Ryder Cup 2025: Teams taking shape ahead of Bethpage battle

Bradley, who completed the win amid wild cries of "U-S-A!" at TPC River Highlands, will be the American captain at Bethpage while Fleetwood will be part of the backbone of the European team.

Let's take a closer look at how the two teams are lining up in New York in September.

Europe is likely to look to the heart of the team that clinched victory in Rome two years ago. The Americans, on the other hand, have a strong half dozen - but will then have to turn to players in form this year that have little experience of team golf and no long-term proof of quality.

Let's go deeper.

2025 Ryder Cup: Team Europe

Already qualified - Rory McIlroy

Three victories at the start of the year followed by the Masters win in April have confirmed that McIlroy will play again. In Rome he said that winning an away Ryder Cup is now one of the biggest tasks in golf and added: "That's what we're going to do in two years' time."

Locks - Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose

The two Englishmen, Fleetwood and Hatton, are highest in the rankings and only the top six automatically qualify but it would be a huge surprise if all these names have not been pencilled – and probably penned – in.

MacIntyre has won twice on the PGA Tour since his debut in 2023, Lowry remains strong, Straka has won twice in America this year, Aberg and Hovland are not playing as well as in 2023 but their best golf is still world class, Rahm's passion and quality will not be overlooked, and Rose only needs to show a little form between now and September for his experience to be called upon again.

2025 Ryder Cup: Potential debutants

Shortlist: Rasmus Hojgaard, Thomas Detry, Matt Wallace, Aaron Rai, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Harry Hall

That means captain Luke Donald will need to make a fine judgment on two extra players. He might go for Nicolai Hojgaard or Thorbjorn Olesen, who do have experience of the Ryder Cup, but they need to force his hand with good summer form.

Nicolai's brother, Rasmus, is high in the rankings and on track for a debut. Detry and Rai will have supporters – both have won in the States in the last 12 months.

What about Matt Fitzpatrick?

Out of form, way out of the automatic qualifying spots (29th) and he has a dreadful Ryder Cup record anyway.

2025 Ryder Cup: Team USA

Already qualified - Scottie Scheffler

No surprises there!

A likely debutant - JJ Spaun

Second place in the Players and victory in the US Open – a Ryder Cup debut will round off a spectacular year for Spaun.

Locks - Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa

This quartet currently sit in, or close to, the qualifying positions and would likely get a pick anyway. They have long term quality, form this year and Ryder Cup savvy.

And then - Keegan Bradley, Russell Henley, Ben Griffin, Maverick McNealy, Harris English, Andrew Novak, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, Cameron Young

Will Bradley play if he qualifies automatically? Will he pick himself? Questions, questions. Other than that, he has precious few experienced options among those needing a pick. Patrick Cantlay could do him a favour by playing well in the FedEx Cup play-offs. Sam Burns, too, if the US Open failure hasn't hurt him.

The likes of Henley, Griffin, McNealy, English and Novak have played well this year. They are fine golfers. But they won't frighten the Europeans.

What about - Brooks Koepka?

He's tough as teak, plays well in front of raucous galleries, on beefed up traditional courses like Bethpage Black, and would be deemed a significant threat by the Europeans.

But he's 65th in the rankings. He'd probably need to win the Open to force himself into the equation. Ditto Patrick Reed.