While the superstar players on both sides will have a big say on who wins the Ryder Cup, it is sadly the case that fans are often denied the chance to see the heavyweight matchups they have spent weeks dreaming about leading into each event.
Rory McIlroy never faced Tiger Woods on the Ryder Cup stage. Meanwhile, the Northern Irishman goes into the 2025 event at Bethpage still awaiting a first match against Scottie Scheffler.
Admittedly, Scheffler is no stranger to taking on one of Europe’s best players. Both of his singles matches in the Ryder Cup have seen him pitted against Jon Rahm.
But with Scheffler and McIlroy the two best players in the world right now – and winning three of the four majors in 2025 – it is completely understandable for fans to hope that Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald manage to put them in the same spot in the lineup on Sunday in New York.
However, perhaps that matchup would lead to just a small amount of disappointment amongst others.
Smylie Kaufman suggests the dream matchup for the Sunday singles at the Ryder Cup
McIlroy has made no secret of his admiration for Scheffler. But the same cannot exactly be said for Bryson DeChambeau, with the pair involved in one of the most intriguing rivalries around right now.
DeChambeau was criticised for his comments about McIlroy at The Masters, in which he seemed disappointed that the pair did not speak during the final round.
Meanwhile, McIlroy was slated by fans for what he recently said about DeChambeau. He claimed the LIV Golf star needs to speak about other players to receive attention.
With that, Smylie Kaufman has told The Smylie Show that his preference would be for McIlroy to not face Scheffler on Sunday at Bethpage.
“I think from a legacy standpoint for sure, Scottie versus Rory makes a ton of sense as those have been the best two players in the world. But from a clicks standpoint, and what I want to see for overall excitement and what might happen as far as the quotes that might come out of this and the stories, I kind of want to see Rory and Bryson play,” he said.
Where Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have been sent out in the singles order
Neither captain will have their singles order set in stone yet. Much will depend on the scoreline and which side has the momentum.
However, Kaufman believes that Donald can prepare for which American will be sent out in the top match.
“It would be cool if the captains could get together for just one pick. But it’s pretty obvious that both guys know, at least Luke should know that Keegan Bradley’s going to send out his best first. And so, you just have to assume that Scottie’s going to be going first. So he’s got an option to most likely send either Rahm or Rory,” he said.
“I think you would expect to see Rory, but I think Luke will end up just sending out one of the four guys that are his best players, whoever is having the best week. I could see that person going out.
“But if you look at Rome as an example, Rahm played every single match until that Saturday afternoon. And Luke had told him going in, he said, ‘hey, you’re sitting out the afternoon because I want you fresh going off first on Sunday’. And I think that’s a huge spot to be in for any player.”
Interestingly, McIlroy went out in match four in 2023 – perhaps in the hope of meeting Patrick Cantlay. That was the lowest he has ever been in the singles order. He led Europe out in 2016, 2018 and 2021.
Scheffler was third out at Whistling Straits in 2021, while he was promoted to the top match two years later.
So there seems to be a very good chance of that match happening this Sunday.
And for those hoping to see McIlroy face DeChambeau, a match with Scheffler would not be a bad consolation prize by any means.
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