Europe’s Ryder Cup hopefuls discovered their fate as Luke Donald revealed his captain’s picks for Bethpage Black.
With United States counterpart Keegan Bradley electing not to pick himself in a strong home side last week, Donald set about confirming his selection as Europe bid to retain the Cup with a rare success on American soil in September. Having led the team to an excellent performance two years ago, the Englishman kept faith in most of those who played in Rome - with the core of his team intact with Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose among his six automatic qualifiers.
With no restriction on selecting players from LIV Golf, Jon Rahm retained his spot, while Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland will reunite in New York. Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka and Matt Fitzpatrick were the other captain’s picks as the big-hitting Marco Penge, Cornwall’s Harry Hall and Matt Wallace all missed out.
Follow all of the latest reaction after Donald revealed his six wildcards with our live blog below:
Ryder Cup 2025 - Luke Donald set to confirm Team Europe captain's picks
- Luke Donald is unveiling Europe's six captain's picks for the Ryder Cup | Live on Sky Sports
- Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka are the first three captain's pick for Team Europe
- Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick round off the six captain's picks
- Full Team Europe confirmed with one change from win in Rome
- How Keegan Bradley’s selfless captaincy call shows a new US attitude to the Ryder Cup
Donald names his Ryder Cup captain's picks
15:00 , Lawrence OstlereEuropean Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has named Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick and Sepp Straka as his selections to complete the team which will defend the trophy in the United States later this month.
It means 11 of the victorious side in Rome will reassemble at Bethpage in New York with Rasmus Hoijgaard replacing his twin Nicolai as the only change.
Full story:
Luke Donald completes Europe Ryder Cup team with only one change from Rome
Europe name Ryder Cup team
16:37 , Lawrence OstlereThat’s all from today’s Ryder Cup coverage, thanks for joining us. Stick around on the website for more reaction to today’s announcement shortly.
Donald hails Rahm as a team leader
15:44 , Lawrence OstlereFive of Donald's wildcard picks were the players next in line on the points list, with Spain's Rahm – who competes on the LIV Golf circuit – also included as the captain's second pick, to make his fourth Ryder Cup appearance.
"Jon sets the standard for us. He is meticulous with what he does," Donald said.
"He is first up and last out of the team room. He understands the history of the Ryder Cup and what it represents, following in the footsteps of some amazing Spanish players."
Player guide to Team Europe
15:12 , Lawrence OstlereEurope’s confidence grows behind stalwarts Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood with Luke Donald confirming his six captain’s picks for Bethpage Black. Here’s a player-by-player guide:
Ryder Cup 2025: Europe team confirmed after Luke Donald makes wildcard picks
'It's quite nice to have the FedEx Cup champion in your team'
14:52 , Lawrence OstlereDonald excited about form players Rose and Fleetwood:
Luke Donald discusses the recent form of Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood 🏆 pic.twitter.com/iV7LLxEcif
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 1, 2025
Team Europe for 2025 Ryder Cup
14:44 , Lawrence OstlereHere they are in visual form:
Ready to go 👊#TeamEurope is set. The countdown to Bethpage begins. pic.twitter.com/90LVzQ0uhF
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 1, 2025
Hojgaard to make Ryder Cup debut
14:37 , Lawrence OstlereHojgaard is indeed the only Ryder Cup rookie, having automatically qualified along with McIlroy, Fleetwood, MacIntyre, Rose and Hatton.
Team Europe for 2025 Ryder Cup
14:30 , Lawrence OstlereJust one change from the team which won so convincingly in Rome, then, as Rasmus Hojgaard replaces his twin brother Nicolai. It is essentially the same team, genetically speaking.
- Rory McIlroy
- Bob MacIntyre
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Justin Rose
- Rasmus Hojgaard
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Shane Lowry
- Jon Rahm
- Sepp Straka
- Viktor Hovland
- Ludvig Aberg
- Matt Fitzpatrick
Donald on Fitzpatrick's form
14:27 , Lawrence Ostlere“Nobody statistically been as good as Matt in the past few months. He’s playing tremendous golf right now, six top 10s in his late eight starts. It’s really impressive.”
Sixth captain's pick: Matt Fitzpatrick
14:26 , Lawrence OstlereFitzpatrick takes the final spot!
Aberg on his Rome experience
14:25 , Lawrence Ostlere“Last team it was so short into my professional career. It was the first time I got to experience those things, be in the locker room with those legends. I definitely feel more experienced now.”
