Team Europe shortlisted for 2025 BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year
Team Europe have been named on the Team of the Year Shortlist for 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year after their dramatic victory at the 2025 Ryder Cup over the US Team at Bethpage Black.
VOTE NOW: Vote for your Sports Personality Team of the Year
Led by Captain Luke Donald, the most unchanged European side in history completed their Fairytale in New York in September, defeating the United States on away soil for the first time since the Miracle of Medinah in 2012.
Making a plethora of history along the way, Donald’s European side became the first European team to win each of the first four sessions of a Ryder Cup on away soil. They won each of the first three matches played in a Ryder Cup on American soil for the first time, won the cumulative four-ball battle for the first time since 2010, and also became the first team on either side since Europe became part of the Ryder Cup in 1979 to amass an 11.5-4.5 lead heading into Sunday.
That lead provided the setting for one of the most dramatic final days in Ryder Cup history, with Europe poised for a fifth away win on home soil and the U.S Team looking to complete the biggest comeback in history.
Against the odds, the United States came back fighting, with eight of the 11 matches played making it to the 18th green. Viktor Hovland, who picked up a neck injury on Saturday, invoked the envelope rule and his match with Harris English was awarded a half, taking the scores to 12 -5 as the other matches headed out onto the course.
Both Cameron Young defeated Justin Rose and Justin Thomas defeated Tommy Fleetwood 1UP in the opening two matches, before an impressive fightback from Bryson DeChambeau left the third match tied with Matt Fitzpatrick. With Scottie Scheffler then defeating Rory McIlroy, it was Ludvig Áberg who earned Europe’s sole full point of the final day with a 2&1 victory over Patrick Cantlay.
With Xander Schauffele’s 4&3 win over Jon Rahm immediately followed by J.J. Spaun’s victory over Sepp Straka, Europe were left in need of half a point from the final matches as the total reached 13.5 – 10.5.
Up stepped Shane Lowry. The Irishman had been two down with four to play against Russel Henley but a stunning approach to the 15th saw him go down the last knowing a win on the final hole would retain the Cup. With both players inside ten feet on the final green, Henley left his effort short, and Lowry then holed from six feet to emphatic and emotional celebration.
Hatton then halved his match with Colin Morikawa to seal a European win, while Robert MacIntyre and Sam Burns shared a half in the anchor match to take the final margin of victory to 15-13.
While it was by no means an easy path, Europe proved the importance of unity in the team room as they supported each other to a fifth away victory. With it, Donald joined Tony Jacklin (1985, 1987) as just the second European Captain to win back-to-back victories and earning an accolade from losing United States Captain Keegan Bradley as the best of all time.
“I think he’s the best European Ryder Cup Captain of all time, Luke Donald” Bradley said following his team’s loss in New York.
Team Europe are shortlisted alongside England's Euro 2025-winning women's football team and the country's Women's Rugby World Cup champions.
Rory McIlroy has also been shortlisted for the individual BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, following a career-defining year that saw him capture the Grand Slam and earn a seventh Race to Dubai title.
Voting is OPEN for Team of the Year. Click here to find out more.
.jpg)
