Way Too Early Ryder Cup Roster Predictions: Team Europe

The 2025 Ryder Cup will have Team Europe take on Team U.S.A. at New York’s iconic Bethpage Black Golf Course. After leading them to victory in 2023 in Rome, Luke Donald will again be the European captain and look for a back-to-back win, while Keegan Bradley will be the captain on the U.S. side looking to make sure that doesn’t happen. After winning the last Ryder Cup in surprising fashion, Team Europe will look to repeat at Bethpage, but who will they roll out to do so? This is a way too early list of what the 2025 Europe Ryder Cup team will look like.

Automatic Qualifier:

1. Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy is currently ranked third in the official world golf rankings, the highest-ranked European player, and finished tied for ninth in the FedEx Cup. McIlroy is arguably the locker room leader for the European side. Despite another year without a major win, he continues to play extremely well and puts himself in the final groups week in, and week out. Being a long hitter, his game fits extremely well at Bethpage Black, and should have a strong showing in the 2025 Ryder Cup. McIlroy loves these events and famously cried walking off the course in 2021 after Europeans got dismantled in the last Ryder Cup on U.S. soil. Expect him to come into this event with extra motivation as he attempts to lead the team to a road victory. He is currently second in Ryder Cup points. McIlroy went 4-1-0 for four points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should automatically qualify for the team.

2. Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm is currently the 13th-ranked player in the official world golf rankings, the fifth-ranked European player, and finished first in the LIV standings. Rahm did not have the form we’re used to seeing him have in the 2024 majors. He did, however, have two wins and 11 top 10s in LIV events. That amazing and unique swing is still there, he just needs to regain the consistency that’s made him so great in recent years. It was Rahm’s first year at LIV and maybe that change brought extra distractions he wasn’t used to, but with a year of that experience under his belt, look for him to have a better 2025 major season. He is currently eighth in Ryder Cup points. Rahm went 2-0-2 for three points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should automatically qualify for the team.

3. Tyrrell Hatton

Tyrrell Hatton is currently ranked 20th in the official world golf rankings, the seventh-ranked European, and finished fourth in the LIV standings. Hatton has had an extremely steady 2024 season and most recently won on the DP World Tour. He also added seven top 10s and a win at LIV. He has an extremely fiery and entertaining demeanor, but his game is almost as consistent as it gets. He’ll pair well with a lot of players on the European team and played a couple of sessions with Jon Rahm in the last event, coming out with two points in those sessions. He is currently fifth in Ryder Cup points. Hatton went 3-0-1 for 3.5 points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should automatically qualify for the European side.

4. Ludvig Aberg

Ludvig Aberg is currently ranked fifth in the official world golf rankings, the second-highest European player, and finished 16th in the FedEx Cup. Aberg has been one of golf’s young, rising stars in the last couple of years. Some injury issues probably prevented him from meeting our extremely high expectations, but he still had some notable finishes this year, including finishing solo second at the Masters. Hopefully, he gets his body right during the offseason and he reaches his full potential in 2025. He currently has no Ryder Cup points, but that should change quickly once the season starts. Aberg went 2-2-0 for two points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should automatically qualify.

5. Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland is currently the eighth-ranked player in the official world golf rankings, the third-highest-ranked European, and finished tied for 12th in the FedEx Cup. Hovland had an incredible finish to the 2023 season, so expectations were high for him in 2024. Unfortunately, he had a very up-and-down year. In fact, he only cracked the top 20 once in his first seven events, tied for 19th being his best finish. After going through some swing corrections with various swing coaches, Hovland looked to find his form mid-season and he finished extremely well. He also was a huge part of the European win in Rome, being a spark in each session he played in. He currently has no Ryder Cup points, but that will certainly change once the PGA season starts back up. Hovland went 3-1-1 for 3.5 points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should automatically qualify for the European team.

6. Tommy Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood is currently ranked 10th in the official world golf rankings, the fourth highest European, and finished 20th in the FedEx Cup. Fleetwood’s game is just as consistent as it can get on tour. It’s extremely surprising that he hasn’t won on the PGA Tour or a major yet. An amazing ball striker and always shows up in big moments. He was the one who clinched the winning point for the Europeans in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. His teammates will certainly look his way for calmness amongst the hostile New York crowd. He is currently 10th on the Ryder Cup points list. Fleetwood went 3-1-0 for three points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should automatically qualify for the team, but will be an easy Captain’s Pick if he doesn’t.

