13 big names in danger of missing out on the Ryder Cup

Only 24 players can tee up at Bethpage in September – and with many of those already locked in, or seemingly locked in, it’s not looking good for these Ryder Cup hopefuls…

Now that the men’s major season is over, all eyes turn to the Ryder Cup. There is the small matter of the pocket-swelling FedEx Cup still to finalize, but nothing in golf compares to the cut and thrust of the biennial dust-up between Europe and the United States.

And the 2025 edition promises to be one of the most exhilarating yet. In front of typically boisterous New York fans over the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, the atmosphere could be like nothing ever seen.

The history of this event is littered with instances where lines were crossed. The “War on the Shore” in 1991 at Kiawah Island springs to mind, and Brookline in 1999, of course, while there was plenty of animosity directed at the away side in 2021 at Whistling Straits and two years ago in Rome.

That is part of the reason why, in the recent history of the Ryder Cup, it has been dominated by the hosts. That is also one of the reasons why players are so desperate to be part of the action.

So used to competing just for themselves, golfers really embrace playing for their continent or country and representing something bigger. Few things in golf are battled for as fiercely as that little gold trophy.

But with only 12 spots available on each team, not everybody can make it and without fail, every time it rolls around there are players who feel hard done by not to have been selected.

This year will be no different. The inception of LIV Golf three years ago has added another dimension to it, as the players who made the move to the breakaway league now have far fewer opportunities to earn points.

Essentially, that means unless they win or come close in a major or two during the qualification period, they are reliant on a captain’s pick.

Looking down the LIV roster, former Ryder Cup stalwarts such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson are, barring a miracle, certain to miss out again given their lack of form. But we’re not here to talk about those whose playing days – in this competition, at least – are clearly behind them.

Big names in danger of missing the Ryder Cup

So let’s take a look at some of the big American and European names across all tours who will have to watch the drama unfold like the rest of us…

Team USA

Kicking off with the home side, who will be desperate to wrestle the trophy back after a dismal showing in the Italian capital in 2023. Here are the players at risk of missing out on Keegan Bradley’s team.

Patrick Reed

It wasn’t long ago he was known as Captain America, such was his ability to produce his absolute best in the Ryder Cup. However, Reed is likely to miss out on the team for a third time in a row.

The American loves representing his country and was targeting a strong showing at The Open to enhance his credentials. A missed cut at Royal Portrush means he would be a far more surprising pick than omission at this stage.

Brooks Koepka

What has happened to this man? After returning to the major winner’s circle at the 2023 PGA Championship following some injury troubles, everyone thought Koepka was back.

That win took the LIV player to 13th in the world and earned him a spot on the Ryder Cup team two years ago, but since then, he has been a shadow of himself. He missed the cut in three of the four majors this year, is a lowly 29th in the LIV Golf standings, and is nearly outside the top 300 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Even Data Golf, which many of us have been using as it includes LIV Golf events, have him as low as 134th, nestled between Matti Schmid and John Parry.

There is little to nothing to suggest Koepka will be making his fifth Ryder Cup appearance in 2025.

Patrick Cantlay

Cantlay was such a central figure in Rome – who could forget ‘Hatgate?’ – but he is very much at risk of being overlooked for the New York showdown. At 14th in the points standings and 22nd in the world, he is certainly not without hope, but he doesn’t have much form to strengthen his case.

He is going well enough in the FedEx Cup so how he performs in the Playoffs could be make or break.

Wyndham Clark

Two places below Cantlay in Team USA’s Ryder Cup points list is Clark. The 2023 US Open champion is also in need of a strong end to his season if he is to convince his captain that he is a worthy addition to the 12-man team.

There have been better signs of late, though, highlighted by T11, T4 and T12 finishes at the Scottish Open, Open and 3M Open respectively.

Still, at least Bethpage’s locker room would remain intact…

Jordan Spieth

Spieth’s run of five Ryder Cups in a row is very much in danger of coming to an end. In fact, unless something drastic happens over the next four weeks or so, there will be plenty of controversy if Spieth gets the nod.

He sits 27th in the Ryder Cup points list and has just four top-10 finishes to his name this year.

Max Homa

For Homa, he requires something huge to make the team for just the second time after his maiden appearance in 2023. From inside the top 10 just 18 months ago, Homa is now outside the top 100, such has been his fall-off.

Rickie Fowler

It feels like there have been countless false dawns in the Fowler comeback. After returning to coach Butch Harman, Fowler finally won again at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, a triumph that was supposed to herald his return to the big time.

However, that is the last time he tasted silverware, while he has only notched two top-10s since. After offering nothing in Rome, and at 43rd in the Ryder Cup standings, the odds are very slim we will see Fowler competing in New York.

Ben Griffin

What a year it’s been for Griffin. He won the Charles Schwab Challenge, backed that up with a second-place finish the following week at the Memorial, and also has five other top-10s to his name. All that has him ninth in the standings as we approach crunch time.

But is that enough to convince Bradley to pick the rookie? If the team was to be picked now it would be hard to imagine Griffin not getting the nod, but a lot can happen in a month.

Tony Finau

You have to go back to February’s Genesis Invitational to find the last time Milton finished inside the top 10 at an event, which is far too long for a man of his ability. But for whatever reason, it’s just not been happening for the 35-year-old in 2025.

He is 22nd in the points list and, like most others in this list, will need a strong run in the FedEx Cup Playoffs to have any hope of another Ryder Cup appearance.

If rumors are to be believed, he’s more likely to be a LIV Golf player by October than he is a three-time Ryder Cupper.

Team Europe

Now over to Luke Donald’s side…

Sergio Garcia

The Ryder Cup’s all-time leading points-scorer is very much in danger of not being selected. Now that he’s a LIV player, Garcia sits 133rd in the points list so is relying on the man he used to combine with so well in this event.

He is so far down the list, in fact, that you could quite easily make up a 12-man team of players ranked above him who few people will have ever heard of.

Some of the names include Gregorio De Leo, Jannik de Bruyn, Hamish Brown (who is Danish), Jens Fahrbring, Joel Girrbach, and the list goes on.

That aside, Garcia’s passion for the Ryder Cup has never been in question, while his experience is almost unmatched.

“It would mean the world to me to be there,” the 45-year-old told TG at The Open. “Obviously if I can help the team, that’s my main goal, I’ve always said it.”

Jon Rahm

Bear with us. Yes, it is likely Rahm will be picked, but nothing is guaranteed so there is still an element of risk. LIV’s marquee signing, the Spaniard is well outside the automatic qualification spots.

That being said, it would be an almighty shock if Donald didn’t select the two-time major champion and man who formed a partnership with Tyrrell Hatton in Rome that was so good he decided to make a LIV team out of it.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Sitting in 13th in the standings, it is far from a foregone conclusion Fitzpatrick will receive a pick. His recent return to form should stand the Englishman in good stead but probably only if he can sustain it before captain Donald makes his decision.

Nicolai Hojgaard

One of the heroes of Rome, it could be Nicolai’s turn to watch his twin brother play in the Ryder Cup from the sidelines. Rasmus is on the fringes of automatic qualification, while Nicolai is well outside the top 20 as it stands.

He finished in a tie for 4th at the Scottish Open and then left Royal Portrush with a top 15, so perhaps he is timing his late run to perfection, but there is no doubt he is in danger of missing out.

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