Xander Schauffele gives his opinion on Europe’s Ryder Cup team and how much quality they have

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It is going to be very interesting to see how prominent a role Xander Schauffele plays at the Ryder Cup with the world number three enduring a difficult year on the golf course.

After 2024, it appeared that Xander Schauffele was going to be the player to rival Scottie Scheffler. Schauffele won two majors last year, while his worst finish in the four biggest events of the season was tied for eighth.

However, injury hampered the 31-year-old early on in 2025. He has only managed to register three top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour, while he did not make it to the Tour Championship for the first time in his professional career.

That is obviously an issue for Keegan Bradley ahead of the Ryder Cup. Schauffele is one of the players the USA is going to need to step up if they are going to regain the trophy at Bethpage.

Xander Schauffele assesses how close the two Ryder Cup teams are

From the outside, it is incredibly difficult to call which side is in the better position. Europe have the advantage of bringing 11 of the 12 players who won in Rome two years ago, while Bradley’s men will have the majority of the fans on their side in New York.

And speaking on the Fore Play Podcast, Schauffele admitted that he is similarly struggling to separate the two teams.

“It was talked about at a couple of the dinners. Edoardo did a great job for them, setting Rome up perfectly. We have our scouts and I think they do a great job as well,” he said, when discussing the advantage of the home side setting up the course.

“I feel like these teams are pretty close. I don’t sit here and think this team is way better than that team. I feel like they are pretty close. And I feel pretty evenly matched.

“There is no big distance bias, it’s not like everyone is way better at this or that. Scottie keeps talking about preparation. I think the team that is the most prepared, it being three or four weeks after our final event is a big deal.

“It’s very different from when it was the week after East Lake. That changes a lot. So much stuff can happen.

“I think whoever is coached the best, whoever gets acclimated the fastest. Coached as in who gets the pairings and the mojo right, will come out on top of this Ryder Cup.”

Xander Schauffele’s Ryder Cup record as he gears up to make his third appearance at Bethpage

It will be a big boost to the American side if Schauffele can rediscover his best form at Bethpage. Obviously, his partnership with Patrick Cantlay has been extremely influential over the last few team events.

Schauffele has won four points across his first two Ryder Cups, with three of those coming at Whistling Straits in 2021. His only defeat came in the Sunday singles in the top match with Rory McIlroy.

Europe will perhaps look at his recent results and feel that there is an opportunity there to enjoy some success against Schauffele.

But it would be naive to think that he will not be able to step his game up despite what has been such an underwhelming season by his standards.