At A Glance: Meet Team Europe

With continuity from 2023 the major headline of Luke Donald’s now finalised Ryder Cup team, we take a closer look at the 12-man team heading to Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Automatically Qualified

Following the automatic qualifying process, Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Højgaard and Tyrrell Hatton all confirmed their place in Team Europe.

Rory McIlroy

• Age: 36
• World Ranking: 2
  
• Ryder Cup ranking: 1
• Ryder Cup appearances: 7 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 16-13-4

A man who needs little introduction, McIlroy is making his eighth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance having dominated the qualifying process.

ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe celebrates winning his match 3&1 on the 17th green during the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on October 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Season Recap

The pinnacle of his qualifying campaign, and recent golf history, came at the Masters Tournament where he claimed a first Major victory in almost 11 years to complete the career Grand Slam, becoming just the sixth player in history to have won all four Major Championships.

Add in further wins at the DP World Tour Championship, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and PLAYERS Championship along with three runner-up finishes and just eight results outside the top ten and it is clear to see how he finished top of the pile.

Ryder Cup experience

McIlroy has come a long way since he called the Ryder Cup an exhibition, not only speaking of his regret at those words but showing it inside the ropes in claiming 18 points thus far.

His tears after his singles victory in the team humbling of 2021 were followed by a career-best four-point performance in 2023 – he is his team’s on-course leader and talisman, having missed just one session since his debut 15 years ago.

Robert MacIntyre

• Age: 29
• World Ranking: 9
• Ryder Cup ranking: 2
• Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 2-0-1

Robert MacIntyre will make his second Ryder Cup appearance in Luke Donald’s European Team after finishing in second place in the automatic qualifying spots.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 30: Robert MacIntyre of Team Europe celebrates on the 13th green during the Saturday afternoon fourball matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 30, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Season Recap

With six top tens to his name in 2025 and an impressive summer, an in-form MacIntyre broke into the world’s top ten for the first time in August and comfortably secured his place in Team Europe for a second time. The Scot narrowly missed out on Major success at the U.S. Open, where he came from seven shots behind and set the clubhouse lead before ultimately being beaten out by J.J. Spaun. A few weeks later, MacIntyre finished with a tie for seventh at The Open, marking the end of another great Major season.

From there, a runner-up finish to Scottie Scheffler at the BMW Championship vaulted him up the World Rankings, before capping off his PGA TOUR season with a tie for 17th at the Tour Championship.

Ryder Cup Experience

The most successful rookie of the 2023 Ryder Cup Team, MacIntyre played in three matches and won 2.5 points at Marco Simone. While sitting out both foursomes sessions, MacIntyre partnered Justin Rose in both four-ball matches, tying the Friday afternoon session against Wyndham Clark and Max Homa, and defeating Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth 3&2 on Saturday afternoon.

During the singles matches, MacIntyre was 3UP early on Wyndham Clark before being brought back to all-square, but impressively fought back to win both the 15th and 16th holes, ending the match on 17 with a 2&1 victory and a full point for Team Europe.

Tommy Fleetwood

• Age: 34
• World Ranking:
• Ryder Cup ranking: 3
• Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2018, 2020, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 7-3-2

Tommy Fleetwood will make his fourth appearance for Team Europe after securing the third automatic qualification spot.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Tommy Fleetwood of Team Europe celebrates on the 15th green during the Friday morning foursomes matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 29, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Season Recap

Following a season of agonising near-misses, Tommy Fleetwood ensured he was taken off every “best player without a win on the PGA TOUR” list two weeks ago as he claimed the PGA TOUR’s Tour Championship and with it the FedEx Cup Trophy.

Even without a victory it had been an impressive year for Fleetwood, who had missed just one cut worldwide and recorded seven top tens before breaking through at East Lake. Following a runner-up at the Travelers Championship, Fleetwood started a brilliant run that also included a tie for third at the FedEx St Jude Championship and tie for fourth at the BMW Championship. Although already a prolific winner on the DP World Tour, it marked his first victory on the PGA Tour on his 164th attempt, eventually winning by three shots.

Ryder Cup Experience

Fleetwood has become a pivotal member of Team Europe, which began with a headline-stealing debut as he and Francesco Molinari became the first European pairing in history to win all four of their matches in a Ryder Cup. That year he lost to Tony Finau in singles, but still cemented himself in the record books. Whistling Straits was evidently tougher for Europe and that was true too for Fleetwood, who partnered with Viktor Hovland for one draw and one loss in four-balls, and tied with Jordan Spieth in the singles.

