Breakfast Ball #42: Team Europe Front Runners

In This Week’s Newsletter:

Who will be the players carrying the load in New York? Europe’s top 8 for 2025

While the Ryder Cup is undoubtedly the best competition in golf, you could argue it has not been very competitive recently. The last 5 editions have been won by the home team, with the last away victory coming in the miracle at Medinah in 2012. If Europe wants to buck that trend in 2025, they will need their best players to perform. Here, we will look at the 8 players that are likely to be on the team next year.

Tier 1: On the Plane

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are the heart of this team. Rahm’s appearance at the Andalucia Masters this weekend guaranteed his DP World Tour membership for 2025, making him eligible for selection to the team. Despite a tough year at the majors, Rahm won two LIV events and the season-long individual title. At 29 years old, Rahm still has plenty of Ryder Cups ahead of him, and with a return to form in the majors Rahm will be one of the best players in New York next year.

If Rory McIlroy was not one of the best golfers of the 21st century, 2024 would be seen as a very successful year. 3 wins, a second place finish at the US Open, and 16 top 20 results in 25 starts. However, because the expectations for Rory are so high, 2024 is seen as a bit of a disappointment. However, he is without doubt the leader of this team and will relish the opportunity to rid the demons from Whistling Straits.

When McIlroy does step back from playing duties, Ludvig Åberg is ready to fill his shoes as the leader. He exploded onto the scene in 2023, and will be a mainstay in this team for years to come. His second place finish at the Masters this year is hopefully a sign of things to come for Sweden’s newest star.

Tyrrell Hatton’s decision to join LIV Golf earlier this year came as little surprise. He seemed to be struggling to enjoy his time on the PGA Tour, and with a spot open on Jon Rahm’s team, the move felt natural. The two had already shown strong chemistry at the 2023 Ryder Cup, winning both of their foursomes matches together. Hatton has experienced a resurgence this year, securing his first win since 2021 at LIV Nashville, followed by another victory at the Dunhill Links on the DP World Tour. His place on the plane is all but guaranteed!

Tier 2: At the Gate

Tommy Fleetwood remains one of the biggest enigmas in European golf. Despite being one of the world’s top players, he has struggled to consistently find the winner’s circle. Now seven years into his PGA Tour career, Fleetwood has made 145 starts, finishing second five times and third another five, yet still searching for that elusive win. However, his Ryder Cup record tells a different story—12 matches, 8 points, and an undefeated record in foursomes. Unless there’s a major drop in form, Fleetwood is a near lock for a spot on the plane.

Bob MacIntyre has enjoyed a remarkable 2024 season. His victory at the Canadian Open, with his father on the bag, was followed by an emotional homecoming win at the Scottish Open. Initially, I saw Bob as a potential "one-and-done" Ryder Cup player, but he’s fully capitalized on his opportunities on the PGA Tour. With his impressive form and growing confidence, he now stands a strong chance of earning a spot at Bethpage.

Viktor Hovland, by contrast, faced a challenging year. Had the Ryder Cup been held in 2024, he likely would have made the team, though his inclusion would have raised some questions. This is a surprising turn for a player who won the FedEx Cup and contributed 3.5 points to Europe’s Ryder Cup victory in 2023. Unfortunately, Hovland managed only two top-10 finishes this season and is currently sidelined with an injury that will keep him out of the DP World Tour Championship. Despite these setbacks, his talent is undeniable, and I fully expect him to regain his form in 2025.

If Rory McIlroy is the leader of this team, Shane Lowry is its heart. Lowry’s love for the Ryder Cup is undeniable, and he embodies the passion that so often helps Europe triumph, even when the odds seem stacked against them. Individually, he had an impressive year, highlighted by his victory alongside McIlroy at the Zurich Classic. A near-miss at The Open and a top-10 finish at the Tour Championship capped off a remarkable season, with Lowry leaping 70 spots in the FedEx Cup standings compared to 2023. If they don’t let him on the plane, he might force himself onto it.

Do you agree/disagree? Who is your dark horse for the team next year? Would love to hear from you over on Twitter @BlueHorizonGolf. Next week, we will pick the final four in the team and the first four looking in.

Other News and Results

• 🤑 All hell broke loose in the golfing world this week after the prices for Ryder Cup tickets were brought to the attention of the general public

  • A day ticket for either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday will set you back $749, and Thursday tickets (practice, the Junior Ryder Cup and the opening ceremony) are $423

  • The tickets come with unlimited non-alcoholic drinks and food

  • Considering the growing disconnect between fans and golf’s decision-makers, this move was entirely tone-deaf

  • More to come on this in some offseason writing!

• 🤯 Julien Guerrier won the Andalucia Masters after a 9-hole playoff against Spaniard Jorge Campillo (yes, nine)

  • Guerrier went into the final day tied with Campillo and they both shot final rounds of 70

  • Both players matched pars through the first eight holes of the playoff, but it was Campillo who blinked first, losing the tournament with a bogey on the 18th

  • Campillo will be extremely disappointed as he bogeyed the 72nd hole after a poor bunker shot, had multiple chances to win the playoff, and another bad bunker shot cost him the title

    • That being said, after a few of the chips I hit yesterday I can’t say much

• 🌵 JT Poston won the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas on the PGA Tour

  • Matti Schmid was the best European in T3, 3 shots behind the winner

• 🇮🇪 Conor Purcell won for the second time this year on the Challenge Tour with a victory in the Hangzhou Open

  • This propelled him to 4th in the season-long rankings and guaranteed him a DP World Tour card for 2025

  • The Challenge Tour grand final is on in Mallorca next week

Coming up this week on Tour

• The DP World Tour takes a brief detour to South Korea for the Genesis Championship

• The PGA Tour is also in East Asia at the ZOZO Championship in Japan

If you have any feedback for the newsletter or would like to get in touch, I would love to hear from you! Email [email protected] or message us on Twitter/X at @BlueHorizonGolf. Thank you for reading!