The Europeans are nearly running it back.
Luke Donald, who led Europe to a resounding victory two years ago in Rome, not only returns as captain for the Sept. 26-28 matches at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, but after announcing his six captain’s picks on Monday, Donald welcomes back 11 of his 12 players from the 2023 roster.
Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Rasmus Höjgaard were the automatic qualifiers, while Donald selected Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm. Only Höjgaard is new from 2023, as he replaced his twin, Nicolai.
Here is a closer look at each of the 12 European Ryder Cup team members:
Sep 29, 2023; Rome, ITA; Team Europe golfer Tommy Fleetwood and golfer Rory McIlroy celebrate on the seventeenth green during day one foursomes round for the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Rory McIlroy
- Age: 36
- Home country: Northern Ireland
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 8 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 16-13-4
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 1st
- OWGR rank: 2nd
- Data Golf rank: 4th
- True strokes gained rank: 2nd (+2.33)
- Wins in 2025: 3 (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Players, Masters)
Robert MacIntyre
- Age: 29
- Home country: Scotland
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 2-0-1
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 2nd
- OWGR rank: 9th
- Data Golf rank: 13th
- True strokes gained rank: 12th (+1.43)
- Wins in 2025: 0 (Runners-up at U.S. Open and BMW Championship)
Tommy Fleetwood
- Age: 34
- Home country: England
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 7-3-2
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 3rd
- OWGR rank: 6th
- Data Golf rank: 2nd
- True strokes gained rank: 3rd (+2.21)
- Wins in 2025: 1 (Tour Championship)
Rome , Italy – 30 September 2023; Justin Rose of Europe celebrates after winning his match on the 16th green during the afternoon fourball matches on day two of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Sportsfile via Getty Images
Justin Rose
- Age: 45
- Home country: England
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 7 (2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 14-9-3
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 4th
- OWGR rank: 12th
- Data Golf rank: 47th
- True strokes gained rank: 32nd (+1.01)
- Wins in 2025: 1 (FedEx St. Jude Championship)
Rasmus Højgaard
- Age: 24
- Home country: Denmark
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: Rookie
- Career Ryder Cup record: N/A
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 5th
- OWGR rank: 52nd
- Data Golf rank: 39th
- True strokes gained rank: 91st (+0.19); 1st on DPWT (+1.29)
- Wins in 2025: 0 (Runners-up at Danish Championship and Omega European Masters)
Tyrrell Hatton
- Age: 33
- Home country: England
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 5-4-2
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 6th
- OWGR rank: 25th
- Data Golf rank: 30th
- True strokes gained rank: 12th on LIV Golf (+0.57)
- Wins in 2025: 1 (Hero Dubai Desert Classic)
Shane Lowry
- Age: 38
- Home country: Ireland
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2021, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 2-3-1
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 7th
- OWGR rank: 23rd
- Data Golf rank: 38th
- True strokes gained rank: 24th (+1.26)
- Wins in 2025: 0 (Runners-up at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Truist Championship)
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 31: Sepp Straka of Austria shakes hands with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan on the 18th hole after finishing their second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2025 at Pebble Beach Golf Links on January 31, 2025 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Sepp Straka
- Age: 32
- Home country: Austria
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 1-2
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 8th
- OWGR rank: 13th
- Data Golf rank: 35th
- True strokes gained rank: 8th (+1.53)
- Wins in 2025: 2 (American Express, Truist Championship)
Ludvig Åberg
- Age: 25
- Home country: Sweden
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 2-2
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 9th
- OWGR rank: 14th
- Data Golf rank: 16th
- True strokes gained rank: 17th (+1.33)
- Wins in 2025: 1 (Genesis Invitational)
Viktor Hovland
- Age: 28
- Home country: Norway
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (2021, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 3-4-3
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 10th
- OWGR rank: 15th
- Data Golf rank: 15th
- True strokes gained rank: 13th (+1.38)
- Wins in 2025: 1 (Valspar Championship)
Matt Fitzpatrick
- Age: 31
- Home country: England
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2016, 2021, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 1-7
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 11th
- OWGR rank: 29th
- Data Golf rank: 8th
- True strokes gained rank: 23rd (+1.26)
- Wins in 2025: 0
Jon Rahm
- Age: 30
- Home country: Spain
- No. of Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025)
- Career Ryder Cup record: 6-3-3
- Final European Ryder Cup points rank: 24th
- OWGR rank: 80th
- Data Golf rank: 3rd
- True strokes gained rank: 1st on LIV Golf (+2.21)
- Wins in 2025: 0 (Four runners-up on LIV)