In Marco Simone, Fleetwood partnered with Rory McIlroy in both foursomes sessions with great success, earning two points with 2&1 victories over Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay on Friday, and Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth on Saturday. He and Nicolai Højgaard lost their four-balls match on Saturday afternoon, but Fleetwood rallied for his first full Singles point in a Ryder Cup with a 3&1 victory over Rickie Fowler, the point which guaranteed victory for his side.

Justin Rose

• Age: 45
• World Ranking: 12
• Ryder Cup ranking: 4
• Ryder Cup appearances: 6 (2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 14-9-3

Making his seventh appearance across 17 years, Rose is seeking a fifth win as Team Europe’s elder statesman.

ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Justin Rose of Team Europe celebrates on the 15th green during the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on October 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Season Recap

The Englishman did not record a top ten before Christmas in qualifying but back-to-back top tens in PGA TOUR Signature events boosted his confidence before he suffered a play-off loss to Rory McIlroy at the Masters, the second time he has been denied in extra holes at Augusta National.

A top ten at the Genesis Scottish Open was quickly followed by a win at the FedEx St Jude Championship which secured an automatic spot on the team helmed by his friend and countryman Luke Donald.

Ryder Cup Experience

Over his first five Ryder Cups, Rose became part of two consistent partnerships first alongside Ian Poulter and then Henrik Stenson before teaming up with Robert MacIntyre in 2023.

He has an impressive foursomes record of 7-2-1, with alternate shot bringing almost half of his 15½ points, a career total that means he averages over two and a half points per Ryder Cup appearance.

Rasmus Højgaard

• Age: 24
• World Ranking: 52
• Ryder Cup ranking: 5
• Ryder Cup appearances: Rookie
• Ryder Cup record: N/A

Rasmus Højgaard will make his Ryder Cup debut as part of Luke Donald’s European Team, emulating twin brother Nicolai who was a rookie in 2023, after finishing fifth in the European Team Rankings to secure automatic qualification.

NEWCASTLE, NORTHERN IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark poses for a photo as he celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after winning during day four of the Amgen Irish Open 2024 at Royal County Down Golf Club on September 15, 2024 in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Season Recap

The Dane enjoyed a strong start to the qualification process, finishing third at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo and then going low to deny Rory McIlroy and win the Amgen Irish Open, before ending the 2024 season with a runner-up finish at the DP World Tour Championship.

Upon the turn of the year, results proved harder to come by and he was outside the qualifying places with two events to go, before a runner-up finish on home soil at the Danish Golf Championship and a tie for 13th at The Belfry sealed a rookie appearance at Bethpage.

Tyrrell Hatton

• Age: 33
• World Ranking: 25
• Ryder Cup ranking: 6
• Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2018, 2020, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 5-4-2

Tyrrell Hatton will make his fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance as part of Luke Donald’s side, securing an automatic spot on each occasion

Season Recap

Despite limited chances to impress in counting events, the Englishman has produced a series of strong performances, registering four top tens in five starts last year as he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship for a record third time.

He added a second DP World Tour title during the year-long qualification campaign at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, before a top five at the U.S. Open and top 20s at the Masters Tournament and The Open ensured he was among the top six qualifiers.

Ryder Cup Experience

A rookie at Le Golf National in 2018, Hatton sealed his first Ryder Cup point alongside Paul Casey in fourballs, before teaming up with Shane Lowry to earn a full point in the same format at Whistling Straits in 2021.

But it was in 2023, that he made his biggest mark on the Ryder Cup stage as he was one of just three players along with Rahm and MacIntyre to go undefeated in Rome.

Captain's Picks

With just one Rookie in the team (Rasmus Højgaard), Luke Donald confirmed a nearly unchanged European Team two years on from victory in Rome with his six Captain's Picks: Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Shane Lowry

• Age: 38
• World Ranking: 23
• Ryder Cup ranking: 7 (Captain’s Pick)
• Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (2020, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 2-3-1

The Irishman will make his third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance since becoming Open Champion after narrowly missing out on automatic selection and being handed his third Captain’s Pick.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Shane Lowry of Team Europe celebrates on the ninth green during the Friday morning foursomes matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 29, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Season Recap
Consistency has been the name of the game for Lowry, who finished either 12th or 13th in his first five counting events before sealing back-to-back top threes at the DP World Tour Championship and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Strong performances in PGA TOUR Signature events saw him keep racking up points and while he was edged out of automatic selection by Rasmus Højgaard, there is little surprise in seeing him on Team Europe.

