Niall Lyons breaks down the match play records of every Team Europe and Team USA player ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup, before sharing his early outright prediction.
Ryder Cup 2025
Rory McIlroy
Fourballs - Won 5, Lost 6, Tied 2
Foursomes - Won 7, Lost 5, Tied 1
Singles - Won 4, Lost 2, Tied 1
Overall - Won 16, Lost 13, Tied 4
Rory enters his 8th Ryder Cup and I'd imagine plays a role similar to that of the vice captains. His opinion will be highly sought after and he'll be a loud voice in the team room. Historically he converts 54.5% of points in this competition and if Europe are to cause an upset this time around then McIlroy will need to perform similar as to how he did in Rome where he managed to sweep up 4pts from a possible 5.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fourballs - Won 2, Lost 2, Tied 1
Foursomes - Won 4, Lost 0, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 1
Overall - Won 7, Lost 3, Tied 2
Half of the hero partnership from Paris in 2018 Fleetwood boasts a tremendous record in this event. A 100% record in all of his foursomes matches to date it's difficult to see him not pairing up with McIlroy once again like they did in Rome. Arguably the second best player in the world over the last couple of months and with the 'real quiz' PGA Tour victory now bagged will fear nobody. Along with McIlroy he holds the key to making this a competitive game. If these two don't fire, look out.
Robert MacIntyre
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 0, Tied 1
Foursomes - Won 0, Lost 0, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 0, Tied 0
Overall - Won 2, Lost 0, Tied 1
Unbeaten in three games in Rome MacIntyre will more than likely head to the tee again with Justin Rose at some time on day one. Delivered the goods late on in the singles in 2023 when it looked like his game may turn out to be very important. Could well be underestimated in what he could bring to the table.
Tyrrell Hatton
Fourballs - Won 2, Lost 1, Tied 2
Foursomes - Won 2, Lost 1, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 2, Tied 0
Overall - Won 5, Lost 4, Tied 2
The fox and the chicken will probably go again, bloodbath. Rahm and Hatton's swear lines will be set at over/under 150.5 and Donald will be banking on them bringing the grain back with them after going unbeaten together in Rome.
Justin Rose
Fourballs - Won 5, Lost 4, Tied 1
Foursomes - Won 7, Lost 2, Tied 1
Singles - Won 2, Lost 3, Tied 1
Overall - Won 14, Lost 9, Tied 3
Like Fleetwood boasts a really good record in this event having partnered numerous players down the years. Whoever goes out with Rose will be delighted to have him beside them and he's already got one up on Team USA when he came out on top during a sudden death play off with JJ Spaun last month.
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Rasmus Hojgaard
Debut
The only debutant on Team Europe this time around and having been around the camp last time in Rome won't exactly feel like one. Has elevated his game just at the right time and despite his inexperience looks in better form than a lot of his teammates.
Jon Rahm
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 2, Tied 2
Foursomes - Won 4, Lost 0, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 1
Overall - Won 6, Lost 3, Tied 3
He can rack up all the top tens he likes on LIV but I remain convinced he's nowhere near the quality he was since the last Ryder Cup. A couple of 2nd placed finishes lately suggests his game is trending in the right direction but no wins in his last 13 LIV events is not what the doctor ordered. He may not be the reliable name he once was in these last few Ryder Cups and Team USA may smell blood.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 0, Lost 3, Tied 0
Singles - Won 0, Lost 3, Tied 0
Overall - Won 1, Lost 7, Tied 0
The lowest ranked in the European points list bar Rahm, Fitzpatrick got his game together when he needed it the most to secure a place on the team for his fourth Ryder Cup. It hasn't been plain sailing in this though and hasn't contributed a single dime in two away Ryder Cups.
Viktor Hovland
Fourballs - Won 0, Lost 2, Tied 2
Foursomes - Won 2, Lost 2, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 0, Tied 1
Overall - Won 3, Lost 4, Tied 3
Partnered Aberg to history in Rome when they hammered Scheffler and Koepka to a 9&7 victory. They lit up the foursomes early on Friday with Hovland holing a long chip across the green on the 1st and they may be used in a similar fashion to galvanise the underdogs. Hasn't been overly convincing since his victory at the Valspar and will be hoping this format can bring out the best in him.
