Luke Donald has turned to familiar faces in his bid to mastermind a historic Ryder Cup triumph on American soil, naming six of Europe’s 2023 heroes as his captain’s picks for Bethpage Black.
Europe’s automatic qualifiers had already been confirmed after the Betfred British Masters on August 24, with Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard and Tyrrell Hatton booking their spots.
Donald has now filled the remaining half of his roster, leaning heavily on players who helped deliver the emphatic 16.5–11.5 victory in Rome two years ago.
Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm have all been handed the nod, meaning 11 of Donald’s 12 players featured in that winning side.
Rory McIlroy helped Team Europe win the Ryder Cup in 2023 | PAThe only change is Nicolai Hojgaard dropping out, replaced by his twin brother Rasmus, who makes his Ryder Cup debut.
Donald admitted before the announcement that experience would be critical if Europe are to claim just their fifth away win in Ryder Cup history, and their first since the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
Bethpage Black, renowned for its unforgiving layout and notoriously raucous New York crowds, is expected to provide the sternest of tests.
“An away Ryder Cup is always one of the toughest challenges in golf,” Donald said after finalising his team.
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“We know what it takes, and I believe this group has the blend of experience and youthful fearlessness that gives us the best chance.”
Rahm’s inclusion was never in doubt.
The two-time major champion was Europe’s leading scorer on American soil in 2021 and finished unbeaten in Rome.
His presence, alongside McIlroy and Hovland, ensures Europe arrive with three players ranked among the world’s very elite.
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Luke Donald's six picks for Team Europe! 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/bplAacWouk
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Rahm is also one of three LIV Golf League members in the event, joining Hatton and Team USA’s Bryson DeChambeau, underlining the changing landscape of men’s golf.
Aberg, who partnered Hovland to a record 9&7 demolition of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in Rome, will be expected to rekindle that chemistry, while Lowry earns a third straight appearance after narrowly missing out on automatic qualification.
Straka returns following a mixed season in the majors but two PGA Tour wins proved enough to convince Donald of his worth.
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, was the final pick, rewarded for an excellent summer run that saw five top-eight finishes in his last seven starts.
By contrast, US captain Keegan Bradley has opted for a bolder strategy, selecting four rookies and retaining only half of the squad that won at Whistling Straits in 2021.
The contrast in selection philosophies could prove telling when the contest unfolds from September 26 to September 28.
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History suggests Donald’s men face a mountain. Europe have lost seven of the last nine Ryder Cups staged in the United States.
Yet with McIlroy and Rahm in peak form, Hovland emerging as a superstar, and a core of players already battle-tested together, hopes are high that this team can rise to the challenge.