CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With two major championships now completed, we are at the halfway point of the major season and just four months away from this year`s Ryder Cup. Neither the US nor the European team roster is finalized, as captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald continue to evaluate players before making their crucial selections.
While Bradley remains in strong playing form and is climbing the US standings, Donald followed up making the cut at the PGA Championship with a scouting visit on Monday to Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, the host venue for the Ryder Cup from September 26-28.
“I`m going to have a quick look,” Donald mentioned regarding his visit.
The top six golfers on each team`s points list will automatically secure a spot, with captains Bradley and Donald each making six additional captain`s picks.
Here is a look at the current situation for each team:
U.S. Team
Players Expected to Make the Team Automatically
Scottie Scheffler
The world`s top-ranked golfer claimed his third major championship victory at the PGA Championship and appears to be back to his dominant form. Scheffler will be aiming for redemption after his 0-2-2 record in the US team`s 16½-11½ defeat at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club near Rome in 2023. Notably, Scheffler and Brooks Koepka suffered the largest margin of defeat in an 18-hole match in Ryder Cup history, falling 9 & 7 to Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland, a loss that visibly upset Scheffler.
Scheffler`s driving length and accuracy, combined with his exceptional iron play, should be valuable assets at Bethpage Black. He performed well as a rookie in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, another long course, posting a 2-0-1 record in the US team`s decisive 19-9 victory.
Xander Schauffele
Schauffele won two major championships last year and is playing effectively again after recovering from a painful rib injury earlier this season. His two previous Ryder Cup experiences were vastly different: he went 3-1-0 at Whistling Straits but finished 1-3 in Rome two years later. Despite the mixed record, he is undoubtedly one of the world`s elite golfers.
Bryson DeChambeau
Perhaps no other professional golfer drives the ball farther than DeChambeau, who has been a contender over the weekend in five of the last six majors. He secured his second U.S. Open title at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina last year and was in the final pairing at the Masters in April. Furthermore, his putting ability is often underestimated.
Following a challenging 0-3 debut in the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris, DeChambeau rebounded with a 2-0-1 record at Whistling Straits. His exclusion from the 2023 team was likely a misstep. He is expected to be a fan favorite at Bethpage Black and will inject significant energy into the team room.
Justin Thomas
Thomas faced significant struggles with his game for two years but found his form to win the RBC Heritage on April 20 at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. His performance at the Masters and a missed cut at the PGA Championship were surprising dips, but he is expected to make the team if his game remains generally solid.
Thomas is among the US team`s strongest performers in team formats, holding a 7-4-2 record across three appearances. His selection for Rome was debated, and he finished with a 1-2-1 record there, though many US players struggled that weekend.
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa`s Ryder Cup history parallels Schauffele`s: a 3-0-1 record at Whistling Straits followed by a 1-3 showing 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 is capable of victories before the Ryder Cup. Morikawa is back to hitting the ball with the precision of a top player. Leading into last week, he ranked highly on tour in strokes gained: tee to green and approach. His game is adaptable and complements various potential playing partners.
Players Highly Likely to Be Selected
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay hasn`t won on tour since his victory at the BMW Championship in August 2022. He made the top 25 in three of the four majors in 2024 but missed the cut at both the Masters and PGA Championship this year.
Cantlay is an experienced Ryder Cup player and was one of 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 drew attention and criticism from European fans regarding the `hatgate` situation concerning player compensation. Despite this, Cantlay remained composed. He holds a 5-2-1 record in Ryder Cups and a strong 10-4 record in Presidents Cups. Captain Bradley is unlikely to overlook this level of experience and success.
Russell Henley
Henley is recognized as one of the world`s premier iron players and is an excellent putter when his game is sharp. Although he doesn`t hit the ball as far as some others, not every player needs to be a bomber. He earned his fifth PGA Tour win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 9 but subsequently missed the cut at the Masters and PGA Championship.
Henley performed well with a 3-1 record at last year`s Presidents Cup in Montreal. He partnered effectively with Scheffler, winning two of their three matches, suggesting they could form a successful pairing again at Bethpage Black.
Players in Contention
Brooks Koepka
The five-time major champion has not shown his best form outside the LIV Golf League over the past two seasons, finishing outside the top 25 in his last seven major starts. However, he possesses significant Ryder Cup experience with a 7-6-2 record and famously won the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black Course.
Harris English
English secured his fifth PGA Tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and played well in the last two majors, tying for 12th at the Masters and finishing second at the PGA Championship. The 35-year-old has sufficient length off the tee and is considered one of the tour`s top putters. He had a 1-2-0 record as a Ryder Cup rookie in 2021.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth`s struggles last season can likely be attributed to a painful wrist injury that required surgery in August. There have been signs of recovery, including a tie for fourth at the WM Phoenix Open and 14th at the Masters. He missed the cut at Quail Hollow Club, where he was attempting to complete the career Grand Slam. His performance in Rome wasn`t stellar, but he has an overall event record of 8-9-5. It`s hard to imagine Captain Bradley leaving his experience at home.
Brian Harman
Harman claimed his fourth tour victory at the Valero Texas Open on April 6. Some critics might argue that Bethpage Black is too challenging for his length, but he is an exceptional putter and was a match-play specialist as an amateur. The pairing of Homa and Harman was a rare positive 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 has also been 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 team experience on the Arnold Palmer Cup and Walker Cup squads.
