Venue
After the spectacular surroundings of Rome, the Ryder Cup will head back to the United States in 2025 as Bethpage Black plays host to the matchplay clash. There is no doubt the Europeans created quite the atmosphere in Rome last week, but it will be the turn of the Americans next as the event heads to New York.
Despite never previously hosting a Ryder Cup, the New York track has plenty of experience at the top of professional golf, with two U.S. Opens and one PGA Championship having been held on the Black course since 2002.
It also promises a partisan crowd, with the New York sports fans likely to be out in force to roar the home side on.
Captains
A new Ryder Cup usually means two new captains, but this might not be the case in 2025. Following his successes in Italy, there have been calls for Englishman Luke Donald to take on the reins again on American soil.
Team Europe has not had a back-to-back captain since 1997, but it appears Donald has the backing of his players, after chants of ‘two more years!’ rang out from Rory McIlroy and co. towards the captain ahead of the trophy presentation on Sunday evening.
The US however will definitely return to the drawing board. Zach Johnson proved to be a popular pick ahead of the trip to Italy, but a tough week on the course will unsurprisingly see him pass on the role to somebody else in New York. It could well be the perfect time for the great Tiger Woods to take on the captaincy for the very first time.
Woods’ playing career has become part-time in recent years, amid his continued struggles with his fitness. And with the US in need of a huge lift after the despair in Rome, what better man to turn to than arguably golf’s greatest-ever son?
Players
Two years is a long time in golf, but looking ahead European golf fans will be hoping to see the majority of their 2023 squad returning at Bethpage. There is no doubt that their core of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, and Tommy Fleetwood will be expecting to be on the plane to New York in two years, all being well.
As will their latest stars, with the likes of Ludvig Aberg, Nicolai Hojgaard, and Robert MacInytre announcing themselves as Europe’s next big names. A number of players on the cut line from this year’s team too will be out for redemption, especially Polish star Adrian Meronk, who just missed out on a place this time around.
Amid the ongoing peace talks surrounding the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf there could also be a return for all-time leading points scorer Sergio Garcia too, however, it feels slightly too late for the likes of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood who could earn a vice-captaincy place if their Tour memberships are reinstated.
The Americans meanwhile could really benefit from the return of LIV Golf stars. Three of their most recent Ryder Cup big hitters missed out this year in Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Patrick Reed, and there is no doubt they will already have their eyes on making a return.
Elsewhere it would be no surprise to see the core of Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa and the addition of Max Homa keep their places in two years. There is a clear abundance of talent within the U.S. ranks, and they will be hoping defeat in Rome was nothing more than a blip.
