Ryder Cup Preview & Power Rankings

CoachDay
Sep 24
5 min read

As golf fans, we now live in a world where we only get a few true Big-time tournaments each year in which we see ALL of golf’s best compete on the same stage. Since the split with LIV’s formation, we truly only get the majors every year. But then there are the bonus years: the Olympics, the Presidents Cup, and what has become one of the most prideful events in the sport...the Ryder Cup.

The stage is set. In Farmingdale, New York, we have the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Yes, the same course that greets you with a personal warning sign as you enter.

For those who haven’t had the time to dial all the way in, no worries, the must read preview is here. The course is a challenge on a random Tuesday, let alone the cup on the line, thousands of fans, and potentially the President of the United States watching. It’s considered one of the longest courses, and now with this week’s wet weather, it will favor the long hitters even more.

So who does that benefit? Well, Europe averages 306.4 off the tee, while the United States averages 306.2. Of course, you also have players like Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, both known for their elite driving lengths. Still, the teams sit basically even. But you also need to hit it straight here, with notoriously narrow fairways and scary-deep bunkers guarding the greens.

On those tricky greens, the United States holds a small edge with the flat stick, averaging about 0.5 fewer putts per round as a team in 2025 compared to Europe. Again, it’s just a slight margin of difference though. So where could the real advantage be? For the U.S., it’s clearly home soil. The last “away” Ryder Cup victory came in 2012. That was on U.S. soil, but it’s still been over a decade now. Being the home team gives you a huge boost.

So what do the Europeans have? Experience!

Eleven out of twelve European players have Ryder Cup experience, with six having “road” memories under their belts. In comparison, the United States features four first-timers, and only six players with multiple Cup appearances. If there’s an away team primed for an upset, it’s this European squad. Experts continuously have said this could be one of the deepest fields in Ryder Cup history, especially on Europe's side.

This event always comes down to the players, how they play together, how they handle the pressure, and who can gain the edge head-to-head. We know the course. We know the stats. But now the who’s who, and where do they land in the power rankings?

Rory & Jon Rahm at the top are the easy ones. I firmly believe they’re two of the best golfers in the world today, and even top 10–15 all time when it's all said and done, with Rory potentially top 5. They also hit it long, which is crucial at Bethpage, and both thrive in match-play formats(combined 22-16-7).

After them, my rankings might differ from others. Tommy Fleetwood thrives in these tournaments (7-3-2 record), and with that win last month, his game might now be unleashed. Next, I love Ludvig Åberg, his play is unfazed, he’s long off the tee, and his iron game could be the difference, pressuring opponents into shots they don’t want to take.

After the top four, there’s no real drop-off. Europe’s 5–8 are dangerous. Justin Rose is a steady, silent killer as the vet. Tyrrell Hatton, when hot(no pun intended I swear), is as lethal as anyone in the world. Viktor Hovland brought unmatched vibes last time in Europe, his positivity makes him a great partner (though yes, we all want the Scandinavian Bros back together). Rounding out this group is the lone rookie Rasmus Højgaard , included mostly for his driving ability and chip-on-the-shoulder attitude, as his twin brother still seems to get more attention.

The “bottom tier” is far from weak. Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre can both putt as well as anyone on this team, and their potential on the greens is exactly the kind of pressure Europe wants to put on the U.S. Now the last two have bigger question marks, with Matt Fitzpatrick’s 1–7 Ryder Cup record troubling, while Austrian Sepp Straka is more of an unknown. He went 1–2 in his debut, but this season ended a little shaky after a huge summer.

Now to Team America!

Like Europe, their 1–2 punch is lethal. It starts with Scottie Scheffler, who is ascending into all-time-great status. Then comes LIV megastar Bryson DeChambeau, this course is a dream for him. If Bryson is locked in, he could be the main game-changer of the weekend.

After them are three very popular Ryder Cup players: Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, and Xander Schauffele. They’re coming off up-and-down seasons, but they love the Ryder Cup format, with a combined 16-10-3 record. Cantlay and Schauffele are the American version of the Scandinavian Bros, the Surf Bros from Cali. Xander has no problem with slow-mo Pat, and together they’re deadly.

Outside the top five come the unknowns. The next seven are only a combined 6-7-3, with four being Ryder rookies. Some golf buffs feel rookie J.J. Spaun could be the wild card, capable of stealing key points. The bigger questions are Sam Burns, Russell Henley, and Harris English. They’re roller-coaster players, dangerous when hot, but just as quickly capable of sliding. How they match up against Europe’s lower tier could be the swing factor.

As always, pairings and matchups are key. That’s where the strategy, crazy metrics, alternate-shot plans, and mental games all play out. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, wants a Bryson vs. Rory showdown with the Cup on the line Sunday. That’s a golf fan’s wet dream!

I’ll say this: we need a Sunday finale that can go either way. After a Masters for the ages to kick off 2025, the rest of the major season lacked the punch we wanted after Augusta's magic. With the golf world split, we all deserve an intense Ryder Cup to ride off into the winter on. And with these rosters, we just might get it. With so few chances to see the world’s best compete head-to-head, let’s not take this weekend for granted.

BONUS!!! For those who love to dive into some bets, here are a few Ryder Cup wagers to chew on: