The 2025 Ryder Cup is one of the most highly anticipated tournaments in the event’s history, and that’s partly because of how closely matched the two teams are.
Team USA have been dubbed the slight favourites, but that’s in large part due to the frenzied New York crowd expected at Bethpage Black. In terms of talent, there is very little between Team USA and Team Europe.
Despite that, bold predictions have been flying in the week’s build-up to the event. Sir Nick Faldo confidently picked Europe to win their first away Ryder Cup since 2012.
That’s expected. Faldo was one of the pioneers of Europe’s success in the 1980s, winning their first away Ryder Cup in 1987. What’s more surprising, however, is Butch Harmon’s evaluation of the two teams.
Butch Harmon says Europe have the better Ryder Cup team
Butch Harmon was Tiger Woods’ coach from 1993 to 2004 and Phil Mickelson’s coach from 2007 to 2015. The American offered his full support to Keegan Bradley’s Team USA ahead of the tournament, but said they are only the favourites because they are at home.
When asked on Sky Sports who he thought would win the Ryder Cup, Harmon said, “It’s hard to pick, to be honest with you. As an American, I’m always going to root for the American team, but I’m very unbiased when I’m doing TV at Sky for the 13 Ryder Cups that I’ve done.
“I actually think the Americans are favoured only because it’s played in New York. Myself, I think Europe has the better team, so I give them a slight advantage.”
Team USA have the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, leading the team after one of the most dominant seasons in the sport’s history. But they have their question marks.
Justin Thomas was a controversial pick by Bradley, given his recent form, and the same can be said for Collin Morikawa, who appears to have been selected for his reputation rather than his play over the last two seasons.
Luke Donald’s side has its own out-of-form players, but it’s probably the better team from top to bottom, considering form. But whether they can maintain their play in the face of the Bethpage crowd is another matter.
Butch Harmon wants the Ryder Cup to be about golf, not the fans
Much has been made of the New York fans in the build-up to the tournament. Europe clearly think it will play a pivotal role, as Donald gave his team VR headsets to prepare for the noise.
Tommy Fleetwood dismissed worries about the fans, and said they are an integral part of the Ryder Cup experience. It’s the biggest example of partisan fandom in golf, and at its best, it should be embraced.
But Harmon, signing off from his TV appearance, noted that he doesn’t want the Ryder Cup to be about what’s happening behind the ropes.
He said, “Let’s have a good one. Let’s make it all about golf, and not about what goes on in the galleries.”
Tensions can easily boil over at the Ryder Cup. Take Rory McIlroy’s confrontation with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie in 2023, for example. As long as that remains between the players and caddies, it adds to the spectacle of the event.
Fan involvement undoubtedly adds to the atmosphere, and there have been no worrying signs about supporters crossing the line between heckling and abuse in the lead-up to the event. Hopefully, that stays that way as the crowd builds this weekend.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
