Europe name least changed Ryder Cup team in history

Jon Rahm and Shane Lowry are among captain Luke Donald's picks for the 2025 contest

Europe will have their least changed team in Ryder Cup history for this month's contest with just one change to the side that beat the United States in 2023.

Rasmus Hojgaard is the only new player - and replaces his twin brother Nicolai - having qualified through the ranking system.

And when captain Luke Donald announced his six wildcard picks on Monday, he went with experience for the away match at Bethpage Black in New York, which takes place from 26-28 September.

Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, who all played in the 16½-11½ victory in Rome in 2023, were Donald's selections.

They join Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard and Tyrrell Hatton, who automatically qualified.

'Unusual to have so much continuity'

Since the Ryder Cup was altered to allow European players to compete in 1979, there has never been so few changes made to a team - on average, Europe make five in each two-year cycle.

Their previous fewest changes was three, on three occasions - in 1985 at the Belfry, 1987 at Muirfield Village, Ohio and 2006 at the K Club in Ireland. On each occassion, Europe were victorious, with the 1987 triumph also being the historic first on US soil.

"There is a lot of continuity from Rome, that is a bit unusual, but shows how good they are," said Donald on Sky Sports.

"But while there is continuity, this is a different animal to play away in America. We know how difficult it is. I have looked at lots of different angles to try to prepare us for the challenge ahead.

"It is about implementing new techniques. I am aware we have lost three of the past four away Ryder Cups by significant margins.

"I have tried everything I can to give my team the best opportunity."

While there has been much speculation in recent weeks as to who would receive a pick, players like Lowry, Rahm, Aberg and Hovland looked nailed-on for selection.

And Donald, who led the side to victory in Rome, accepted he had to make some tricky calls.

"The last two weeks are the most difficult part of a captain's job," he added.

"There are people who are jockeying for position and people who feel like they might have done enough, but then get a call to say they are not in the team and that is tough."

Matt Wallace, who finished 12th on the rankings list, was in tears after finishing his final round at the European Masters on Sunday, knowing he was going to miss out.

"I'll never give up on the Ryder Cup," said the 35-year-old, who was overlooked for a place in 2018 too despite winning three events.

Fellow Englishman Marco Penge, who finished 14th on the list, was also touted to be in contention. His big-hitting game may have been suited to the length of Bethpage Black and the 27-year-old has won twice on the DP World Tour in 2025, climbing from outside the top 400 a year ago to world number 60.

Harry Hall, who finished 17th in qualifying, was turning a few heads. He had 52 more birdies than any other player on the PGA Tour in 2025, and was ranked second best for putting. The 28-year-old had five top-10 finishes on the back of those stats.

But with Donald looking to emulate Tony Jacklin as the only captain to win home and away matches and cement his place alongside Europe's Ryder Cup greats, he opted not to include any rookies in his selections.

Donald plumps for experience

In the aftermath of victory in Rome, McIlroy called winning a Ryder Cup away match "one of the biggest achievements in golf".

The US have not won away since the Belfry in 1993. For Europe, the most recent win was in 2012 and the 'Miracle of Medinah' - where the visitors came from 10-6 down in the final day's 12 singles matches to triumph by the narrowest of margins 14½-13½.

McIlroy and Rose are the only players remaining from that side, although Donald was also in the side, completing a perfect four wins from four appearances.

There are reasons why away wins are rare. The chief one is that home captains can tailor the course set-up to favour their players - the US tend to go for longer courses and fasters greens - while the fans can also play their part and Bethpage Black in New York state is expected to be a hostile environment.

And with that in mind, Donald clearly wants players who have played an away Ryder Cup in his side.

The only picks not to have done so are Straka and Aberg.

But Austrian Straka has shown his mettle on the PGA Tour - only McIlroy and Scheffler have won more than his twice on the American circuit this year. And while Donald described him as a "quiet reserved character", he added Straka "has a fire in his belly".

Sweden's Aberg teamed up superbly well with Hovland in 2023, with the pair romping to a record 9&7 victory over Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in the foursomes. It was a match that left world number one Scheffler in tears.

Donald described Hovland as "a lion in Rome" and "he will continue to be that in Bethpage".

Lowry, who was pipped to automatic qualification on the final day, is selected as a captain's pick for a third time.

Donald said the Irishman will bring an "infectious enthusiasm", while he added the "meticulous" Rahm "sets the standards" and is "first in and last out of the team room", and "understands the history of the Ryder Cup and what it represents".

Fitzpatrick, who admitted himself that he did not have the best start to the season and has won only one point in three previous Ryder Cup appearances, was perhaps the player most in danger of missing out. He has twice played in away contests and has not picked up a point in five matches.

But Donald pointed out that "statistically no-one has been as good as he has the last three or four months".

US Open winner Fitzpatrick turned 31 on 1 September and said: "It's a lovely birthday present for me."

And Donald added: "He is playing tremendous golf. It is really impressive to see his game come along trying to make this team."

The US team

Home advantage has certainly counted in recent editions of the biennial contest and the US have registered big victories - winning by 10 points at Whistling Straits in 2021 and six at Hazeltine in 2016.

US skipper Keegan Bradley announced his six wildcard picks last week and opted not to include himself as a player despite finishing 11th on their ranking list.

Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantley and Sam Burns were chosen to join automatic qualifiers Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau.

Listen back to a Ryder Cup special on BBC Sounds with Iain Carter, Oli Wilson and Trish Johnson analysing the European team.