Looking at the European Players Picked for the 2025 Ryder Cup

Luke Donald has just announced his picks for Team Europe for the 2025 Ryder Cup. As expected, his picks this year are pretty similar to the lineup made two years ago for the tournament in Rome. Considering how easily his team was able to make it to victory last time, it makes sense that he would make the same picks. Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Rose earned their spot before Donald selected Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg, and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Højgaard, the only new player, will actually be switching places with his twin brother, Nicolai Højgaard, who played in the 2023 tournament. Back then, Nicolai fared well but didn’t make any big wins or impact in the game. By the end of the tournament, he was ranked eighth in overall points with no wins in any of his three matches. Hopefully, his brother has better chances in the upcoming tournament. 

Another notable player chosen was McIlroy, who has had a successful year so far. Two years ago in Rome, he was the top scorer on the European team. This year, he was the first player to automatically qualify. So, it’s safe to say that all eyes will be on him and whether or not he replicates the performance. 

Keegan Bradley, captain of the American team, chose his team as well with a few of the same players as before. His captain's picks were Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and Cameron Young, all of whom played well in the 2023 tournament. Under the leadership of Zach Johnson, the American team lost in all four foursomes for the first time in Ryder Cup history. Morikawa led the pack, scoring the most points the whole day, while Scottie Scheffler followed close behind.

The Europeans have been victorious in the last thirty Ryder Cups, and it seems to be a hard streak to beat. However, Bradley may surprise everyone. Both team captains have their heads in the game. Many players will be thinking back to their 2023 performance as they hit the field. Can Bradley’s team hold their own against the Ryder Cup champions? Will Europe be able to hold its title? This year seems to be anyone’s game.