The 2025 Ryder Cup is underway, with Team Europe aiming to keep the cup on the road in New York against Team USA.
Winning a Ryder Cup on foreign soil is always a challenge, but Europe arrives as one of the strongest road teams in recent memory. Eleven of the 12 players from the 2023 team that reclaimed the cup in Rome return, many eager to make it two straight victories.
For Team USA to take the cup back, it will have to rely on its star power led by Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau. Captain Keegan Bradley chose not to select himself, instead putting together a mixture Ryder Cup veterans and rookies who earned their spots with strong 2025 seasons.
Overall, 24 of the best golfers in the world will participate in the Ryder Cup this week with the spotlight shining bright. The Sporting News ranked all 24 players who earned their way into the event.
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Ranking every golfer at 2025 Ryder Cup
1. Scottie Scheffler
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OWGR: No. 1
Ryder Cup Record: 2-2-3
Scheffler has cemented himself as the best player in the world, winning two more majors in 2025 and producing results only comparable to prime Tiger Woods. However, Scheffler has underwhelmed in two previous Ryder Cup appearances, which includes a winless stretch two years ago in Rome.
MORE: Meet Scottie Scheffler's family, including son Bennett, wife Meredith & more
2. Rory McIlroy
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OWGR: No. 2
Ryder Cup Record: 16-13-4
McIlroy's Masters victory in April was the story of the year, and after a rough stretch immediately following that win, he seems to have found his groove back. While McIlroy sometimes has trouble finding motivation for tournaments at this stage of his career, that shouldn't be the case for the Ryder Cup as he has been looking forward to this for two years.
MORE: Rory McIlroy career earnings
3. Bryson DeChambeau
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OWGR: No. 21
Ryder Cup record: 2-3-1
The most interesting player in the field, DeChambeau made the team largely off of impressive major performances in the last two years. He has the ability to play as anyone else in the tournament, but his unique style and personality are high-risk, high-reward in a team event like the Ryder Cup.
4. Xander Schauffele
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OWGR: No.4
Ryder Cup record: 4-4-0
Schauffele's breakout 2024 season saw him win the first two majors of his career, proving that he is among the elite golfers in the world. He began 2025 slow due to a rib injury, but has slowly started to look more like himself lately and remains a force when he is at his best.
MORE: Xander Schauffele majors timeline
5. Jon Rahm
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OWGR: 73
Ryder Cup record: 6-3-3
Rahm hasn't been the same since making the move to LIV Golf, but he is still a dominant force on the golf course. Rahm was crucial to Team Europe's 2023 win in Rome, getting three points in four matches, and is the only LIV golfer to earn a captain's pick for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
MORE: Jon Rahm majors timeline
6. Tommy Fleetwood
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OWGR: 7
Ryder Cup record: 7-3-2
Fleetwood had an emotional victory at the TOUR Championship to close the PGA Tour season, winning his elusive first win on the tour. While his individual results have left some to be desired given his talent level, Fleetwood has been a strong Ryder Cup performer over the course of his career.
MORE: Tommy Fleetwood breaks through with first victory at TOUR Championship
7. Russell Henley
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OWGR: 3
Ryder Cup record: N/A
Henley is quietly one of the most consistent golfers in the world, as only Scheffler and McIlroy have higher world golf rankings. However, this will still be the 36-year-old's first Ryder Cup, although he was a member of Team USA's winning team at the 2024 Presidents' Cup.
MORE: Russell Henley family tree
8. J.J. Spaun
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OWGR: 6
Ryder Cup record: N/A
Spaun had a breakout season in 2025, culminating in a thrilling U.S. Open title at Oakmont. The veteran golfer has been a prominent fixture on leaderboards this year, and will take that momentum into his first Ryder Cup after qualifying for the tournament.
MORE: How J.J. Spaun overcame Type 2 diabetes misdiagnosis to thrive with Type 1
9. Robert MacIntyre
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OWGR: 9
Ryder Cup record: 2-0-1
MacIntyre is the only lefty in the 2025 Ryder Cup, and after more of a supporting role in 2023, he is ready to take a prominent role this year. The Scottish golfer finished in the top 10 in the last two majors of the year as he has steadily improved over the past two seasons.
MORE: Complete list of FedEx Cup champions and payouts in golf history
10. Justin Thomas
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OWGR: 5
Ryder Cup record: 7-4-2
Thomas is now the veteran on Team USA, as he has played on every Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup since 2017. His energy and experience is sure to be an asset for the Americans at home in New York, and Thomas has even had a solid 2025 season which includes a win back in April.
11. Viktor Hovland
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OWGR: 12
Ryder Cup record: 3-4-3
Hovland hasn't been able to keep the momentum on his strong 2023, but he has steadied himself this year which includes a victory in March. The 28-year-old will be playing in his third Ryder Cup as he is slowly becoming an experienced veteran for the event.
