Is The U.S. Ryder Cup Team In Trouble?

We’re only about seven months away from the Ryder Cup.

In my bold predictions article for 2025, I wrote about how I believe the European team is going to end a long run of the home side winning the event.

Of the past nine Ryder Cups, only one has been captured by the away team. Even in that instance, it took a miraculous Sunday comeback by the Europeans at Medinah in order to pull off the upset.

The Americans will likely be home favorites at Bethpage this fall—this is a Ryder Cup the team probably feels it must win after what happened in Rome—but their roster heading into the event could look a lot different from previous iterations.

Who will be defending home turf for the U.S. Ryder Cup team? It’s hard to say for certain, but it’s looking like at least a few unheralded names will get the call.

The American depth will be challenged

Go back four years ago to the 2021 Ryder Cup when the Americans crushed the Europeans, 19-9.

That U.S. team was loaded.

Collin Morikawa was in major-winning form. So was Dustin Johnson, who would soon ride off into the sunset with LIV. Bryson DeChambeau had recently won the U.S. Open. Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay were all playing well.

Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler—the two best golfers in the world as of this writing—were captain’s picks! Scheffler barely made the team.

The “worst” players on the team were Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth, Harris English and Daniel Berger.

Even two years later in Rome, the Americans were still loaded with depth.

A lot can change between now and September, but I highly doubt the Americans will enjoy such an advantage this time around.

Barring injury or their games falling off a cliff, there are six obvious picks for this year’s team: Scheffler, Schauffele, DeChambeau, Morikawa, Thomas and Cantlay. They are the best Americans in the world right now. They have the experience of past Ryder Cups and being in the heat of battle during majors.

But who would be in the next six spots?

Some of the leading options at the moment: Koepka, Finau, Will Zalatoris, Sam Burns, Maverick McNealy, Akshay Bhatia, Denny McCarthy, Russell Henley and… and… Davis Thompson? Max Greyserman?

Maybe Spieth can turn all of his sponsor exemptions into another renaissance?

Should captain Keegan Bradley be a player? Of course not… but maybe he should?

A lot of these players are either in poor form or don’t have Ryder Cup experience. The door is wide open for someone to step up and claim a spot. I don’t think there are any guarantees here.

If Koepka struggles in the majors again, we won’t see him at Bethpage. Zalatoris has no top-10 finishes in the last 10 months as he recoups from injury. Finau and Burns are potential depth options but can’t be trusted to play more than three matches.

I really think we’re going to see McNealy on this team—and maybe even as the No. 10 guy.

It’s too early to declare the Americans in trouble, but I don’t think the depth advantage is going to be the same as it once was.

Meanwhile, Europe is in great shape

Four years ago, the Europeans were panicking about a lack of young talent.

Traditionally, the Americans have more “on-paper talent” in this event. But that gap looked particularly stark a few years ago.

Well, Ludvig Aberg has helped a lot. It’s nice when a young star immediately becomes a top 10 player in the world and is winning signature events.

Then you have Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton. All of them are top 10 players in the world according to Data Golf.

The upper echelon of European players is arguably better than what the U.S. has at the moment.

In terms of depth, the Europeans have Shane Lowry, a seemingly perfect fit for the Ryder Cup. He’s played twice now and has the experience.

You have to figure Viktor Hovland returns to form after a turbulent 2024. He could be playing four matches by the time we reach September.

Europe has a way of cleverly filling out its depth pieces, but there are good options for the bottom four now. Sepp Straka is a legit top 30 player in the world. Thomas Detry just won in Phoenix. Rasmus Hojgaard is playing well and in the mix for a spot.

And what about 2022 U.S. Open victor Matthew Fitzpatrick?

This has the makings of a really strong roster.

I don’t see much of a talent disparity here, and all of the pressure is going to be on the Americans to defend their home turf. They are expected to win, which is a tough situation.

We’ll revisit this later in the year as we get closer, but I’m liking Europe’s chances here.

Who do you think will make the American team? Will the European team pull off an upset?

Let me know below in the comments.