Ludvig Aberg
Fourballs - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 2, Lost 0, Tied 0
Singles - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 0
Overall - Won 2, Lost 2, Tied 0
I still can't quite believe that Aberg won the Genesis in February of 2025 and still needed a pick for the Ryder Cup squad. That scenario looked impossible in 2023 but Aberg has coasted a little since that victory. A very calm demeanour may mean he's beatable in Singles, but expect him to forge a formidable partnership with whoever tees it up alongside him.
Sepp Straka
Fourballs - Won 0, Lost 0, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Singles - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 0
Overall - Won 1, Lost 2, Tied 0
A worrying 30th of 30 in the Tour Championship and seven shots behind 28th place. Personal issues are a cloud hanging over his participation right now and having only contributed 1 point during the romp in Rome he may be the least used member of the lot.
Shane Lowry
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Singles - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 1
Overall - Won 2, Lost 3, Tied 1
Not a single top 10 since May and another whose addition could be legitimately questioned. High enough up the points table though and deserves his spot. Sceptics will say he won't handle the pressure cooker of this Ryder Cup and his tendency to fly off the handle could rear it's head both on and off the course. Careful now.
Scottie Scheffler
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 0, Tied 2
Foursomes - Won 0, Lost 2, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 0, Tied 1
Overall - Won 2, Lost 2, Tied 3
Tiger Woods lost 21 of his 37 Ryder Cup Matches and he'd have been overwhelming favourite in every single one of those games. When Scheffler's spikes are hung up for good I suspect he'll have a much better win ratio in this event than the great man. He'll be looking to banish the memories of a famous 9&7 defeat in the foursomes on Saturday in Rome where he and Koepka were somewhat humiliated. Already has a singles scalp to his name when beating Rahm back in 2021 and he'll undoubtedly be the one upon who Bradley relies on early if either ahead or behind heading into Sunday.
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Bryson Dechambeau
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 1
Foursomes - Won 0, Lost 2, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Overall -Won 2, Lost 3, Tied 1
Channeled his inner Chris Finch to get a hole in one over his roof earlier in the year. Bradley's trump card (in more ways than one) in that Zach Johnson didn't have him at his disposal in Rome. Since his last appearance in 2021 his popularity has soared and you get the impression he could become a juggernaut in this competition in the years to come. He partnered Scheffler in 2021 to lift 1.5pts from a possible 2 in the fourballs and although there are a few obvious pairings for Scheffler if I were the Captain I'd bank on these two to deliver a point in day 1 fourballs.
Xander Schauffele
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 2, Lost 2, Tied 0
Singles - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Overall - Won 4, Lost 4, Tied 0
The famed perfect partnership with Cantlay took a tumble in Rome but with a better than 50% record when these two tee it up together I'd suggest they will go again at least once. Good friends on and off the course these two level headed sorts suit the pressure cooker of the Ryder Cup. He's the second worst performer on the team looking back on the last six months data though and for that reason he could sit a couple out.
Patrick Cantlay
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 0, Tied 1
Foursomes - Won 2, Lost 2, Tied 0
Singles - Won 2, Lost 0, Tied 0
Overall - Won 5, Lost 2, Tied 1
Cantlay is one Captain's pick who should and will be heavily relied upon. He dealt with 'capgate' like a true pro in Rome and has proven himself to be ice cool in this situation. He has defeated Lowry and Rose in his two single games to date and having partnered successfully with Sam Burns in the Presidents Cup he could well hook up again and they'd be a tough nut to crack.
Sam Burns
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 0, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 0
Singles - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 0
Overall - Won 1, Lost 2, Tied 0
A controversial addition last time around and partnering with Scheffler on Friday in Rome didn't go as planned. A fantastic putter he could be clutch in this format on home soil. Nevertheless, he will be under pressure due to the failed game with the world number one in Rome and can't help but feel with him being lowest in the rankings that he's one of the least reliable men on this strong squad.
Cameron Young
Debut
Fourth best player in the squad based on the last three months of competitive golf and with this being a home game for Young he will have all the support. Hopefully he can find a little bit of cheerleading in his personality which to date seems somewhat amiss, even after his debut victory at the Wyndham a few weeks ago. Looks the perfect fit for fourballs and could team up with Dechambeau for a swashbuckling type game.
