Rory McIlroy
No explanation needed. The first name on the team sheet and the heartbeat of the European team.
Jon Rahm
Bringing the Spanish fire! Rahm is an incredible golfer and walks straight into the team, whether it’s on points or a captain’s pick.
Tyrrell Hatton
A great end to the 2024 DP World Tour season means he should have a good chance of qualifying. That said, I think he will be a captain’s pick regardless, and will likely play in the first pairing on Friday morning with Jon Rahm.
Viktor Hovland
The poster boy in Rome. Arguably the best player of 2023, and a real inspiration for the next generation of Ryder Cup players. His chip-in on the first hole on Friday morning in Rome was a real momentum shifter, and I think he’ll embrace the hostile environment of New York fans.
Ludvig Åberg
Arguably a generational talent. Åberg is on the rise and should play a crucial role in New York. Paired with Hovland, they are a force to be reckoned with. His driver is his superpower, and he can put opponents under immense pressure in the match-play format.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood needs another solid season. A win would secure his place on the team, and he’s a consistently reliable Ryder Cup player. The Ryder Cup seems to bring the best out of Tommy Fleetwood every year.
Matthew Fitzpatrick
A U.S. Open champion for a reason. Fitzpatrick has performed at the highest level consistently for a few years now and is one of the best putters in the world. He can be utilized by Luke Donald in many ways due to his short-game capabilities and ability to make a lot of birdies in the foursomes format.
Shane Lowry
The source of energy. He will bring the fire, like Rahm. The Ryder Cup means everything to him, and I’m sure he’ll find a way to silence the American fans. He’ll need to have a strong PGA Tour and DP World Tour season, but I’m certain he’ll do everything necessary, given it’s a Ryder Cup year, and he won’t want to miss out on that team.
Bob MacIntyre
A point of difference being a left-handed golfer. His rookie Ryder Cup in Rome was a great success, and he handled the pressure immensely. After a tough start to his PGA Tour career in 2024, he found his feet and ticked off two national opens in Canada and his homeland of Scotland. He is a fan favorite and will be carrying the hopes of Scotland around Bethpage Black with him.
Justin Rose
If Luke Donald needs some added experience in what is sure to be a cauldron of an atmosphere at Bethpage, the European captain may turn to one of his most trusted lieutenants to provide an element of calm amidst the chaos! Rose is a Ryder Cup legend and will be hard to leave out of an away Ryder Cup!
Rasmus Højgaard
We may see another brotherly pairing in the Ryder Cup! Rasmus had a great year in 2024, earning his PGA Tour card for next season. This will only help him prove to Donald that he is ready to compete with the best players in the world on the biggest stage. His career path has been steadily improving over the past few years in Europe, and the time is right for him to enter the Ryder Cup arena.
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
The risk that Luke Donald may take. Donald and his team are not afraid to select someone with limited experience, as shown in the selection of Ludvig Åberg in 2023. Neergaard-Petersen is a special talent who has just moved from the Challenge Tour to the DP World Tour. He is a winner, having triumphed three times on the Challenge Tour this season and topping the Road to Mallorca Rankings. He is a star for the future, and I don’t think that future is too far away! Donald has already shown an interest by selecting him for Continental Europe in the Team Cup in January. I believe this will be a stepping stone in Neergaard-Petersen’s career, and the golf world will soon begin to see the player Team Europe potentially has in their hands.
Other options:
Nicolai Højgaard
A strange season for Nicolai, but there were glimpses of brilliance. He has a great all-around game with very few weaknesses. Luke Donald backed him in 2023, and there is a chance he will again in 2025. However, he will need to be more consistent than he was last season to give Donald a reason to select him.
Aaron Rai
Aaron Rai is Mr. Consistent on the PGA Tour. He’s currently ranked among the top 25 players in the world and is an excellent all-around player, especially from tee to green, which can be relentless in match play. He has experience competing in America and will head into the 2025 season with hopes of qualifying in the top six of the Ryder Cup points standings.