my4moles

2025 Ryder Cup Overview

 

Dates & Venue

• When: Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28, 2025 
• Where: Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, Long Island, New York 

 

The Course: Bethpage Black

• A public, state-owned gem, Bethpage Black is renowned for its brutal difficulty. A warning sign at the first tee cautions: “Extremely difficult course—only for highly skilled golfers.”
• It’s hosted two U.S. Opens (2002, 2009) and the PGA Championship (2019), and features a par of 71 over 7,426 yards .
• Its reputation for ruthless bunkers, narrow fairways, and tough greens promises a dramatic, highly strategic match-play showdown .

 

Captains & Teams

• Team USA Captain: Keegan Bradley — potentially serving as a playing captain (a role last seen in 1963) 
• Team Europe Captain: Luke Donald, returning for a second stint 
   

Qualified Players – Team USA

The six automatic qualifiers:

• Scottie Scheffler (No. 1)
• J.J. Spaun
• Xander Schauffele
• Russell Henley
• Harris English
• Bryson DeChambeau
  Remaining spots will be filled by captain’s picks, with much speculation surround Bradley potentially selecting himself.
   

Qualified Players – Team Europe

Automatic qualifiers include:

• Rory McIlroy
• Robert MacIntyre
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Justin Rose
• Tyrrell Hatton
• Rasmus Hojgaard
  Captain’s picks likely include Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Sepp Straka, and Shane Lowry with announcements pending

 

Format & Stakes

• The Ryder Cup follows the traditional match-play format with a total of 28 points:
  • Day 1 (Friday): Four foursome (alternate shot) + four fourball matches
  • Day 2 (Saturday): Same structure
  • Day 3 (Sunday): 12 singles matches
• 14.5 points are needed to win, or 14 points for the defending champion (Europe) to retain. 

 

History & Rivalries

• The Ryder Cup began in 1927 between the U.S. and Great Britain; Europe joined in 1979 to elevate competitiveness.
• Games are fiercely competitive, with memorable clashes and legendary comebacks. Europe, current holders after a 16½-11½ win in Rome 2023, seek another win on U.S. soil — something they haven’t done since 2012.
• One riveting subplot: the brewing rivalry between McIlroy and DeChambeau, potentially intensified by course tweaks at Bethpage Black designed to favor power hitters.

 

Prestige & Culture

• There’s no prize money; the honor is in lifting the Samuel Ryder Trophy and national pride.
• The passionate crowds at Bethpage Black — noisy, knowledgeable, and vocal — promise an electric atmosphere that elevates every match