The 2025 Ryder Cup is less than two months away, and the U.S. Team is looking to take back the cup after losing to Team Europe in 2023 at Italy's Marco Simone Golf & Country Club by a score of 16.5-11.5. That result continued a trend, as the home team has taken the cup in five consecutive editions.
This year's version will be hosted at Bethpage Black on Long Island, New York -- host of the 2019 PGA Championship. Six Americans automatically qualify via the U.S. Team Rankings following the upcoming BMW Championship. Those spots are currently reserved for:
The other six selections are captain's picks and will be announced by team captain Keegan Bradley following the TOUR Championship. Golfers will not accumulate any Ryder Cup points following the BMW Championship, although results from the TOUR Championship may factor into Bradley's selections.
The United States team elected to go with four captain's picks in 2016 and 2018 before expanding the number to six in 2021, and historically, captains haven't deviated much from the Ryder Cup standings. Of the six selection in 2023, only Rickie Fowler (13th) and Justin Thomas (15th) ranked outside the top 12. Scheffler (14th) was the only one in 2021. In 2018, Tony Finau (15th) was the only golfer among the four selections who fell outside the top 12. And finally, Ryan Moore made the team despite being 20th in the standings following a late-season win and a playoff loss in the TOUR Championship.
U.S. Team Captain's Pick Candidates
Current Standing: 7th
Although Thomas is not a lock to make the cut sitting seventh in Ryder Cup points for the U.S. Team, he's as close to one as you can get. After missing the Presidents Cup team last year, Thomas responded by winning a Signature Event at Harbour Town and also notching three runner-up finishes. He hasn't had the best summer, but his 7-4-2 Ryder Cup record is tough to ignore.
Current Standing: 8th
Right behind Thomas on the points list is Morikawa, and since the U.S. went to six captain's picks in 2021, the top eight have made the team both times. When you consider Morikawa ranks seventh in the OWGR, I'd be surprised if he was left off the team. If it was up to me, as of now, I'd leave Morikawa at home. Since the beginning of April his only top-10 came in a non-Signature Event, and he missed the cut in both of his starts in July. Morikawa's continued struggles with his short game have really held him back. He is 17th in the FedExCup Standings, so he will have a couple more opportunities to get right.
Current Standing: 9th
It's difficult to imagine Griffin not being on this team considering how good of a season he has had, but some aren't sold due to his lack of experience. Nevertheless, Griffin has won twice this year -- one being a the team event -- and has eight top-15s across his last 10 starts. That includes a runner-up to Scheffler in a Signature Event and a pair of top-10s in majors. If that's not good enough to earn a selection, I'm not sure what is.
Current Standing: 10th
Bradley said he'd only be a playing captain if he qualified based on points, but he seemed to walk that back after winning the Travelers Championship in June. Since then, though, he hasn't finished better than T30 in four events, and when you factor that in with the depth on the U.S. side on top of his duties as the captain, I think it's advisable for Bradley to step aside. His iron play has been shaky this summer, and he's never been a great putter. There are too many question marks to warrant a pick.
Current Standing: 11th
McNealy sits 11th in points and looked to be in a pretty good spot after posting his fourth top-5 of the year at the Memorial. He hasn't been bad since then, but he hasn't done anything notable, either and has been bypassed by others who have gone on hot stretches that include wins. McNealy is in that tier of golfers you can make an argument for, but I think he has to at least contend at the BMW Championship to make the squad.
Current Standing: 12th / 13th
I'm pairing Novak and Harman together as I view them similarly -- both well on the outside looking in. Harman tied for second on the U.S. Team in points at Marco Simone, giving him the leg up among this duo, but neither has done enough to be strongly considered. Of course, all that could change with a BMW Championship win, which would narrowly jump either of them over DeChambeau in terms of Ryder Cup points.
Current Standing: 14th
If you rewind to the beginning of June, it would've been difficult to imagine Young making the U.S. Team. A hot summer has flipped the script, though, with Young posting back-to-back top-5s at the RBC Canadian Open and U.S. Open and later picking up his first Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship. If that wasn't enough, he posted a top-5 in the playoff opener. Young is a native New Yorker whose length and overall driving play make him a great course fit at Bethpage, and that all bodes well for his chances of getting selected.
Current Standing: 15th
Cantlay is one of those players that seems to have a lot of fans divided. On the one hand, he made each of the last two Ryder Cup teams and played well, recording five and a half points across eight sessions. On the other hand, he hasn't been a threat to win all season, and his last victory came three years ago. Despite the lack of top-tier finishes, Cantlay has had a fine season, having already locked up a spot in the TOUR Championship.
Current Standing: 16th
Burns' position on the points list and not winning this season makes it unlikely he will get picked, but I'll make my case for him as the 12th guy. He has experience having played on the last three U.S. Teams, went undefeated at the Presidents Cup last year and was the only player to give Viktor Hovland a loss at the 2023 Ryder Cup. There is no weakness in his game, he has a great combination of length and accuracy off the tee and would be the best putter on the squad. If he had won the playoff in Canada I think he'd be viewed much differently, although I don't think it should. If Burns posts a top-10 in the BMW Championship I would take him.
Current Standing: 21st
Currently outside the top 20 on the points list, Gotterup would be an unlikely pick. He has been a consistent player all season with 12 top-25s, but his recent stretch that included a win at the Genesis Scottish Open in which he bested Rory McIlroy in the final group and a solo third in The Open has put him firmly on the radar. As one of the longest drivers on Tour, Gotterup's distance makes him well-suited for Bethpage.
U.S. Team Captain's Pick Predictions
- Thomas
- Morikawa
- Griffin
- Young
- Cantlay
- Gotterup
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