Captain’s Picks:

7. Aaron Rai

Aaron Rai is currently ranked 21st in the official world golf rankings, the eighth-ranked European player, and finished tied for 23rd in the FedEx Cup. Rai probably had the best year of his career in 2024. He’s striking the ball extremely well and even picked up his first tour win this season. Hopefully, Rai’s game will continue to rise and he gets used to the big moments. He’ll need that mental fortitude to do well on away soil in an event like the Ryder Cup. It would be a dream come true for the 29-year-old journeyman to make the European Team. He is currently 21st in Ryder Cup points. Rai has not been on any Ryder Cup team yet and has the potential to automatically qualify, but should be heavily considered to make the team via Captain’s Pick.

8. Robert MacIntyre

Robert MacIntyre is currently the 16th-ranked player in the official world golf rankings, the sixth-ranked European, and finished tied for 17th in the FedEx Cup. MacIntyre has been truly finding his form in the last couple of years and picked up his first tour wins this year, one at the Canadian Open and one at the Scottish Open. He did well in his European Team debut at the 2023 Ryder Cup and will look to take that form to enemy territory in 2025. He is currently 19th in Ryder Cup points. MacIntyre went 2-0-1 for 2.5 points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and has the potential to automatically qualify, but will likely get the nod from Captain Donald via Captain’s Pick.

9. Shane Lowry

Shane Lowry is currently the 28th-ranked player in the official world golf rankings, the 10th-ranked European player, and finished tied for ninth in the FedEx Cup. If Rory McIlroy is the locker room leader for the Europeans, Lowry would likely be the vibes leader in the locker room. Even for McIlroy, it almost seems that Lowry calms him down with his demeanor and his lighthearted banter. He loves playing for the European Team and, even when he’s not playing in a session, he’ll be following one of his teammates cheering louder than anyone else. He and the rest of the team will definitely be hoping for a victory so Lowry can be the life of the victory celebration yet again. He is currently 20th in Ryder Cup points. Lowry went 1-1-1 for 1.5 points in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should be a shoo-in for a Captain’s Pick.

10. Rasmus Hojgaard

Rasmus Hojgaard is currently ranked 62nd ranked player in the official world golf rankings, the 19th ranked European, and is currently ranked fourth on the DP World Tour. Hojgaard has been one of the young up-and-comers on the DP World Tour and could be making his name known in America soon. The Europeans have been looking to introduce younger players to team events in order to maintain continued stability in the future. This was true in 2023 after many of the typical names on the team were seemingly aged out and they brought in some younger talent like Aberg and Rasmus’ twin brother Nicolai Hojgaard. Nicolai did not have the best showing at the 2023 Ryder Cup, so they may want to try their hand at the other Hojgaard. He is currently first in Ryder Cup points. Rasmus Hojgaard did not play in the 2023 Ryder Cup but should be considered for the team via Captain’s Pick.

11. Sepp Straka

Sepp Straka is currently ranked 32nd in the official world golf rankings, the 12th-ranked European, and finished tied for 27th in the FedEx Cup. Straka is another steady presence on tour and would be a steady presence in the European Locker room as well. Nothing seems to rattle him on the course and that is extremely valuable when playing as the visiting team in the Ryder Cup. His calm demeanor in pressure situations would be very welcome when things aren’t going right for the team and the crowd is getting rowdy. He is currently 74th in Ryder Cup points. Straka went 1-2-0 for one point in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should be considered for the team via Captain’s Pick.

12. Matt Fitzpatrick

Matt Fitzpatrick is currently ranked 30th in the official world golf rankings, the 11th-ranked European player, and finished 40th in the FedEx Cup. Fitzpatrick’s game can sometimes be very hot and cold. When it’s cold, it’s tough to watch, but when he’s on a heater, look out. He can absolutely crush the ball and that would be very valuable with a course like Bethpage. Hopefully, the offseason will allow him to find his form again and he can become a little more consistent, especially in big moments. He is 68th in Ryder Cup points currently. Fitzpatrick went 1-2-0 for one point in the 2023 Ryder Cup and should be in consideration for the European side via Captain’s pick.