Luke Donald has named six of Europe’s victorious 2023 Ryder Cup team as his captain’s picks to complete his line-up for this year’s contest in New York.
Europe’s six automatic qualifiers were confirmed after the Betfred British Masters on August 24, with Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Ramsus Hojgaard and Tyrrell Hatton all securing their places in Team Europe’s line-up.
Donald looks to lead Europe to just their fifth away victory in Ryder Cup history and a first since the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012, with the Englishman prioritising experience when finalising the rest of his roster heading to Bethpage Black – live from September 26-28 on Sky Sports Golf.
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Check out Team Europe’s six automatic qualifiers for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, live this September on Sky Sports Golf
Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick were the next five in the Ryder Cup qualification standings and have all been handed picks, two years on from featuring in Europe’s 16.5-11.5 success in Rome two years’ ago.
Two-time major champion Jon Rahm also returns for Team Europe and makes a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, leaving Donald with 11 of the same 12-man roster he had in 2023 as he chases back-to-back victories over the United States.
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Donald looks ahead to the Ryder Cup in New York and the challenge his side will face, describing the test of playing in an away Ryder Cup as ‘a different animal’
Hojgaard will be the only rookie in Donald’s side and replaces twin brother Nicolai Hojgaard in the European set-up, whereas Keegan Bradley has four debutants in Team USA’s line-up and only six players from their 2023 Ryder Cup squad.
“I feel amazingly proud of these guys and how well they have played,” Donald said. “Obviously a lot of continuity from Rome. It’s unusual to have so many people coming back but just shows how good these players are.
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“Even though we have a lot of continuity, this is a different animal, to play away in America. We understand how difficult that is. I’ve looked at it from very different angles to try and get us prepared for this amazing challenge ahead.”
Europe to take experience into away Ryder Cup
Rahm was Europe’s top scorer during the last Ryder Cup on American soil and finished unbeaten in Rome, with the Spaniard joining Legion XIII team-mate Hatton and Team USA’s Bryson DeChambeau as the three LIV Golf League members in the event.
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The best of the action from day three of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy, where Team Europe impressed
Straka is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season and returns after an impressive debut in 2023, despite struggling in the majors this season, while Lowry makes a third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance after only dropping out of the automatic places in the final week of the qualification campaign.
Åberg formed an unbeaten partnership with Hovland two years ago, including a record-breaking 9&7 win over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in the Saturday foursomes, with both back involved again and a potential pairing at Donald’s disposal.
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Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka were beaten 9&7 by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg in the Saturday foursomes at the Ryder Cup in Rome
Fitzpatrick was Donald’s final pick after an impressive summer, where he has registered top-eight finishes in five of his last seven starts, meaning eight of the European team have previous experience of playing in an away Ryder Cup.
“It [away Ryder Cup] is a different challenge,” Donald added. “Obviously having the chance to do it again doesn’t mean we’re going to do the same things we did in Rome. That’s about implementing new techniques.
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Shane Lowry received the first Ryder Cup captain’s pick from Donald
“I’ve really tried to look hard at exactly what this will require. I’m very aware that we have lost three of the last four away Ryder Cups by significant margins, and it’s a tough challenge. I’ve tried everything I can to give our team the best opportunity.”
Wallace suffers more Ryder Cup heartbreak
Matt Wallace finished 12th in the qualification standings and missed out on a captain’s pick, with the Englishman reduced to tears when discussing his Ryder Cup hopes after a tied-second finish at the Omega European Masters.
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Matt Wallace was reduced to tears after discussing his hopes of featuring for Team Europe, following a tied-second finish at the Omega European Masters
“I’ll never give up on the Ryder Cup – I just won’t,” Wallace said on Sunday, having previously missed out on a captain’s pick in 2018 – a year he won three times – and describing a European debut as his main goal for the season.
Marco Penge was a two-time winner on the DP World Tour this season and another name discussed as a potential captain’s pick, with Harry Hall’s run to the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship making him another contender for a rookie appearance.
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Donald named his six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup, electing to select many of his victorious 2023 team to complete the line-up for Bethpage Black
“I feel like I’ve done as much as I possibly can,” Penge said after his tied-eighth finish in Switzerland, having won the Danish Golf Championship two weeks earlier. “It’s just great to be in the conversation, to be honest.”
How can I watch the next Ryder Cup?
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There will be extended live coverage from every day of Ryder Cup week, starting on Monday September 22, with round-the-clock coverage then live from 9am on Friday September 26. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
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