Rahm selected as captain’s pick for European Ryder Cup team

The European Ryder Cup team announced its captain’s picks Monday and Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, fresh off securing both the Individual and Team Championships for the 2025 LIV Golf season, was selected by Captain Luke Donald to compete at Bethpage Black on Sept. 26-28.

“It’s going to be special. I can’t wait to be in Bethpage. New Yorkers are going to be incredible fans,” Rahm said after the announcement.

“I think Jon really sets the standard for us,” Donald said. “It’s amazing what he understands about the history of the Ryder Cup and what it represents. He obviously wants to follow in the footsteps of some amazing Spanish players that had led the way: the Sergios (Garcia), and the José Marías (Olazábal) and of course Seve (Ballesteros) who we idolize in the Ryder Cup for what he represents.”

Rahm being chosen as a captain's pick shouldn’t come as a surprise despite the fact that the Spaniard was 24th in the European Ryder Cup standings. Rahm had a strong season, finishing in the top 11 in all 13 of his LIV Golf individual starts. He also had a competitive major championship campaign, boasting top-10 finishes at both the PGA Championship (T7) and the U.S. Open (T8), to go along with a T14 at The Masters.

Rahm will join his Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who was an automatic qualifier for the European Team.

“The environment might be the biggest challenge, but it can be used to your advantage. In my experience, New York fans can actually be quite fun,” Rahm said with a smile.

PAST RYDER CUP APPEARANCES

2018: Rahm competed at Le Golf National in Paris, France, where the European team won 17.5-10.5 over the United States. Rahm earned one point in his three matches, with his lone victory coming in a singles match against Tiger Woods, 2&1. He lost both foursomes matches, once with Justin Rose (defeated by Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau, 1 up), and once with Ian Poulter (defeated by Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, 2&1).

2021: The Ryder Cup was help at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin, where the United States team won 19-9, which was the largest margin of victory in a Ryder Cup since 1967. Rahm, however, did his part for Europe and was responsible for 3.5 of their 9 points, which led the team, and played in five matches. Rahm went 2-0 in his foursomes matches, playing alongside Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia. The formidable Spanish duo took defeated Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, 3&1 as well as Koepka and Daniel Berger, 3&1. He also played with Garcia in one of his two fourball matches, defeating Koepka and Jordan Spieth, 2&1. His match without Garcia was a fourball match alongside Tyrrell Hatton. Rahm and Hatton tied with Scottie Scheffler and Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau. He lost his singles match to Scheffler, 4&3.

2023: The most recent Ryder Cup was held at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia Montecelio, northeast of Rome, Italy, where the European team once again won at home, 16.5-11.5. Rahm starred for Europe once again, securing 3 points in 4 matches. He played alongside Hatton for both foursomes matches, defeating Scheffler and Sam Burns 4&3 and Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, 2&1. His lone fourball match was played alongside Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard, where the duo tied the match against Scheffler and Koepka, earning a half point. In his singles match, Rahm tied with Scheffler.

OVERALL RECORD

Fourball: 1-2-2
Foursome: 4-0-0
Singles: 1-1-1
Overall: 6-3-3

WHAT'S NEXT

Rahm will compete in the BMW PGA Championship, the DP World Tour’s flagship event, from September 18-21 at Wentworth Club in England. He’s expected to be joined by the entire European Ryder Cup team, which mirrors their successful strategy prior to their 2023 Ryder Cup victory at Marco Simone.