Ryder Cup captains taking a close look at LIV Golf’s hopefuls for 2025 showdown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Keegan Bradley simply wants the 12 best American golfers for his U.S. Ryder Cup team in late September at Bethpage Black. So does his European counterpart Luke Donald.

Both captains insisted this week there should be no limitations or stipulations on where those players ply their professional trade.

“We’re trying to put the best team together,” said Bradley. “It could mean there’s one LIV guy, two LIV guys, it doesn’t matter.”

Added Donald: “I would love for them to be eligible. … I want my best 12.”

Although the primary focus of this week’s PGA Championship is to determine the winner of the golf season’s second major, significant chatter has also been spent on the upcoming Ryder Cup – specifically, who may wind up on the two competing teams.

From a LIV Golf player’s perspective, qualifying on merit is particularly challenging due to the limited opportunities to accrue ranking points. For the U.S. team, the only chance to earn points is through the four majors. For the European team, majors is also the primary path, although it also depends on eligibility issues.

If players don’t qualify on points, then it comes down to having to rely on captain’s picks. Each captain will have six apiece – and each may face decisions regarding some of LIV Golf’s biggest names.

While LIV Golf tournament results aren’t factored in mathematically to the rankings, the captains insist that performances in the league matter to them.

“We know winning and contending on any tour at any level is difficult,” Bradley said. “I don't care where you play. I played the mini-tours. Winning there was difficult. Winning on LIV is difficult. You can see guys – winning a LIV event is a big deal.”

Said Donald: “We know exactly how these players are playing. We have a great idea of where they stack up against each other and against the U.S.”

At a recent dinner Bradley hosted for prospective U.S. Ryder Cup members last week in Philadelphia, Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau and Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka received invites.

Those two have won majors since joining LIV Golf – Koepka two years ago at the PGA Championship and DeChambeau last year at the U.S. Open.

DeChambeau currently ranks fifth on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list while Koepka is 91st, but their credentials obviously are proven. DeChambeau enters this week’s event fresh off his third career LIV Golf win in Korea, while Koepka is a five-time winner, tied for most of any player since the league made its debut in 2022. Combined, the two have also won seven majors.

Besides their star power, they also have Ryder Cup experience – two starts for DeChambeau and four for Koepka, including two years ago when he received a captain’s pick from Zach Johnson to compete in Rome. No surprise that Bradley invited them for the dinner.

“It was really great to have them together with all the guys,” Bradley said. “It's been a while since we've been able to do that.”

DeChambeau was there virtually, as weather issues delayed his travel and caused him to miss dinner. “I saw it on Zoom and also talked to the captain about it,” DeChambeau said. “I was step in step with him. We had a great conversation after.”

On the European side, Legion XIII teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have been teammates in the last three Ryder Cups. Two years ago, they partnered to win both of their foursomes matches for Donald en route to Europe’s victory. Last season after joining LIV Golf, they combined for three individual wins while Legion XIII won four regular-season team titles. Rahm finished the year as LIV Golf Individual Champion while Hatton was fourth.

Hatton is currently fourth in European Ryder Cup points while Rahm is 29th. The Legion XIII captain will need some big performances during the remaining three majors to move up the rankings and avoid having to rely on a pick.

“Hopefully I can qualify, and we don't have to question it,” Rahm said when asked about his status. “I would like to think that personally I am, but it's not up to me.”

Donald said Wednesday that no assurances have been given to any players regarding their spots on the team. He did say he watched LIV Golf events to see how players are performing.

“I certainly think it's a little too early to be giving anyone like firm assurances right now,” Donald said. “We have three majors, elevated events, plenty of other events, Rolex Series events to play. I want them to go out and feel like they go and earn it. Let's go in and play well.

“In terms of Jon, he's one of the best players in the world, and I would expect him to be on that team, but I certainly haven't given him those assurances. He still needs to keep going and playing just like everyone else.”

Indeed, that’s how all the LIV Golf players are approaching it, including hopefuls who may appear to be on the fringes now. Play well in the majors and good things will happen.

“Look, I've got to keep playing good golf and hopefully I can make it on points alone,” DeChambeau said. “That's the goal.”