Ryder Cup 2025: Bradley’s Bold Picks — USA’s Final 12 for Bethpage and What It Means for the Cup

Keegan Bradley finalizes six captain’s picks; USA Ryder Cup team set for Bethpage Black. Here’s the roster, dates, odds, key storylines, and what to watch.

Quick summary — the headlines you need

Captain Keegan Bradley announced his six captain’s picks and confirmed he will not be a playing captain at Bethpage Black, setting Team USA’s 12-player roster for the 45th Ryder Cup. The full United States squad now includes automatic qualifiers and Bradley’s picks: Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau (automatic qualifiers), with Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns added as the six captain’s picks. Bradley’s decision not to pick himself — and to lean on experienced stars plus a couple of high-upside selections — is one of the defining headlines of the 2025 buildup.

The Ryder Cup match week is centered at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, with official programming and activity listed on the Ryder Cup site for September 23–28, 2025 (match play days generally fall within that window, with official match sessions scheduled Sept. 26–28).

The full U.S. roster — who’s going and how they got there

Automatic qualifiers (U.S. points standings):

• Scottie Scheffler
• J.J. Spaun
• Xander Schauffele
• Russell Henley
• Harris English
• Bryson DeChambeau

Keegan Bradley’s six captain’s picks:

• Justin Thomas
• Collin Morikawa
• Ben Griffin
• Cameron Young
• Patrick Cantlay
• Sam Burns.

Why these picks? Bradley balanced form, Ryder Cup experience and pairing flexibility. Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa bring match-play savvy and strong ball-striking; Cantlay and Burns offer steadiness under pressure; Cameron Young and Ben Griffin inject length and power for Bethpage’s demanding rough and run-off areas. Notably, Bradley declined to select himself, a decision that avoids the complexity of being a playing captain and keeps his focus on strategy and pairings.

Keegan Bradley’s decision: captain-only (and why it matters)

Rumors swirled that Bradley — who still ranks high in the world and had playing credentials that could have justified a player-captain role — might name himself. Instead he explicitly chose the captain-only path. That choice is more than symbolic: it signals a leadership-first approach and removes any possible conflict about captain duties versus player preparation. The last U.S. playing captain was Arnold Palmer in 1963; modern Ryder Cup leadership has trended toward non-playing captains for good reason. Analysts praised Bradley for placing team structure ahead of individual desire.

 

How Team USA stacks up — strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• Top-tier stars: Scheffler, Schauffele and Thomas give the team elite firepower and clutch records in match play and team environments.
• Balanced pairings: The mix of veterans (Thomas, Cantlay), elite match-play performers (Morikawa, Schauffele), and power (DeChambeau, Young) gives Bradley matchup options across foursomes and four-ball formats.
• Depth in in-form players: Sam Burns and Justin Thomas have recent hot form in the season run-in, and Ben Griffin’s inclusion rewards current performance with rookie energy.

Potential weaknesses

• Pairing chemistry unknowns: New combinations always carry risk. How Bradley pairs two-power players versus an elite ball-striker and a short-game specialist will matter, especially at Bethpage where precision is rewarded.
• Europe’s form: Team Europe, captained by Luke Donald, remains dangerous and will unveil their six picks shortly — likely including veterans and match play specialists who perform well in tight pressure.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

When is the Ryder Cup 2025 — schedule & format

According to the Ryder Cup official site, the event window is September 23–28, 2025, at Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, NY). The match-play sessions traditionally occur over three days (Friday–Sunday), with foursomes and four-ball team sessions followed by singles. The U.S. announced the match format specifics and scheduling details in pre-event releases. If you’re planning to attend or watch, expect the head-to-head matches to take place Sept. 26–28, with practice and team activities earlier in the week.

Ryder Cup standings & how players qualified

Ryder Cup qualification systems differ for the U.S. and Europe but center on points lists from official tours. The U.S. points standings (automatic qualifiers) are determined via PGA Tour points and season performance; Bradley filled the remaining six captain’s picks after the points cut-off. Europe’s automatic qualifiers are set from DP World Tour standings, with captain Luke Donald scheduled to announce his six wildcards close to the event. Keep an eye on Europe’s announcement date — widely reported as early September.

Key storylines to follow into match week

1. Bradley’s non-playing choice and pairings strategy. How he pairs veterans with rookies (e.g., Ben Griffin) will show whether he prioritizes chemistry or raw form.
2. Morikawa & Thomas as anchors. Both players have proven match-play pedigree — their performance in alternate-shot (foursomes) could be decisive.
3. Bethpage Black setup. Tough rough, penal bunkers and small landing areas reward course management and crisp approach shots — a course that favors strategic players over pure bombers. That influences selection philosophy.
4. Europe’s reply: Luke Donald’s captain’s picks will likely include veteran match-play stalwarts — Rory McIlroy is an automatic focal point — and those decisions could define the tactical chess match.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ryder Cup USA (@rydercupusa)

 

Ryder Cup picks, snubs and talking points

Every Ryder Cup announcement sparks heated debate. Noticeable names left off the U.S. roster in headlines and fan threads included Jordan Spieth and Max Homa — omissions that will fuel media narratives about captain’s discretion vs. “earned” selection. Bradley defended his decisions by citing form, course fit and team balance. On the European side, pundits expect Luke Donald to weigh experience and hot form when he names his six picks.

Betting odds & who’s the favorite

Oddsmakers generally install the home team as a slight favorite, and early market lines show Team USA as a narrow favorite at Bethpage (odds vary by sportsbook). Home-course advantage, crowd energy and familiarity with course nuances usually swing lines in the hosts’ favor, but Europe’s depth in match play always compresses those margins. Expect lines to move as pairings and final lineups are published and as match-day weather forecasts firm up.

What to watch — matchup-level microplots

• Foursomes (alternate-shot) pairings: Which U.S. duo can navigate Bethpage’s tricky lies and avoid big numbers?
• Four-ball aggression: Players who can go low without risking big numbers will be priceless.
• Singles: Depth will decide Sunday — each point matters and captains often save must-win matchups here.

Bottom line

Keegan Bradley’s captain’s picks and his choice not to play mark a clear statement of intent: he’s building a team to win at Bethpage Black, blending experience with high-ceiling talents. Team USA’s roster is now set and the focus shifts to chemistry, pairings and course management. With match play set for late September at one of the most demanding U.S. courses, the 2025 Ryder Cup promises fireworks — and strategic, high-pressure golf on one of the sport’s largest stages. Whether the United States reclaims the Cup hinges on Bradley’s pairings, the Americans’ ability to handle Bethpage’s quirks, and how Team Europe answers with their own captain’s picks.