On playing with Hovland: “That [thrashing Scheffler and Koepka in Rome] was one of the highlights of my career so far, so if we get to pair up again it will be amazing.”
Fifth captain's pick: Ludvig Aberg
14:22 , Lawrence OstlereLudvig Aberg is pick No 5! Only one spot left...
Hovland on playing in Ryder Cups
14:20 , Lawrence Ostlere“My palms are getting sweaty, I’m super excited to get out there. Golf is an individual sport, so when you get to represent 11 other guys, your captain, vice-captains and all the fans rooting for us, you definitely feel you are part of something bigger than yourself.”
Fourth captain's pick: Viktor Hovland
14:18 , Lawrence OstlereViktor Hovland is on the team!
Straka on his relationship with Shane Lowry
14:17 , Lawrence Ostlere“He was incredible to lead me around my first time [in Rome], he brought a lot of energy, he was fun to lean on in those high-pressure moments, so looking forward to some more good memories in New York.”
Third captain's pick: Sepp Straka
14:15 , Lawrence OstlereStraka is on the team, after just missing out on an automatic spot. He made his debut in Rome and did OK there, with one win and two losses in his three matches.
Rahm 'emotional' after earning pick
14:11 , Lawrence Ostlere“It’s a different feeling. I didn’t think I would be as emotional as I feel right now. Luke called and told me a few days ago. New Yorkers are going to be incredible fans, it’s going to be difficult for us.”
Second captain's pick: Jon Rahm
14:10 , Lawrence OstlereJon Rahm is up next – no surprises so far.
Luke Donald on Shane Lowry
14:07 , Lawrence Ostlere“He brings infectious energy. He understands ‘team’ more than anything else. It’s really great to have his energy, his vibe in the team room.”
First captain's pick: Shane Lowry
14:06 , Lawrence OstlereShane Lowry is the first name announced!
Automatic pick 6: Tyrrell Hatton
14:00 , Lawrence OstlereThe one LIV player to defy the system; Hatton has flourished despite the barriers between the rebel tour and the OWGR-sanctioned events. In fact, the fiery Briton has proven efficient and ruthless at times in the select events he has played when world ranking points are on the line, collecting wins at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Hero Dubai Desert Classic and he deservedly qualified automatically for Bethpage, although would have been selected regardless. Came close to pinching the US Open before ending T4 as JJ Spaun secured a surprise win. Another major top 20 followed at Portrush. Hatton appears to be entering his prime at the perfect time to thrive in the cauldron of Bethpage Black.
Automatic pick 5: Rasmus Hojgaard
13:56 , Lawrence OstlereWhen the pressure was on, Rasmus Hojgaard delivered as he leapfrogged Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka to snatch the last automatic qualification spot at the final event – securing the top-20 finish he needed at the British Masters. Had he not, he would have found himself in a battle royale for the 12th and final spot in the team – against a number of players, including twin brother Nicolai – with the 11 other slots appearing to be more or less decided. Two promising finishes on the PGA Tour early in 2025 (T12 at the Phoenix Open and T22 at Pebble Beach) to vault him up the Ryder Cup list were followed by a whole lot of nothing with a T16 at the Open about the best of it. The highlight before that was a scintillating victory at the Irish Open in September 2024, where he outduelled Rory McIlroy with a Sunday 65 to win by a stroke, and a third place at the British Masters shortly after showed how competitive he can be in elite company. Look out for his distance off the tee (currently safely in the top 10 on the PGA Tour this season), which could be useful at Bethpage.
Automatic pick 4: Justin Rose
13:52 , Lawrence OstlereA runner-up finish at Augusta probably locked him in for Bethpage but will be small consolation after play-off heartache for a second time in the Masters saw him edged out by McIlroy. His response to that agonising loss was typically classy as he genuinely congratulated his Ryder Cup teammate. He then showed he is still remarkable under pressure by producing a miraculous Sunday back nine before beating JJ Spaun in a captivating play-off to win the FedEx St Jude Championship – a 12th PGA Tour title of his illustrious career – just two weeks before the end of the Ryder Cup qualification period to nail down a seventh appearance at the competition. Selection for the last Ryder Cup, where he eventually notched 1.5 points in Rome, felt like a race against Father Time for Rose, so this one could have been a struggle, yet he’s still at the top of his game and that experience will prove vital to Donald.
