Last week, Rasmus Højgaard secured his spot in Team Europe by finishing tied-13th at the Betfred British Masters, hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, with one automatic place still open.
The six players securing automatic qualification for Team Europe are Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, and Rasmus Højgaard.
The switch to a single qualification list has been a success, replacing the former European and World Points Lists.
Interestingly, the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship, which took place during the qualification period, was not counted as a qualifying event. It’s surprising that such a significant tournament didn’t contribute to Ryder Cup selection. Nonetheless, new formats often need adjustments; getting them perfect on the first try is uncommon.
Shane Lowry narrowly missed the final automatic spot, but he is likely to be one of Captain Luke Donald’s selections.
If Lowry had secured the last automatic place, Rasmus Højgaard would have probably been chosen as a captain’s pick instead.
Donald has been working diligently behind the scenes, but selecting his six captain’s picks could be the most challenging task. He will reveal his choices on August 1, 2025.
Who will he choose?
Khaleej Times suggests that Jon Rahm, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, and Viktor Hovland are strong contenders.
In our view, Matt Wallace, Marco Penge, Harry Hall, Dubai-based Thomas Detry, and several others may just miss out.
This lineup would give Donald the experienced team he desires for the away Ryder Cup in New York, mirroring the Rome team with Rasmus Højgaard replacing his twin brother Nicolai.
Donald has only a few days left to finalize his picks, but he must feel confident he has the right mix of experience and form to challenge the Americans.
On the other side, Team US Captain Keegan Bradley will announce his six picks on Wednesday, August 27. His task may be more difficult, starting with himself.
Bradley hasn’t ruled out selecting himself after finishing tied seventh in the recent Tour Championship. Is he serious or just playing mind games? As the Cup approaches, he must realize that the captain’s responsibilities are too demanding to also consider playing.
However, can the US afford to exclude the world’s 11th-ranked player, who finished 11th in Ryder Cup qualifying? That’s Bradley’s dilemma.
Our Khaleej Times predictions for Team USA include Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman, Cameron Young, and Patrick Cantlay.
Regardless, several top Americans will face disappointment. Difficult conversations are ahead. If Bradley chooses himself, it could spark debate for weeks, or even years, as one of the boldest or most misguided decisions in Ryder Cup history.
