Predicting the 12 players on the United States and European teams for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black

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The Ryder Cup is fast approaching! We have predicted the 12 players who will be on the United States and European teams at Bethpage Black.

Captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald will soon have to name six captain’s picks to join the six qualifiers on the Ryder Cup rosters.

However, with four PGA Tour events and two LIV Golf tournaments before the decisions need to be made, a lot could still change.

The Golfing Gazette writers have thought long and hard about which players will receive the ultimate honor of representing their countries in September.

• READ MORE: Bryson DeChambeau says exactly what he will do if he faces Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup

Predicting the USA Ryder Cup team

Jordan Harris

• Scottie Scheffler – He has already qualified.
• Xander Schauffele – May be looking for a new partner this year.
• Justin Thomas – The heartbeat of this American team.
• Bryson DeChambeau – He’s going to be a big problem for the Europeans at Bethpage.
• J.J. Spaun – The US Open champion secured his spot with his superb victory at Oakmont.
• Russell Henley – The man several players will be keen to play alongside. He was exceptional with Scheffler at the Presidents Cup.
• Harris English – A two-time best-of-the-rest major champion in 2025.
• Collin Morikawa – It has not been pretty recently, but he would need to be playing a lot worse not to be involved.
• Keegan Bradley – It would be a huge anticlimax if the captain were not playing.
• Ben Griffin – Impressive earlier in the year and certainly does not lack belief.
• Patrick Cantlay – He has been really poor this year, but the best of Patty Ice comes out in these team events.
• Chris Gotterup – The in-form player at the moment; he could be brilliant at Bethpage.

James Shearman

• Scottie Scheffler – Scheffler has already qualified for the USA team. The question here is whether he plays in all five sessions at Bethpage.
• Xander Schauffele – The two-time major champion and Olympic gold medalist relishes big events, and the Ryder Cup certainly fits the bill.
• Justin Thomas – Thomas is one of the mainstays of the US team and has enjoyed a solid 2025 season on the PGA Tour.
• Bryson DeChambeau – DeChambeau was the second player to be announced by Keegan Bradley. His big-hitting game perfectly suits Bethpage Black.
• J.J. Spaun – J.J. Spaun booked his place on Bradley’s squad with his incredible victory at the US Open in June.
• Russell Henley – Henley is likely to qualify for the team, but even if he doesn’t, he’s been too consistent to miss out on a captain’s pick.
• Harris English – English might have two majors (PGA Championship and Open Championship) to his name if Scheffler did not exist. That’s enough to warrant a place at Bethpage.
• Collin Morikawa – Morikawa’s spot is not as obvious as it once was. The 28-year-old hangs on because he’s excellent off the tee.
• Keegan Bradley – Bradley turned a difficult conversation into a simple one with his win at the Travelers Championship.
• Ben Griffin – Griffin has been one of the standout PGA Tour players in 2025 and deserves a chance to represent his country.
• Jordan Spieth – Spieth probably needs a strong performance at the BMW Championship or the FedEx St Jude Championship to make the cut, but he’s more than capable. His experience will be useful in a team with several rookies.
• Chris Gotterup – Gotterup’s win at the Scottish Open and top-10 finish at The Open may have convinced Bradley to take a punt on him. He could play with DeChambeau in an intimidatingly big-hitting pairing.

Antony Martin

• Scottie Scheffler – What else can be said about Scheffler? He’s the best player in the world right now by quite some margin, and he will undoubtedly be a thorn in Europe’s side in September.
• Xander Schauffele – Thankfully for the Americans, Schauffele is just starting to show some real form now, and he will be key to their chances of success at Bethpage.
• Bryson DeChambeau – DeChambeau’s place on the team has already been confirmed by Bradley. His prodigious length off the tee will be a real weapon for the United States at Bethpage Black.
• J.J. Spaun – Spaun has proven to be a really good player this year, and his dramatic win at the US Open secured his place on the team.
• Russell Henley – Henley has produced some fantastic golf this season, but he has had some really poor showings in equal measure. It depends on which Henley turns up at Bethpage.
• Harris English – English has been in very good form in the majors this season, with two runner-up finishes to his name. He lost out both times to Scheffler, but he proved during the final rounds of the PGA Championship and The Open that he has what it takes to be a key member of the US Ryder Cup team.
• Justin Thomas – Thomas’ form over the last few months will be a big concern for Team USA. However, on his day, he is pretty much as good as anyone, and Bradley will be hoping to see some strong finishes from JT over the next few weeks.
• Collin Morikawa – Morikawa is in the same boat as Thomas right now. He has regressed badly since March, really, and he is far from guaranteed a spot on the team.
• Ben Griffin – Griffin has won twice on the PGA Tour this season, and he has shown real character in some big events – something that Bradley will appreciate very much.
• Keegan Bradley – This is the big one, isn’t it? Will he act as a playing captain at Bethpage? Bradley has already insisted that he won’t be giving up the captaincy, and it would be silly for him not to play on the team, given his form. We may well see the first American playing captain since Arnold Palmer performed both roles in 1963.
• Brian Harman – Harman is a dogged competitor. He might not be the most popular player, but when he gets the bit between his teeth, he is very hard to beat.
• Chris Gotterup – Gotterup’s golf over the past two weeks has been quite simply sensational. He has come from absolutely nowhere, and I have a feeling that Bradley may well pick him as the 12th man for his team. 

Predicting the European Ryder Cup team

Jordan Harris

• Rory McIlroy – He has already qualified.
• Robert MacIntyre – Grew into his Ryder Cup debut and is now a PGA Tour winner
• Tommy Fleetwood – Some of the biggest moments of his career have come in this event.
• Tyrrell Hatton – Two great major displays in a row, has become a world-class player since his debut in 2021.
• Shane Lowry – Formed a good partnership with Sepp Straka two years ago. Also helped Rory McIlroy avoid a punch-up in the car park.
• Sepp Straka – Two-time PGA Tour winner this year.
• Justin Rose – The elder statesman; along with Rory McIlroy, he knows how to win a Ryder Cup Stateside.
• Rasmus Hojgaard – The only change from two years ago, and it’s his brother who is losing his place. Hits it a mile.
• Jon Rahm – The Spaniard is going to need to be at his very best.
• Viktor Hovland – Some better form at times this year. He was the best player in the world leading into Rome.
• Ludvig Aberg – He has not quite kicked on as many expected, but is still a phenomenal talent.
• Matthew Fitzpatrick – Finding form at the perfect time.

James Shearman

• Rory McIlroy – One spot on the Ryder Cup team will probably be reserved for McIlroy for as long as he continues playing.
• Robert MacIntyre – MacIntyre’s game has reached another level since making Donald’s squad for the last Ryder Cup.
• Tommy Fleetwood – Fleetwood is still lacking silverware on the PGA Tour after his collapse at the Travelers Championship, but his spot on this team has never been in question.
• Tyrrell Hatton – Hatton is one of two LIV golfers who should represent Europe in September. His fiery character suits the Ryder Cup perfectly.
• Shane Lowry – Lowry is another with the passion that fans love to see. Expect to see him play with good friend McIlroy at some point.
• Sepp Straka – Straka has won twice in 2025 (The American Express and the Truist Championship) and is a lock to represent Europe again.
• Justin Rose – Rose only just missed on the green jacket to McIlroy earlier this year, and his wealth of experience will be even more valuable in Sergio Garcia’s absence.
• Rasmus Hojgaard – Rasmus’ brother, Nicolai, made the last Ryder Cup team. Now, he will get the chance to impress on the biggest stage.
• Jon Rahm – Rahm is a long way down the European qualification standings, but it shouldn’t matter. He’s a top-five player in the world on his day and loves the competition.
• Viktor Hovland – Hovland is having a bounce-back season after struggling in 2024 and simply has too much talent to miss out on Bethpage.
• Ludvig Aberg – Aberg’s second full season on the PGA Tour has been underwhelming, but he remains an excellent player worthy of a place on the European side.
• Matthew Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatrick had no chance of playing for Europe one month ago. He’s now almost a lock after back-to-back T4s at the Scottish Open and The Open.

Antony Martin

• Rory McIlroy – The Masters champion is Europe’s strongest player, and he will be relishing the showdown at Bethpage.
• Tyrrell Hatton – The Englishman has been in fine form on LIV and in the majors this season, and his fiery attitude is exactly what Europe needs in New York.
• Jon Rahm – Rahm hasn’t won on LIV this year, but he has only finished outside the top-10 once. He is a lock for Team Europe.
• Tommy Fleetwood – Fleetwood is still looking for his first win in America, but he’ll take a Ryder Cup victory over an individual success this year every day of the week.
• Ludvig Aberg – The big Swede hasn’t been at his best since winning The Genesis Invitational in February, but he has started to show signs of improved form.
• Viktor Hovland – Hovland’s game this season has been like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. However, on his day, he can mix it with the very best players in the world.
• Sepp Straka – Straka’s form this season would have been a nice surprise for Luke Donald. With two PGA Tour wins to his name already in 2025, Straka will be a key member for the European team at Bethpage.
• Shane Lowry – Lowry’s form has been poor since the Truist Championship in May, but if anyone can get up for the Ryder Cup, the Irishman can.
• Robert MacIntyre – One of Europe’s most consistent performers, MacIntyre announced himself to the world with his second-place finish at the US Open this year.
• Matt Fitzpatrick – A resurgent Fitzpatrick has started to show the form that he displayed in 2022, and that is a big bonus for the Europeans ahead of the Ryder Cup.
• Rasmus Hojgaard – Bethpage Black is a brutally long golf course, and Hojgaard’s length will be vitally important.
• Justin Rose – How can Europe head to Bethpage without the 44-year-old Englishman? He has a wealth of experience and has shown this year that he’s still very much at the top of his game.