Automatic pick 3: Tommy Fleetwood
13:48 , Lawrence OstlereHas steadily improved year on year and is now a permanent fixture in the world’s top 10, and finally has that pesky first PGA Tour win after a series of devastating near-misses. Wonderful scenes at East Lake as Fleetwood clinched the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup showed the camaraderie between Team Europe players, with Justin Rose and Shane Lowry waiting by the green to congratulate their friend and teammate. It will now be mostly forgotten, but the heavy loss to Keegan Bradley at the Travelers Championship – when leading coming up the 18th on Sunday – could present a compelling Ryder Cup sub-plot. There was more heartache at the FedEx St Jude Championship when he led with a couple of holes to go, only to bogey 17 and miss out on a play-off against Rose and JJ Spaun by a stroke. Has also notched a T5 at February’s Genesis Open, although he did secure a seventh DP World Tour win at the Dubai Invitational in January 2024 and then brilliantly claimed a silver medal at the Paris Olympics that summer. Something of a Ryder Cup veteran now and will be on the team for a fourth time at Bethpage, having taken three points from four matches in Rome – two of which came from a formidable foursomes partnership with McIlroy – taking his overall Ryder Cup win rate to a remarkable 67 per cent. Will Fleetwood Mac reunite in New York?
Automatic pick 2: Bob MacIntyre
13:44 , Lawrence OstlereHas consolidated himself as a genuinely world-class player since the last Ryder Cup and looks set to be a stalwart for the next decade. A near miss at the BMW Championship, as a four-shot lead slipped away, largely thanks to a rampant Scheffler, the Scot has now qualified after building on a sublime weekend performance at the US Open that saw him finish second behind JJ Spaun. He is now ninth in the world rankings, thanks to another major top 10 at the Open at Portrush and his runner-up finish at Caves Valley Golf Club. A stunning 2024 saw MacIntyre claim breakthrough victories on the PGA Tour (Canadian Open) and a home championship (Scottish Open), before partnering with one of his sporting heroes, Andy Murray, at the BMW Championships Pro-Am. A maiden Ryder Cup appearance, under the tutelage of Justin Rose, in a partnership that could be reformed at Bethpage Black, has proven a spark for the Scot, with fond memories in Rome after two-and-a-half points from three matches.
Automatic pick 1: Rory McIlroy
13:40 , Lawrence OstlereThe Masters champion. The career grand slam. McIlroy has finally done it and looked set to enter this year’s Ryder Cup with a new aura surrounding him, although his year since fulfilling his Augusta dream has contained a loss of form, a non-conforming driver and continued bizarre bust-ups with the media. He’s on the up again now though, with a T6 at the Travelers Championship, a T2 at the Scottish Open and a T7 at a home Open at Royal Portrush. His Masters victory at Augusta followed another at the Players Championship in a three-hole play-off in an explosive start to the year and Europe will need him to be the beating heart of the team, and probably play all five sessions once again, to pull off a stunning away win. His emotions spilled over in Rome in 2023, though his record was impeccable, going 4-1 over the three days. A repeat is required.
How the other contenders stand
13:36 , Lawrence OstlereAnd here is how the rest of the pack shape up. We can be confident Lowry, Aberg and Hovland will make the cut, while Jon Rahm will also be pulled from LIV to be a leader on the team.
That leaves two spots, with Straka, Fitzpatrick, Wallace, Penge, Hall and Nicolai Hojgaard the most likely options.
- 7. Shane Lowry (IRE) 1275.51
- 8. Sepp Straka (AUT) 1264.27
- 9. Ludvig Aberg (SWE) 1140.44
- 10. Viktor Hovland (NOR) 1031.34
- 11. Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) 899.53
- 12. Matt Wallace (ENG) 881.12
- 13. Thomas Detry (BEL) 817.19
- 14. Marco Penge (ENG) 810.38
- 15. Aaron Rai (ENG) 754.86
- 16. Jordan Smith (ENG) 738.84
- 17. Harry Hall (ENG) 703.38
- 18. Nicolai Højgaard (DEN) 681.26
- 19. Niklas Norgaard (DEN) 651.10
- 20. John Parry (ENG) 643.75
Team Europe's six automatic picks
13:31 , Lawrence OstlereA reminder of how Team Europe’s automatic picks made it, with Rory McIlroy racking up by far the most points and Tyrrell Hatton racing into the mix despite playing far fewer tournaments than most:
- 1. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 3489.21 - QUALIFIED
- 2. Robert MacIntyre (SCO) 1709.94 - QUALIFIED
- 3. Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 1622.11 - QUALIFIED
- 4. Justin Rose (ENG) 1545.72 - QUALIFIED
- 5. Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) 1283.56 - QUALIFIED
- 6. Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 1279.33 - QUALIFIED
Bethpage Black presents intimidating challenge
13:23 , Lawrence OstlereThe Bethpage Black course is notoriously difficult, with a famous sign warning it is only for “highly skilled golfers” at the first tee.
Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship there in 2019 and holds the course record of 63. He won’t be at the Ryder Cup, but US captain’s pick Cameron Young is a New Yorker who knows the course well and has shot a 64 there in the past.
Best European Ryder Cup records from active players
12:50 , Jack RathbornHere’s a look at the best Ryder Cup records from those active players who still have a shot of competing in this year’s event - that’s to say Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia have been left out:
Records (win-loss-draw)
- Rory McIlroy: 16—13—4
- Justin Rose: 14—9—3
- Tommy Fleetwood: 7—3—2
- Jon Rahm: 6—3—3
- Tyrrell Hatton: 5—4—2
Predicting Team Europe captain's picks: Outsiders
12:41 , Jack RathbornThat said, if Straka is snubbed, with the prospect of pairing the Danish brothers, or the emotional and fiery character of Wallace, or even the form player in Harry Hall after his FedEx Cup exploits, Donald could spring a surprise.
Records (win-loss-draw)
Nicolai Hojgaard: 0—2—1
Harry Hall: Rookie
Matt Wallace: Rookie
Predicting Team Europe captain's picks: Likely on the team
12:33 , Jack RathbornWith four “locks”, Donald is probably down to just two spots and even those appear likely to be on the team, having both contributed in Rome.
Records (win-loss-draw)
Sepp Straka: 1—2—0
Matt Fitzpatrick: 1—7—0
Predicting Team Europe captain's picks: Locks
12:25 , Jack RathbornRecords (win-loss-draw)
Ludvig Aberg: 2—2—0
Viktor Hovland: 3—4—3
Shane Lowry: 2—3—1
Jon Rahm: 6—3—3
Matt Wallace breaks down in tears over push to make Ryder Cup team
12:15 , Jack RathbornEngland's Matt Wallace broke down in tears in an emotional interview ahead of Team Europe's captain's picks for the Ryder Cup on Monday.
Wallace finished 12th in the standings, behind Matt Fitzpatrick in 11th, with both men looking for a wildcard pick.
"I'd never give up on the Ryder Cup,” Wallace said. "I just won't, so that's it."
"I'll never give up on the Ryder Cup!"
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) August 31, 2025
Matt Wallace breaks down in tears over Team Europe hopes 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/6k2i7H5en3
Luke Donald reveals two players causing him ‘headache’ over Ryder Cup wildcard picks
12:05 , Jack Rathborn“I’m obviously excited about the five that are locked in,” explained Donald in a press conference at the British Masters. “There's a bunch of guys from that 2023 team that are still performing well, the Viktors, Ludwig, Sepp, Shane, Fitzy has been playing really well.
“But you've got some other guys that are trying to force their way on to the team, like Marco [Penge] last week, really tremendous performance, looks very much in control and tough circumstances against a crowd that was.
“Harry Hall has been playing great. There's many others, as well, that obviously are still really on the radar. It always happens in Ryder Cups. People make a push at the end and want to be part of the team. Even though it's a headache for me in terms of how many players are giving themselves a chance it's really a good headache. It's a good opportunity for me to see all these players and how much they really want to be part of it. Yeah, I'm excited to see how these next couple weeks turn out.”
Luke Donald reveals two players causing him ‘headache’ over Ryder Cup wildcard picks
Tommy Fleetwood’s message to fans after FedExCup title win
11:55 , Jack RathbornSpeaking to Sky Sports after his win on Sunday (24 August), a jubilant Fleetwood said: “Thank you so much and for staying up so late
“I have left you in a lot of disappointment at times, but this one was ours
“Whether you were at home, or on the golf course with me, I do feel like we did it together, so thank you very much.”
The Tommy Fleetwood moment that revealed Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup advantage
11:45 , Jack RathbornAfter the agony, the jubilation on the 18th hole at East Lake. Tommy Fleetwood finally had his moment, an outpouring of relief and delight at completing the job. A PGA Tour winner at the Tour Championship and, with it, the FedEx Cup, too.