Ryder Cup Experience:
His Ryder Cup debut was a chastening one for Europe in the record defeat at Whistling Straits but Lowry produced one of the highlights of the week as he and Tyrrell Hatton beat Tony Finau and Harris English 1 Up in Saturday’s fourballs session.

In 2023 he formed a fearsome partnership with Sepp Straka, winning in the first session whitewash and losing on day two before halving his singles match with Jordan Spieth after the Cup was well won.

Jon Rahm

• Age: 30
• World Ranking: 80
• Ryder Cup ranking: Captain’s Pick
• Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2018, 2020, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 6-3-3

Jon Rahm will make his fourth Ryder Cup appearance and second on away soil as part of Luke Donald’s European Team after being selected as a Captain’s Pick.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Jon Rahm of Team Europe celebrates on the third hole during the Friday morning foursomes matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 29, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Season Recap

Since the start of the European Ryder Cup qualification process last summer, the Spaniard has displayed his pedigree as a world-class figure in the game with some notable results despite limited starts on the DP World Tour.

After losing out to compatriot Angel Hidalgo in a play-off at the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid on home soil, he followed it with top tens at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters. His 2025 started with a missed cut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, but he has made the cut in all four of this year’s Majors, including top tens at the US PGA Championship and U.S. Open as he finished 24th in the European Team Rankings.

Rahm won LIV Golf’s Individual Championship for the second year running as he finished inside the top ten at all 12 events during 2025.

Ryder Cup Experience

Rahm first played in the Ryder Cup as part of Thomas Bjørn’s winning side at Le Golf National in 2018, registering one point from his three matches as he defeated Tiger Woods in the Sunday Singles.

By the time his second appearance came around in 2021 at Whistling Straits, he was a Major champion after winning the U.S. Open earlier that year and he went on to be the top points scorer for Europe in a losing cause with defeat to Scottie Scheffler in the singles his only defeat. He was undefeated two years ago in Italy, forging a formidable foursomes partnership with Tyrrell Hatton as the pair won both their matches, either side of a half point alongside rookie Nicolai Højgaard in Friday’s fourballs and a half point in a high-quality encounter with Scheffler.

Sepp Straka

• Age: 32
• World Ranking: 13
• Ryder Cup ranking: 8 (Captain’s Pick)
• Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0

Straka becomes the first Austrian to play in multiple Ryder Cups after being handed a second consecutive Captain’s Pick by Luke Donald.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 29: Sepp Straka of Team Europe tees off on the fifth hole during the Friday morning foursomes matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 29, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Season Recap
His victory at the American Express may not have earned him any Ryder Cup points but it will have caught the skipper’s eye and he continued to thrive in big events with top 15s at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and RBC Heritage.

A Signature event win at the Truist Championship followed by a top three at the The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and top ten at the Genesis Scottish Open further proved he has the appetite for the big stage.

Ryder Cup Experience
Was picked to play in the opening session on his Ryder Cup debut and defeated Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa 2&1 in foursomes alongside Shane Lowry before the duo fell to Max Homa and Brian Harman on day two.

He suffered a 2 Up defeat to Justin Thomas in the singles as the United States won four consecutive points to get it from 14-7 to 14-11 but moments later, he was a Ryder Cup winner.

Viktor Hovland

• Age: 28
• World Ranking: 15
• Ryder Cup ranking: 10 (Captain’s Pick)
• Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (2020, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 3-4-3

Viktor Hovland will make his third consecutive appearance for Team Europe after being selected by Luke Donald as a Captain's pick for the first time.

ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Viktor Hovland of Team Europe celebrates winning the hole on the fourth green during the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on October 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Season Recap
After playing a vital role in Europe’s Ryder Cup success in Rome, Hovland underwent a difficult spell and admittedly struggled with his game and his swing before an incredible comeback victory at the Valspar Championship earlier this year. Hovland had trailed by three shots after the 13th hole but made a run of birdies on the 14th, 15th and 17th to beat out Justin Thomas to the title by one shot. At the time, Hovland had called it “unbelievable.”

"It feels unbelievable. It's been quite the struggle the past year and a half, so for me to come back and win this tournament is quite incredible because I was not very hopeful with my game leading into this week.”