Justin Thomas
Fourballs - Won 2, Lost 1, Tied 2
Foursomes - Won 2, Lost 3, Tied 0
Singles - Won 3, Lost 0, Tied 0
Overall - Won 7, Lost 4, Tied 2
Often partnered with the missing Jordan Spieth and this time may be used as tool to give the rookies some of his valuable experience. Looks the perfect partner for Ben Griffin and will be looking to continue that impressive 100% record in the singles. His form has ever so slightly gone off the boil since his victory at Harbour Town and with neither length or accuracy being a strong suit off the tee lately could well be left for the fourballs only.
Russell Henley
Debut
A model of consistency all year and got a taste of this when contributing to the last Presidents Cup victory. Looks a certainty to team up with Scottie Scheffler and should they win on day one it'd be a surprise to see them broken up for day two. An absolute dog of a competitor who should be the most used of the debutants. With the Scheffler partnership on the cards he could be a solid bet in the top rookie market.
Collin Morikawa
Fourballs - Won 2, Lost 1, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 2, Lost 1, Tied 0
Singles - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 1
Overall - Won 4, Lost 3, Tied 1
Many will say he deserved his spot on the team due to being 8th in the qualification rankings but he's the luckiest member of this team to be on the side. The worst performer in the team over the last three months he has been taken more for his ceiling rather than his floor and with a mis firing short game lately will have a lot to prove. I'd be surprised if he played more than 2 matches before the singles.
Ben Griffin
Debut
One of the big stories from this Ryder Cup given that it's only a handful of years since Griffin had a desk job and had given up on the game. Fast forward four years and his two win season this year means he is on the biggest stage of all for the week. It's a strong group of debutants for Team USA and they don't look like guys who will shrink under the pressure.
Harris English
Fourballs - Won 1, Lost 1, Tied 0
Foursomes - Won 0, Lost 0, Tied 0
Singles - Won 0, Lost 1, Tied 0
Overall - Won 1, Lost 2, Tied 0
Not the most experienced in this competition but he has a cool head on his shoulders and displayed that in abundance when winning the Farmers Insurance Open early on in the year. Runner up in the Open and PGA Championships this season shows the level he has been performing to. Another strong member down the line of this team.
JJ Spaun
Debut
Went well for a long way in the US Open before finishing with a flourish to land the victory when it looked like it had passed him by. Reliable off the tee he shouldn't find too much trouble around here. The heat of a Monday playoff with McIlroy at Sawgrass and his performance in the US Open suggests he is more than up to the task of this battle.
Captains Picks Thoughts / Early Lean
Luke Donald's picks played out exactly as I thought they would, however I'm not entirely sure if the decision to bring Straka is brave enough. He earned his place on the team for definite, however his effort at East Lake is extremely worrying as are the concerns surrounding some personal issues. Bradley made a bold decision to sacrifice himself and I believe Donald could have put an equal marker down had he been brave enough to leave Straka off the list and bring Alex Noren instead. The Swede is striking the ball really well and went unbeaten in Paris back in 2018. How can you leave a two time PGA Tour winner this season off the team though? It's difficult, but I do wonder was that the first sign of a weaker leadership.
Keegan Bradley, on the other hand, has in my opinion struck gold already by removing himself and the impending drama should he have played in the 12. Make no mistake, Bradley deserved to be on that 12 and the team would have been better for him being on it. In sacrificing his spot though the gauntlet has been well and truly laid at his players' spikes and whilst motivation and desire in this event has been questioned before with Team USA, this time around they have a bigger reason to perform. The home crowd won't let them coast to a defeat here, and the players should feel like they'll walk over hot coals to give Bradley the deserved success after the heartbreak in 2023 and his statesman-like decision to not pick himself. The Americans are less experienced than Team Europe, but they don't quite have a Straka or a Lowry who worry me as to what they'll contribute. Keegan Bradley sacrificed something he wanted so badly, and in doing so has already decided the fate of this Ryder Cup. Back the Americans to continue the home domination.
4pts Team USA to win Ryder Cup 4/5 (Ladbrokes, Coral, BetVictor, AK Bets)
