Team USA Picks By The Numbers
As the PGA Tour enters the FedEx Cup, the 2025 Ryder Cup rankings for Team USA are becoming clearer. Captain Keegan Bradley and his team will be comparing who is on form, who can play with whom and who will suit the course.
However, using ratings from Match Play World Golf Rankings we can compare players on how many points they win per game, where anything over 0.500 is good, 0.550 very good and over 0.600 exceptional.
With the mega money FedEx Cup in progress, the USA team could still see someone leap into contention as play-off specialists Steve Stricker and Billy Horshell have done in the past.
Currently Scottie Scheffler, Xander Shauffele, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Bryson DeChambeau and Harris English are the six automatic qualifiers. It would be hard to see any of them not being picked if they fell out of these spaces, although Henley with a lack of team match play experience may be the most nervous if he did.
Potential USA Ryder Cup Picks
In ranking positions 7 and 8 are Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa with multiple majors and winning records, so they can confidently book their travel to New York in September. As you can see from the list below there are a host of major champions lining up for a pick, so it is unlikely that Bradley has to go for a rookie.
Keegan Bradley
Ryder Cup 0.571, Career 0.412 Points Per Match
With a rule change agreed with Luke Donald it looks like Bradley is shaping up to captain and play. If he maintains his position in the top 10 of the Ryder Cup rankings then he probably should. Keegan Bradley’s match play record in four-ball and foursomes record in Ryder Cup is excellent (0.800) and pretty good in Presidents Cup (0.583). His singles record in Ryder Cup (0.000) and WGC Match Play (0.289) is not and that is what drags his overall record down. Motivated and crowd inspiring there is every reason to think he can make it work as playing captain by playing four-balls in the afternoon and play early in the singles on Sunday. Whether that puts too much on to his vice-captains who don’t have much experience of winning Ryder Cups remains to be seen. Or maybe they secretly have Captain Woods on standby…
Sam Burns
Ryder Cup 0.333, Career 0.658 Points Per Match
Burns seems to be coming of age with his major performances in 2025 and with Ryder and Presidents Cup experience it would be a major surprise if he does not get the call. His foursomes record is poor, but his overall four-ball record (0.700) and singles record (0.800) is what you would expect from a WGC Match Play champion.
Patrick Cantlay
Ryder Cup 0.688, Career 0.658 Points Per Match
If you had to pick the USA player that the Europeans would least like to face then Patrick Cantlay would almost certainly be it. Already top-5 all-time in the USA Ryder Cup rankings and with an excellent record in all forms of match play it would be a major shock if his hatless head is not in New York.
Wyndham Clark
Ryder Cup 0.500, Career 0.429 Points Per Match
The 2023 US Open champion did well on his Ryder Cup debut in Italy and is having a better year and could force his way into the reckoning. A powerful hitter, he has a good record in four-balls, but less so in singles and his temperament can be fiery as several lockers at Oakmont can attest.
Brooks Koepka
Ryder Cup 0.533, Career 0.593 Points Per Match
Koepka has the experience and the power and his no-nonsense attitude will be lapped up by the home crowd. His unimpressive Ryder Cup pairs record (0.409) is offset by an excellent singles record (0.875). His Ryder Cup rating and overall four ball record from all matches of 0.563 should be enough to get him the nod, but being on LIV and missing the cut in 3 majors this year may count against him.
Brian Harman
Ryder Cup 0.500, Career 0.477 Points Per Match
The 2023 Open Champion is back on form and currently 12th in the rankings, but may need to force his way into the top-6 to be in the team. Excellent putter and steely competitor who won’t be fazed by the atmosphere, he would be a good addition to any team.
Jordan Speith
Ryder Cup 0.585, Career 0.500 Points Per Match
Not on top form, but neither was Justin Thomas last time round and he got the pick to partner Speith, so maybe the favour will be returned. Has the experience and a very good fourball record (0.611) in Ryder Cup and his overall foursomes record is excellent (0.733). A long shot, but if they go for pals over performance then he might get the nod.
Cameron Young
Ryder Cup NA, Career 0.607 Points Per Match
If there is to be a rookie then Cameron Young could be it. Just won his first PGA Tour event and a very good singles record (0.636) from the Presidents Cup rankings and WGC Match Play. A good FedEx Cup could seal his place in Bethpage.
Patrick Reed
Ryder Cup 0.667, Career 0.552 Points Per Match
Why Captain America should be on the team should really need little discussion. Excellent record in foursomes, undefeated in singles, he will pump up the crowd and wind-up Rory. Has recently won on LIV Golf to move to 4th in their rankings and was 3rd in The Masters. Could be a dark horse to pip the other major champions if the cards fall his way. If it comes down to him or Bradley, then it could be a defining pick.
Probable Picks: Thomas, Morikawa, Burns, Cantlay, Young, Bradley
By The Numbers Picks: Thomas, Morikawa, Burns, Cantlay, Koepka, Reed
