25:
Ryder Cup teams 2025: Ranking all 24 USA and Europe golfers
1. Scottie Scheffler, USA
- The world’s No. 1 golfer won two majors and six times overall this season, including his most recent start two weeks ago at the Procore Championship. He has 16 top-10 finishes in his last 19 starts. He’s atop these rankings until someone proves otherwise, despite mixed results in his previous two Ryder Cup appearances.
- Ryder Cup career record: 2-2-3
2. Rory McIlroy, Europe
- McIlroy scored a career-best four points in Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup triumph, won The Players Championship and completed the career grand slam at The Masters in 2025. He also seems to be rounding into form again ahead of his eighth straight Ryder Cup appearance after winning the Irish Open earlier this month.
- Ryder Cup career record: 16-13-4
3. Jon Rahm, Europe
- The two-time LIV Golf individual champion was undefeated two years ago at the Ryder Cup while teaming with Tyrrell Hatton. The two-time major winner had top-10 finishes at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open this year.
- Ryder Cup career record: 6-3-3
4. Tommy Fleetwood, Europe
- Fleetwood might be playing the best golf in the world outside of Scheffler after his breakthrough win at the Tour Championship. He’s also been one of Europe’s best Ryder Cup performers in his previous three appearances.
- Ryder Cup career record: 7-3-2
5. Bryson DeChambeau, USA
- DeChambeau earned one of six automatic qualifier spots despite only being able to get Ryder Cup points through his performances in the majors because of his LIV Golf affiliation. The 2024 U.S. Open champion went 2-0-1 in his last Ryder Cup appearance at Whistling Straits.
- Ryder Cup career record: 2-3-1
6. Xander Schauffele, USA
- Schauffele is ranked fourth in the world and finished 42nd in the FedEx Cup standings. He had three top-10 finishes in 2025.
- Ryder Cup career record: 4-4
7. Patrick Cantlay, USA
- Cantlay is ranked 22nd in the world and finished in a tie for second at the Tour Championship in August.
- Ryder Cup career record: 5-2-1
8. Justin Thomas, USA
- He won the RBC Heritage in April and is currently ranked fifth overall. He finished in a tie for seventh in the FedEx Cup.
- Ryder Cup career record: 7-4-2
9. Ludvig Åberg, Europe
- The 25-year-old has produced a strong outing in three of his final five starts, finishing in the top 10.
- Ryder Cup record: 2-2-0
10. Viktor Hovland, Europe
- Hovland won the Valspar Championship in March and finished third in the U.S. Open.
- Ryder Cup record: 3-4-3
11. Tyrrell Hatton, Europe
- The 33-year-old won $1.7 million in prize money for finishing first in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back in January.
- Ryder Cup career record: 5-4-2
12. Russell Henley, USA
- Henley is ranked third in the world and finished second in the FedEx Cup. He also won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
- Ryder Cup career record: First appearance
13. Matt Fitzpatrick, Europe
- He’s curated four top-10 finishes through his last six events this year.
- Ryder Cup career record: 1-7-0
14. Cameron Young, USA
- Young finished in the top 15 in his last five events after he didn’t make the cut at The Open Championship.
- Ryder Cup career record: First appearance
15. Robert MacIntyre, Europe
- The 29-year-old finished as the runner-up at the U.S. Open and the BMW Championship in 2025.
- Ryder Cup career record: 2-0-1
16. Justin Rose, Europe
- Rose is the oldest player in the field at age 45, making his seventh Ryder Cup appearance.
- Ryder Cup career record: 14-9-3
17. Ben Griffin, USA
- Griffin won the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans earlier this year.
- Ryder Cup career record: First appearance
18. Collin Morikawa, USA
- Morikawa is ranked eighth in the world despite finishing outside of the top 15 in his last six events.
- Ryder Cup career record: 4-3-1
19. J.J. Spaun, USA
- Spaun is ranked sixth in the world after winning the U.S. Open earlier in the year.
- Ryder Cup career record: First appearance
20. Sam Burns, USA
- Burns had three top-15 finishes in his last three events. He’s ranked 23rd in the world and finished in a tie for seventh in the FedEx Cup.
- Ryder Cup career record: 1-2-0
21. Shane Lowry, Europe
- He currently ranks No. 24 in the world and served as a runner-up in two events during the first half of 2025.
- Ryder Cup career record: 2-3-1
22. Harris English, USA
- English won the Farmers Insurance Open and was also a runner-up for the PGA Championship and The Open Championship this year.
- Ryder Cup career record: 1-2-0
23. Sepp Straka, Europe
- The No. 15-ranked golfer in the world had success this year, winning the Truist Championship and the American Express tournament
- Ryder Cup career record: 1-2-0
24. Rasmus Højgaard, Europe
- The 24-year-old is ranked No. 58 in the world and finished No. 85 in the FedEx Cup.
- Ryder Cup career record: First appearance
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