The Luke Donald Ryder Cup captain’s picks have been announced – adding six names to the automatic picks to finalise his 12-man Bethpage squad for later this month.
Europe 2025 Ryder Cup Captain’s Picks – Lowry, Rahm, Straka, Hovland, Aberg and Fitzpatrick Get The Nod
The tense wait for some European players, ahead of the Luke Donald Ryder Cup captain’s picks, is now over as the former world number one has lifted the lid on the six players that will join the automatic picks.
Step forward – Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick.
These six Europe Ryder Cup captain’s picks will join the already automatic selected – Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tyrrell Hatton.
Europe 2025 Ryder Cup Team In Full
| Player | Auto/Captain Pick |
| Rory McIlroy | Automatic Pick |
| Robert MacIntyre | Automatic Pick |
| Tommy Fleetwood | Automatic Pick |
| Justin Rose | Automatic Pick |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | Automatic Pick |
| Tyrrell Hatton | Automatic Pick |
| Shane Lowry | Captain’s Pick |
| Jon Rahm | Captain’s Pick |
| Sepp Straka | Captain’s Pick |
| Viktor Hovland | Captain’s Pick |
| Ludvig Aberg | Captain’s Pick |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | Captain’s Pick |
2025 Europe Ryder Cup Team Sees 11 Players From 2023
Now that the 2025 Europe Ryder Cup team is confirmed – this mans looking back to the winning Europe Ryder Cup side from 2023 there is only one change.
With Rasmus Hojgaard, who qualified automatically, replacing his brother, Nicolai.
Luke Donald said after his picks “I feel amazingly proud of these guys. A lot of continuity from Rome, that is a bit unusual, but shows how good they are.
“But while there is continuity this is a different animal to play away in America. We know how difficult it is. I have looked at lots of different angles to try and prepare us for the challenge ahead.
“It is about implementing new techniques. I am very aware we have lost three of the last four away Ryder Cups by significant margins. I have tried everything I can to give my team the best opportunity.”
Donald, who guided the European team to win in Italy in 2023, will be looking to become the first ‘back-to-back’ winning Europe captain since Tony Jacklin won three Ryder Cups between 1985 and 1989.
The golf betting sites are making Europe the 6/4 second favourites, with USA Evs and the draw 12/1.
Europe will be hoping to win the Ryder Cup for the first time in the US since 2012, when they won 14 1/2 – 13 1/2 at Medinah Country Club (Illinois), captained by José María
Olazábal.
Luke Donald Ryder Cup Captain’s Pick Matt Fitzpatrick Gets News On His Birthday
The news for one of Luke Donald’s Europe 2025 Ryder Cup captain’s picks was also a nice birthday treat.
As Matt Fitzpatrick was celebrating his 31st birthday on Monday 1st September when he got the call from Donald.
The English golfer recently finished 5th in the European Masters in Switzerland – with fellow Brit Matt Wallace, who missed out in a Ryder Cup place, tied second.
However, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has been impressed with Fitzpatrick this year and his previous experience in the event would have been key.
“Matt said himself that he didn’t get off to the best start this year but he has turned it around impressively. Statistically no-one has been as good as he has the last three or four months. He is playing tremendous golf and it is really impressive to see his game come along trying to make this team.” Said Luke Donald
Despite his inclusion Fitzpatrick doesn’t have a Ryder Cup record to shout about.
He’s one once overall and lost twice. While from his individual eight matches his just one four-balls win (7 losses).
With his sole win coming when facing Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa at the last Ryder Cup (four-ball) with Rory McIlory as his partner.
Team Europe Ryder Cup Automatic Picks 2025: Masters Winner Rory McIlroy Heads The List
After a top year on the course that saw him finally win the Masters and become only the sixth career Grand Slam golf winner, it was no shock to see Rory McIlroy top the Europe team standings – with 3489.21 points.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre was next best with 1709.94 points, FedExCup winner Tommy Fleetwood was third with 1622.11.
Then the Open golf runner-up Justin Rose with 1545.72 points, Rasmus Hojgaard on 1283.56 and Tyrrell Hatton with 1279.33 points.
This will be Rory’s eighth appearance at a Ryder Cup – with his team record 5 wins and 2 losses.
While the overall individual Rory McIlroy Ryder Cup record sees the Northern Irish golfer having 16 wins, 4 draws and 13 defeats.
When and Where Is The Ryder Cup 2025?
The 2025 Ryder Cup will be staged at Bethpage Black Course in New York.
With the Ryder Cup date September 26th-28th, 2025
What About The US 2025 Ryder Cup Team?
- Team Captain: Keegan Bradley
- Players: Scottie Scheffler, J.J Spaun, Justin Thomas, Cameron Young, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley, Ben Griffin, Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English