MORE: Has Viktor Hovland won a major?
12. Ludvig Aberg
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OWGR: 16
Ryder Cup record: 2-2-0
Aberg made his Ryder Cup debut in 2023 before even playing in a major tournament, proving how talented the Swede is. It is only a matter of time before Aberg becomes one of the elite players on the PGA Tour, but he has been inconsistent in his first two PGA Tour seasons thus far.
MORE: Lowest 72-hole scores in majors history
13. Harris English
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OWGR: 10
Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0
English qualified for his second Ryder Cup after a strong 2025 season, which included two major runner-up finishes at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship. He was on Team USA's victorious 2021 team and was left off the 2023 squad, and his hoping to bring winning ways back to the team.
MORE: Harris English family tree
14. Ben Griffin
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OWGR: 11
Ryder Cup record: N/A
Griffin had the best season of his young career in 2025, finishing top 10 in two majors and winning his first two PGA Tour events. He enters his first Ryder Cup as a bit of a wild card, as his momentum will be challenged by his inexperience in such a contentious event.
MORE: What is a captain's pick for Ryder Cup?
15. Justin Rose
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OWGR: 14
Ryder Cup record: 14-9-3
Rose is the most-experienced player in the 2025 Ryder Cup as he has played in each iteration since 2008 to solid success. Besides being a veteran presence for Team Europe, he's also had much recent success, including top 20 finishes in four of the last seven majors, with two runner up finishes, and a win in August at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
MORE: Justin Rose career earnings
16. Collin Morikawa
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OWGR: 8
Ryder Cup record: 4-3-1
While Morikawa enters the Ryder Cup ranked in the top 10, he did have a disappointing 2025 season with the worst major season of his career. The 28-year-old will have to rely on his Ryder Cup experience to try and get back on track, especially when he earned 3.5 points in four matches four years ago.
MORE: Collin Morikawa majors timeline
17. Tyrrell Hatton
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OWGR: 25
Ryder Cup record: 5-4-2
Hatton's fiery personality tends to lead to entertaining performances, which was the case this year as he finished in the top 20 in three of the four majors. Two years ago, Hatton won 3.5 points for Team Europe in what was his best Ryder Cup performance in three appearances.
MORE: Breaking down Tyrrell Hatton's net worth, career earnings
18. Matt Fitzpatrick
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OWGR: 29
Ryder Cup record: 1-7-0
At one point, it seemed like Fitzpatrick wouldn't make Europe's 2025 Ryder Cup team, but a strong second half got him a spot for the third-straight event and fourth overall. He finished in the top 20 in four of the final five PGA Tour tournaments of the year, and Fitzpatrick hopes that will help him improve upon previous underwhelming performances in the Ryder Cup.
MORE: Matt Fitzpatrick net worth
19. Patrick Cantlay
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OWGR: 22
Ryder Cup record: 5-2-1
Cantlay's poor major record and icy personality are counteracted by the fact that he has performed well in three Ryder Cups so far, earning 5.5 points in seven matches. He was at the center of the action in 2023 and could once again play a prominent role in how well Team USA does.
MORE: Patrick Cantlay vs. Rory McIlroy beef history
20. Sepp Straka
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OWGR: 15
Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0
Straka had a hot start to the 2025 season, winning two events to vault into the top 10 of the OWGR. However, he took a step back in the second half of the year, which includes three missed cuts in the majors this year with his only finish being outside of the top 50 at The Open Championship.
MORE: Youngest U.S. Open winners, from John McDermott to Jordan Spieth
21. Shane Lowry
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OWGR: 24
Ryder Cup record: 2-3-1
Lowry is a fan favorite who appeared ready for a strong major season but disappointed with two missed cuts and no finishes in the top 40. The Irishman remains an experienced player for Team Europe but was hoping to enter the tournament after a better season.
MORE: Shane Lowry majors timeline
22. Sam Burns
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OWGR: 23
Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0
Burns was the final captain's pick for Team USA captain Keegan Bradley, as the American earned the spot largely thanks to his putting ability. However, Burns has not been great in big events, finishing top 10 in just two major appearances, which is something he must conquer this week.
MORE: Scottie Scheffler-Sam Burns close friendship, explained
23. Cameron Young
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OWGR: 20
Ryder Cup record: N/A
A New York native, Young cemented his captain's pick spot with his first PGA Tour win at the Wyndham Championship in August. The 28-year-old has a steady personality that could suit well in Ryder Cup play, but he has not performed great in bigger tournaments.
MORE: Ryder Cup winners by year
24. Rasmus Hojgaard
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OWGR: 58
Ryder Cup record: N/A
Hojgaard is the lone member of Team Europe who was not on the 2023 team, as he replaces his twin brother, Nicolai. Hojgaard qualified for the team as he finished fifth in points, but doesn't provide the experience or recent strong play that most other players in the event do.
MORE: Hojgaard twins family tree