The wait is over—Europe’s captain Luke Donald has revealed his final six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup, completing the squad that will take on the United States later this month in New York.
Among the big names making the cut are major champions Shane Lowry and Jon Rahm, alongside Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, and Matt Fitzpatrick.
They now join the automatic qualifiers—Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, and Rasmus Hojgaard, who sealed his spot at the British Masters.
A Tough Challenge in America
Team Europe will be defending the trophy at Bethpage from September 26–28.
The challenge is huge—they haven’t won on American soil since the unforgettable “Miracle at Medinah” back in 2012.
Interestingly, almost the entire squad from Europe’s 2023 victory in Rome is returning.
The only difference? Rasmus Hojgaard is in, taking the place of his twin brother Nicolai.
“I feel amazingly proud of these guys,” said Donald. “Continuity like this is unusual, but it shows how good this group is.
But playing away in America is a completely different animal, and we’ve been preparing for that.”
Shane Lowry’s Emotional Selection
One of the most heartfelt moments came when Donald announced Shane Lowry as his first pick.
The Irishman narrowly missed automatic qualification but was always expected to make the team.
“You see what Shane brings—his energy is infectious. He puts the team above everything else,” Donald explained.
For Lowry, it’s his third Ryder Cup appearance as a captain’s pick, and he admitted it’s been a stressful journey to get here.
“I’m very grateful Luke has put his faith in me again. Hopefully, I can repay it by producing the goods,” the 38-year-old said.
Jon Rahm Sets the Tone
Jon Rahm, who competes on the LIV tour alongside Hatton, also secured his spot.
His Ryder Cup record speaks for itself—seven and a half points across three appearances.
“Jon sets the standard for us,” Donald said. “He’s meticulous, first in the room and last out.
He understands what the Ryder Cup means, especially following in the footsteps of great Spanish players.”
Hovland, Fitzpatrick, and Aberg Ready to Shine
Norwegian star Viktor Hovland couldn’t hide his excitement about returning to Ryder Cup action, remembering his strong partnership with Aberg last year.
“He was a lion for us in Rome,” Donald recalled. Hovland admitted, “My palms are sweaty—I can’t wait to get going.”
For Matt Fitzpatrick, selection came with perfect timing—on his 31st birthday.
Donald praised him for turning his season around, saying statistically, no one has been better in recent months.
Meanwhile, Aberg, who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2023, said he feels much more prepared this time: “I definitely feel more experienced.”
Europe’s Road to Back-to-Back Wins
Donald’s team is chasing something special—their first back-to-back Ryder Cup victories in 19 years.
Lowry, Straka, Aberg, Hovland, and Fitzpatrick all finished just outside the automatic spots but proved too strong to overlook.
Team USA’s Line-Up
Across the pond, US captain Keegan Bradley has also made his picks.
He decided against becoming the first playing captain in over six decades, instead selecting Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns, and Ryder Cup rookies Ben Griffin and Cameron Young.
They’ll join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, JJ Spaun, Russell Henley, and Harris English—making for a formidable American side.
Who Will Take the Trophy?
With both teams locked in, the countdown is officially on.
Europe carries the momentum from Rome, but the US team will have the home advantage at Bethpage.
The big question now is—who are you backing when the Ryder Cup tees off later this month?
