It doesn’t feel like two years have passed since those wonderful scenes at the end of the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Having suffered their largest ever defeat in Wisconsin in 2021, Team Europe fought back under the astute leadership of Luke Donald to prevail 16.5 – 11.5 in Rome.
Donald will take the reins again, but faces a bigger challenge in dealing with the partisan American crowd at Bethpage Black.
Keegan Bradley is the man chosen to lead USA to another home victory. The question is, will be become the first playing captain since 1963 following his impressive performances of late?
Given that the Ryder Cup will be held in New York, the Americans are favourites to win at 8/11 with Betway.
Before talk of who will win begins, however, first we have to predict who will make up the two teams.
Team Europe
Donald looks like he will get the benefit of continuity ahead of the event this year.
Of the six automatic qualifiers, five of them not only played in Rome, but they contributed superbly to the European cause.
Rasmus Hojgaard is the odd one out, but his brother, Nicolai, was part of that team two years ago.
Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and Shane Lowry look locked in to be chosen by Donald. Matt Fitzpatrick is also a strong favourite to secure his fourth appearance in the event.
This leaves one more pick for the captain. At the moment, Sepp Straka may well be the favourite to be chosen, but it could be very close.
The Austrian finished dead last at the Tour Championship last week, finishing at +7. Could the likes of Matt Wallace, Harry Hall or even Alex Noren take full advantage?
Noren won the British Masters last week and he was part of the victorious 2018 side that triumphed in Paris.
Donald may have one more crucial decision to make, that’s for sure.
Team USA
Like Donald, Bradley knows six of his team already. Indeed, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau have all sealed their places for Bethpage.
This is where things get interesting for the captain. His counterpart looks as though he might have a near identical team from 2023.
Team USA could feel very different. For one, will Bradley choose himself as a playing captain? He currently sits 11th in the standings, meaning that if he weren’t the captain, the 39-year-old would likely be chosen for the event.
Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa are seventh and eighth on the list, suggesting they will likely make their fourth and third appearances respectively.
Cameron Young has peaked at precisely the right time, finally winning his maiden PGA Tour title recently. Elsewhere, Patrick Cantlay finished runner-up at the Tour Championship in Atlanta and he was certainly a thorn in Europe’s side in Rome.
Ben Griffin, Sam Burns, Maverick McNeally and even Chris Gotterup are the others who Bradley may well be thinking about.
The dilemma emerges should Bradley decide he is playing. This could mean that someone like Griffin or Burns could miss out.
With just a month left to go until arguably one of the greatest sporting events in the world, both Bradley and Donald face a few important decisions.