Fleetwood has accumulated a legion of fans in recent years. He had reiterated that his breakthrough on US soil would be done “together”. And that following has grown even stronger after the heartbreaking near misses this year, including an outpouring of “anger” at the Travelers, as a raucous crowd willed Captain America, Keegan Bradley, to victory.
And then again at the FedEx St Jude Championship, when he squandered a two-shot lead with three holes remaining. One of Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup stalwarts could only watch JJ Spaun and an inspired Justin Rose duel in a playoff after his game unravelled. His compatriot and friend’s eventual victory was only a slight consolation as his drought extended.
The Tommy Fleetwood moment that revealed Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup advantage
Ryder Cup 2025: USA team confirmed after Keegan Bradley makes wildcard picks
11:35 , Jack RathbornTeam USA is on a mission to recapture the Ryder Cup in the 2025 edition of the event at Bethpage Black and their chances look promising with the world’s best player Scottie Scheffler leading their charge on the course.
A peculiar situation surrounding the team brought unwanted pressure and a distraction, with captain Keegan Bradley enjoying some of the best golf of his career, including a stunning win at the Travelers Championship, to raise the prospect of becoming the first playing captain at the event since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
Bradley has, however, elected not to play in New York, highlighting the strength and form of the six wildcards he has chosen ahead of himself as a positive sign for the US ahead of the biennial event. The LIV Golf controversy has subsided, with Bryson DeChambeau qualifying automatically and returning to the team after missing out at Marco Simone in 2023. A hurtful defeat in Rome, which saw Scheffler brought to tears after a record-breaking nine and seven defeat to Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, should provide plenty of motivation for a raucous home crowd in New York this time around. Here’s how the stars and stripes line up as they take on a confident Team Europe:
Ryder Cup 2025: USA team after Keegan Bradley makes wildcard picks
How Keegan Bradley’s selfless captaincy call shows a new US attitude to the Ryder Cup
11:24 , Lawrence OstlereWhen the golfing world tuned in to Keegan Bradley’s press conference on Wednesday to learn his six captain’s picks for the US Ryder Cup team, the “will he, won’t he” question still hung in the air unanswered. Would Bradley pick himself as the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963?
In the end, the cat slipped out of the bag accidentally, halfway through a rather awkward process of Zoom-calling each player to hear their thoughts. Bradley’s fourth pick, Cameron Young, was asked if his Ryder Cup teammates knew he had won the junior Ryder Cup in the past. “Sam played with me, so he will remember it,” said Young. “Sam” referred to Sam Burns, who hadn’t yet been announced. With Burns therefore included, and Patrick Cantlay highly likely to be on the team, that left no room for Bradley to choose himself.
How Keegan Bradley’s selfless call shows a new US attitude to the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup 2025: Predicting Luke Donald’s Team Europe captain picks
11:23 , Jack RathbornThe Ryder Cup creeps ever closer with Luke Donald, back again as captain, guiding Team Europe in the 2025 edition of the event at Bethpage Black in New York with the goal of securing a rare away victory over Team USA.
It’s been a fine year for the Europeans, with Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory and career grand slam a standout moment and Tommy Fleetwood overcoming repeated heartache to triumph at the Tour Championship and secure the FedEx Cup in his first-ever PGA Tour victory.
Team USA’s Keegan Bradley resisted the chance to pick himself as a playing captain, adding Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Sam Burns and Cameron Young as wildcards to complete a formidable home side.
Donald’s side remains steady with a number of stalwarts from Rome set to return, including Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland and more .We take a look at who is in red-hot form and likely to be called upon by Donald for Bethpage Black:
Ryder Cup 2025: Predicting Luke Donald’s captain picks for Team Europe
Luke Donald to announce captain's picks for Team Europe at Ryder Cup
11:23 , Jack RathbornGood morning and welcome to Independent Sport’s coverage of Luke Donald’s captain picks announcement.
The Ryder Cup is fast approaching and Europe are bullish about defending the trophy at Bethpage Black.
There is continuity for Donald, with much of the team that routed the USA in Rome returning.
But will Donald spring a surprise? Is Sepp Straka able to return to top-level golf after missing the BMW Championship last month, and will Matt Fitzpatrick have enough to hold of Nicolai Hojgaard, who was also part of the stunning success at Marco Simone. Find out with us in the coming hours, plus the latest reaction and analysis on USA v Europe.