Keegan Bradley
Bradley has stated that he would need to be among the six automatic qualifiers to serve as a playing captain. If other American players don`t step up their performance, Bradley might find himself compelled to use a captain`s pick on himself. The 38-year-old had six top-25 finishes in his initial 11 starts and tied for eighth at the PGA Championship. This situation carries some irony, given Bradley`s controversial omission by US captain Zach Johnson in 2023.
Daniel Berger
Berger hasn`t won in over four years after being sidelined by a severe back injury for parts of two seasons. He has been a presence on leaderboards again 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 appears to be making progress. He tied for 12th at the Masters and played better at the PGA Championship than his tie for 60th suggests. He was the top performer for the US team in Rome, earning 3½ points with a 3-1-1 record. He also boasts a 5-2 record in two Presidents Cups.
Other Names to Consider
- 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 Make the Team Automatically
Rory McIlroy
The Masters champion didn`t contend for a second consecutive major title last week, finishing tied for 47th (3-over), but he has already had an exceptional season, and it`s only May. McIlroy`s victories at Pebble Beach, the Players Championship, and the Masters have placed him comfortably atop Europe`s Ryder Cup standings.
Even without these wins, there`s no question that McIlroy is the leader and top player for the European team. McIlroy, who holds a 16-13-4 record in the event, stated earlier this year that winning an away Ryder Cup is a major remaining career goal. He will have his opportunity to achieve that in New York in September.
Jon Rahm
The PGA Championship was a notable week for Rahm. Despite a challenging finish, Rahm was not only in contention but held a share of the lead on the back nine of a major for the first time since his 2023 Masters victory. The outcome, though disappointing, re-energized Rahm, who commented that it had been a while since he enjoyed himself that much on a golf course.
Rahm deferred questions about his Ryder Cup selection to Captain Luke Donald (Rahm is currently 24th on the Euro Ryder Cup standings), but there is no doubt that Donald will include the three-time participant on his team via a captain`s pick.
Players Highly Likely to Be Selected
Ludvig Aberg
Aberg`s selection for the European team in Rome was surprising mainly due to the then-23-year-old`s lack of prior team experience. In hindsight, Donald`s choice proved astute and a precursor to Aberg`s rise. He is now a top-ranked player globally. Despite a disappointing week at Quail Hollow and a recent challenging stretch, there`s little concern about Aberg, who has already won once this year.
Sepp Straka
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the week was Straka, who, after winning the Truist Championship (his second PGA Tour win this year), missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Fatigue might have been a factor, as Straka has played 15 events this season. Despite two missed cuts in two majors this year, Straka is nearly guaranteed a spot given his high ranking (5th) and participation in the previous Ryder Cup.
Shane Lowry
A player ranked in the top 15 of the OWGR, Lowry isn`t an absolute lock in May simply because Rahm and McIlroy occupy a tier of their own. The Irishman competed at the Masters before a tough Sunday and missed the cut at this year`s PGA Championship. However, Lowry`s overall game remains strong – he has four top-10 finishes this season and was runner-up to his friend, McIlroy, at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Given their success as a team at the Zurich Classic, they are likely candidates for pairing at Bethpage.
Tyrrell Hatton
Hatton may have moved to LIV, but his play has remained remarkably consistent, positioning him as high as fourth on the European Cup standings. At Marco Simone, Hatton was a formidable player, earning a 3-0-1 record in his matches and defeating Brian Harman in Sunday singles. It would take significant adverse circumstances for him not to be on this team.
Viktor Hovland
Hovland`s journey over the past year has been intriguing, with apparent ongoing challenges with his swing, even though he nearly won last year`s PGA Championship and added a PGA Tour win at the Valspar Championship this season – notably, following three consecutive missed cuts. Hovland`s current volatility places him 12th in the standings, but like Aberg, there`s little doubt he will be competing in blue and gold this September.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood might not be the best player without a major victory, but he is arguably the most consistent. He has not missed a cut all season and has three top-10 finishes while still seeking his first PGA Tour win. He is a top-15 player in the OWGR (7th on the Ryder Cup standings), and his inclusion on the team seems highly probable.
Players in Contention
Justin Rose
Many assumed Marco Simone would likely be Rose`s final Ryder Cup appearance. Think again. Not only did Rose nearly win the Masters, he has recorded three top-10 finishes this season and continues to play remarkably well. Don`t count him out.
Rasmus Hojgaard
The 24-year-old Hojgaard benefits from having made the team at a young age previously, similar to Aberg. However, he has only one top-10 finish this season, which came at the Zurich Classic alongside his brother Nicolai. Nevertheless, the potential for him to further his career in the Ryder Cup outweighs opting for an older, more experienced player in Captain Donald`s considerations.
Robert MacIntyre
MacIntyre`s situation is similar, having debuted in the last Ryder Cup. Although considered by some to be the weakest link of the European team in Rome, he performed admirably with a 2-0-1 record in his matches. He currently ranks 15th in the standings.
Thomas Detry
After winning the WM Phoenix Open this year, Detry entered the Ryder Cup discussion and has climbed to ninth place on the European team standings. His performance in the majors (two missed cuts) is not ideal, however, and he will likely need to improve his results over the coming months to give Donald a compelling reason for selection.
Other Names to Consider
- Aaron Rai
- Stephan Jaeger
- Nicolai Hojgaard
- Alex Noren
