The 45th Ryder Cup is approaching, and it has all the makings of being an unforgettable spectacle. Bethpage Black in the heart of Long Island, New York, is a course of stature, with the crowd and atmosphere certain to be frenzied.
Keegan Bradley could have been a player, but the 39-year-old captain is sure to bring a renewed energy to the role as the United States attempts to secure a third successive success on home soil.
Returning as European captain is the calm and measured Luke Donald, who has made continuity a theme for his team after bringing back 11 of the 12 players who starred so brilliantly for him at Marco Simone in 2023.
These teams include 24 of the finest golfers on the planet, but who has the edge, and where are the likely weak spots?
We have decided to rank each of the competitors who will step into the gauntlet later this September.
24. Rasmus Hojgaard
The Dane succeeds twin brother Nicolai as the one change in Europe’s team from Rome. The 24-year-old produced impressive recent form to secure his place automatically on the side, but as the solitary rookie for Luke Donald’s visitors, he arguably faces a baptism of fire.
23. Sepp Straka
The American-based Austrian secured a pair of victories this past season and can lean on his experience of 2023 in Italy, but recent appearances have been sporadic and his results mixed to say the least.
22. Collin Morikawa
Making his third appearance, Morikawa has a credible record in the Ryder Cup, but his form of late has been uninspiring and he looks – on paper – to be a potential weak link for the Americans.
21. Cameron Young
Having finally secured his maiden victory on the PGA Tour, Young will be ready to embrace his Ryder Cup debut, but his limited experience of this format, aside from a sole Presidents Cup bow in 2022, leaves a question mark around him.
20. Ben Griffin
Twice a winner on the PGA Tour in 2025 with a pair of top ten finishes in the majors too, Griffin is a tremendous player and formidable competitor, but is also making his Ryder Cup debut and that may work against him.
19. Shane Lowry
Few players are more passionate and will embrace this stage to a greater degree than Lowry, who was a rare bright spark when Europe lost to the United States at Whistling Straits in 2021. That said, after a fine start to his 2025 campaign, the Irishman has been far from his best in the past few months.
18. Viktor Hovland
The amiable Norwegian was at the peak of his powers for the previous Ryder Cup in 2023, and his game of late has been enigmatic, sometimes brilliant, often mediocre, but he has found a greater degree of consistency recently.
17. J.J. Spaun
Reigning US Open champion, Spaun will be making his debut in the Ryder Cup and is sure to relish that opportunity, but there’s always a cloud hanging over rookies in this atmosphere until they experience it.
16. Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick’s Ryder Cup results have been chequered to put it mildly, but he has played consistent golf at a high level since the spring and will come to Long Island in good form. It’s about time for the Yorkshireman to hit his stride in this event.
15. Russell Henley
Whatever you think of the validity of the Official World Golf Ranking these days, Russell Henley sits fourth and that is not to be sniffed at. He’s there for a reason and the 36-year-old is someone who has the potential to have a blistering Ryder Cup debut, especially after showing his class in 2024’s Presidents Cup.
14. Justin Rose
The old man of the group and making his seventh Ryder Cup appearance, Rose should never be underestimated, and is always capable of a big performance as he showed at the Masters and in winning the FedEx St Jude Championship in August. Could be the captain in 2027.
13. Tyrrell Hatton
Despite not being able to earn points on LIV, Hatton qualified automatically, largely thanks to his victories at the Dunhill Links and Dubai Desert Classic. The Englishman remains one of the most capable players in either format and will be part of Europe’s core.
12. Ludvig Aberg
Some would argue that he hasn’t fully kicked on as we expected after his debut in 2023, and that might be true, but he still won on the PGA Tour this year and has had a solid season by any reasonable standard. Let’s see if the 25-year-old can build on what he did last time.
11. Harris English
Part of the winning side in 2021, English was runner-up in both the Open and PGA Championship this year, showing that he has the game for the big occasion. He’s a player who is easy to overlook, but is the sort who can be the reliable foundation for Keegan Bradley.
10. Bryson DeChambeau
It’s a third appearance for DeChambeau, who wasn’t part of Zach Johnson’s team in Rome, and the big-hitting American will carry a huge and vocal fanbase around Bethpage. He could either be devastatingly good or hopeless, but one senses that the former is more likely.
9. Sam Burns
This might be a surprise to see Burns rank so highly, but you can forget just how good a player the 29-year-old is. Call it a gut feeling more than a reasoned opinion, but the man from Louisiana – and close friend of Scottie Scheffler – could be a vital cog for the United States.
8. Justin Thomas
The most experienced Ryder Cup player in the American side, Thomas is someone who loves the environment, and his 7-4-2 individual record is more than satisfactory. The two-time major winner could be an on-course leader for the Americans.
7. Patrick Cantlay
Controversy followed Cantlay around Italy back in 2023, but he was one of the most successful American players in both that edition and 2021 and showed encouraging form during the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The 33-year-old is a tough man to beat.
6. Robert MacIntyre
The Scot is fearless and was a sensation on his debut in Italy. He’s also a far more accomplished golfer now having won on both sides of the Atlantic and came close to winning the US Open in June. Has the game but must ensure that the raucous home crowd doesn’t get into his head.
5. Xander Schauffele
Former Open and PGA champion Schauffele is set to make a third Ryder Cup appearance and has struggled to find his absolute best form since injury. But his game has been closer than you perhaps expect and maybe this will be the stage to rekindle his peak level.
4. Jon Rahm
The Spaniard loves the Ryder Cup and despite his move over to LIV Golf, there was no way that the two-time major champion was going to miss this. Following in the footsteps of giants, a big Rahm performance in America would go a long way to etching legendary status of his own in this event.
3. Tommy Fleetwood
Everyone was thrilled to see the Englishman finally enjoy his breakthrough on the PGA Tour at the Tour Championship, there is no more popular player, and he has become a Ryder Cup stalwart since his spectacular debut at Le Golf National in 2018. Fleetwood will be an essential weapon for Donald over the three days.
2. Rory McIlroy
Yes, McIlroy perhaps lost a degree of spark in the aftermath of his dramatic and long-awaited Masters triumph in April, but the career-Grand Slam winner will be invigorated by the Ryder Cup experience once more and shall relish the chance to be a leader on the course who may inspire those around him to secure a rare away success for Europe.
1. Scottie Scheffler
It had to be the world number one because no one since Tiger Woods has looked more inevitable on the golf course. Even when Scheffler doesn’t win, you’re left with the notion that he probably could have done. But like the great Woods in his day, the 29-year-old will feel like he has more to offer in this event.
Another home victory for the United States of America will start with Scottie Scheffler.
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