Prior to that, he’d missed three cuts in a row but has since gone on to find a lot more confidence in his game. The highlight of his more recent form is a third place finish at the U.S. Open in June, with a tie for 7th at the BMW Championship and 12th place finish at the Tour Championship on the PGA TOUR in August.

Ryder Cup Experience
Hovland will now be making his second appearance in an away Ryder Cup following his debut as a Rookie at Whistling Straits in 2021, where he returned with a record of 0-3-1. Hovland played in all five sessions that year but, as part of a disappointing outing for Team Europe, his only points came from a tied fourball match with Tommy Feetwood against Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas on Friday afternoon, and a tie in his singles match against Collin Morikawa.

Things were very different in 2023. One half of a record-breaking pairing, Hovland was part of history at Marco Simone alongside Ludvig Åberg. After earning their first foursomes point against Brian Harman and Max Homa 4&3 on Friday morning, the pair went on to defeat Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9&7, marking the largest margin of victory in a foursomes match in the Ryder Cup. The duo did lose their Saturday afternoon four-ball match 4&3 against Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns, but Hovland had already teamed up with Tyrrell Hatton for a half in their fourballs match the previous afternoon against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth to add another half point to the European tally. For the second contest in a row Hovland faced Morikawa in Singles, this time walking away the victor with a 4&3 win, and an impressive 3-1-1 record.

Ludvig Åberg

• Age: 25
• World Ranking: 14
• Ryder Cup ranking: 9 (Captain’s Pick)
• Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 2-2-0

Ludvig Åberg will make his second appearance in Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup team and first at an away Ryder Cup after securing one of Donald’s six Captain’s picks.

ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 30: Ludvig Aberg of Team Europe celebrates winning his match alongside teammate Viktor Hovland 9&7 during the Saturday morning foursomes matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 30, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Season Recap
Following a quick ascension as one of the world’s best players and ending 2024 as World Number Five, Åberg began his year with a tie for fifth at The Sentry on the PGA TOUR and earned his second PGA TOUR title at the Genesis Invitational in February. Having battled the flu, it was a victory that included a hole in one on Saturday and a final round 66 with four birdies on his last six holes to win by one shot ahead of American Maverick McNealy. While that form didn’t quite translate throughout the next few months, the Swede did finish inside the top 10 at The Masters for a second year in a row.

The Genesis Scottish Open marked another up-turn in form for Åberg, starting with a tie for 8th at The Renaissance Club. He finished tied 23rd at The Open, before ending his year with back-to-back top tens at The Fed-Ex St Jude Championship and BMW Championship, and a tie 21st at the Tour Championship on the PGA TOUR that will all do plenty to solidify more confidence as he makes his first appearance in a Stateside Ryder Cup.

Ryder Cup Experience

Åberg memorably made history as the first player to play at a Ryder Cup before making an appearance in a Major Championship in 2023, having been selected the day after winning his maiden DP World Tour title at the 2023 Omega European Masters.

The other half of the record-breaking Scandinavian partnership, Åberg proved Donald’s choice was a worthy one. Playing in four matches, he earned two points from three alongside Hovland – which of course includes that history-making 9&7 foursomes victory – before losing his singles match 3&2 to Brooks Koepka.

Matt Fitzpatrick

• Age: 31
• World Ranking: 29
• Ryder Cup ranking: Captain’s Pick
• Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2016, 2020, 2023)
• Ryder Cup record: 1-7-0

Matt Fitzpatrick will make his fourth Ryder Cup appearance and third on away soil as part of Luke Donald’s European Team after being selected as a Captain's Pick for the first time.

ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Matt Fitzpatrick of Team Europe tees off on the 14th hole during the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on October 01, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Season Recap

Ahead of the Masters Tournament in April, the Englishman was struggling for form and found himself outside the world’s top 70 but he has since made the cut in his subsequent 15 starts worldwide.

In that time, he has recorded top tens at the US PGA Championship and The Open and a further five across the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour, including his most recent two starts at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo and Omega European Masters after missing out on qualifying for the PGA TOUR’s season-ending Tour Championship.

Ryder Cup Experience

At 22, the Englishman was the youngest of member of both sides when he made his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine in 2016.

Limited to foursomes and singles appearances across his first two appearances – both of which came on the road after also contesting the 2021 edition at Whistling Straits – he created some happy memories in 2023 as he teamed up with Rory McIlroy to land his first Ryder Cup point in the fourballs on the opening day at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.