Tour Confidential: Answering every critical Ryder Cup -Question

Check every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors while breaking down the most popular topics in the sport and participating in the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we will discuss the largest Ryder Cup, story lines, which is the most important player for each side and choose a winner.

After two years of waiting, Ryder Cup Week is finally here. The American team organizes Europe on Bethpage Black on Long Island, Friday to Sunday, because the Europeans will try to win two in a row and be the first road team to win since it was in 2012. A lot to unpack here, but let’s start with an easy: what is your top story for the 45th Ryder Cup?

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): The excessive atmosphere of the Ryder Cup is not a new story, but as our husband Alan Bastable explains in a nice piece a few days ago, this week is to bring things to a completely different level. The potential for turbulence that overflows in ugliness seems ripe, which is in line with what I think is another important theme: on paper, Europeans seem to be the slightly stronger team at least on paper. But playing an away game makes them the underdogs, which take some pressure from them and stacks on the Americans. In that sense, it is fair to wonder if having the home crowd behind them and all the expectations associated with who can work against Keegan and Co. How that dynamic does or does not play, the key will be for the end result.

Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_and_Awe): I agree with Sens. I think the Bethpage will certainly get the top invoicing as a storyline 1a that goes into the week. I will offer how Rory McIlroy ends a storybook year. He set three goals to reach the rest of his career in January and took one with his victory at the Masters. After a summer spent in Malaise, McIlroy won the Irish Open and can now end the year by leading the Europeans to an extraction. Very interested in seeing how McIlroy elevates his game this week.

Alan Bastable, Executive Editor (@alan_bastable): The importance of experience in Ryder Cups is probably exaggerated, but it is difficult not to think about the imbalance of Rookies on the two sides: four in the American team (Ben Griffin, Russell Henley, JJ Spaun and Cameron Young) versus only one in the European team (Rasmus Højgaarard). To make the American team prevail, at least a few of those newcomers have to take the opportunity. I have a sneaking suspicion that Cameron Young will embrace the moment, and not just because he is the only New Yorker in the team. You know he can pound it, but now he is also behind how he should put it (he is 5th in SG: post this season). Keep an eye on CY.

After winning in Rome in 2023, Rory Mcilroy said that winning a road Ryder Cup is one of the biggest performance of Golf, and added: “And that is what we are going to do at Bethpage.” Since then he has added a master’s title and career Grand Slam to his resume. What would a Ryder Cup victory do at Bethpage for the inheritance of McIlroy?

Sens: I consider Ryder Cup legacies as a separate category. Think of Ian Poulter, whose individual touring career is not standing out, but he will fall forever like a Ryder Cup killer. Or, conversely, Tiger Woods, whose less than impressive Ryder Cup record does nothing to reduce his status in the game. At the moment, Rory’s inheritance seems fairly well established. A dominant week at Bethpage can add a nice shine to it, especially if he does something heroic such as beating Scottie Scheffler in Sunday singles for the Clinching Point. In short, I do not expect that this week I will change how future generations think of him.

Schrock: I usually agree with Sens, but I do think that if McIlroy leads the euros to a victory by playing all five sessions while achieving 4-5 points, it will be another critical line in the CV that he builds to become the best European golfer of all time.

Basis: Rory is already in Rarified Ryder Cup Air. But a big trek this week would raise him to an even more elite company. Three points would move him on the list of all time for Jose Maria Olazabal. Four would bind him with Nick Faldo. Four and a half would bind him – crave! – Seve. But furthermore this week can influence the individual status of McIlroy in the record books, he is so clearly burning for a victory, period. As mentioned above, this year he reminded on various occasions that winning a Road game Ryder Cup is one of the most difficult tasks in all sports. If Europe pulls it out in one way or another, Rory 2025 will explain the undisputed largest season of his career.

Who is the most important – if necessary the best – player for each team?

Sens: McIlroy for the Europeans. He is not only the best player in the team, but he is also the obvious leader of the team room. How it lasts is contagious for the rest of the team. The American team is a different story, I think, because the best player, Scheffler, is not a Rah-Rah-man. I don’t see him being a bellwether as McIlroy. I think the most important players for the US are Ryder Cup -smokies such as Ben Griffin and JJ Spaun – great talents that are completely not tested in a setting like this.

Basis: No love for Bryson?! If Decchambeau can get it going, he has the potential to electrify the American fans in a way that none of his teammates can match. The problem is that he was not in top form. I am intrigued to see which version of BDC we will see. On the euro side, Bobby Mac may be the MVP that nobody saw coming.

The Americans will win if …

Sens: … Rookies such as Spaun and Griffin stop in the melting pot, and Patrick Cantlay annoys the opposition enough to adjust them.

Schrock: … Justin Thomas, after a bad start in Napa, Reawakens. I expect Scheffler to play well, especially after the egg he put in Rome. But Thomas has been the heart and soul of the Americans when they dominated. They need Thomas and the Cantlay-Schauffele combination to help lead, together with Scheffler.

Basis: … Keegan Bradley reconsider, dumps one of his tower and fits in the first game on Friday. I kid! But yes, as covered, some American rookies must absolutely appear. Scheffler will have to win at least 3.5 points. And Sam Burns must bring his putter.

Which means that Europeans will win if …

Sens: … McIlroy leads them to a hot start and the momentum builds up. The pressure here is really on the Americans. They are expected to ride on the victory on the benefit of the home field, but there is nothing simple to have to drain a crucial putt for a huge crowd whose hope is so vocally on you.

Schrock: … Rory does Rory -Dingen. If he clicks, they are difficult to beat.

Basis: … Jon Rahm antagines the crowd and Tommy Fleetwood Charms’ em. (And they each collect at least 3 points.)

What is the most crucial strategic decision that every captain will have to make?

Sens: Apart from selecting the Captain’s choices, I think the importance of the decisions of a captain Wild is exaggerated. They have already studied the personalities and the analyzes. At least in theory they know which players should hire. The most important roles of the captains are the selection of the schedules and creating an atmosphere/culture with which their players can play their best. It seems that Bradley and Donald have both already done that. As always, this will amount to which boys the big puts make.

Schrock: For the Americans it is who plays with Bryson Dechambeau. Given that he and Cam Young play the same prototype ball, that seems to be the right combination, but I am interested in seeing how Keegan Bradley uses what should be one of his best weapons.

Luke Donald said he was planning to mix things from Rome, but I find it difficult to see the four-cushion combinations that are not Rahm-Hatton, HOVOLAND-Åberg, McIlroy-Fleetwood and a fourth. I am interested in seeing if Donald changes things on day 1 or his proven couples that dominated in Rome outdated to start.

Fundamentally: Hatred of harping on the rookies, but managing them will be Keegan’s most difficult task, since they represent a third of his team. For Donald it will keep his guys from rattling through the fire galleries. If his team can block the noise and become comfortable early, watch out.

And Drumroll, please … Who wins the Ryder Cup 2025 and why? (And give us a score!)

Sens: This ends in a draw, 14-14, where the Europeans retain the cup.

Schrock: Europe. 15.5-12.5, thanks to a Sunday singles comeback. Fleetwood beats Bryson to get the road.

Basis: Do I dare to turn it into a clean European Sweep? I dare! Europe 14.5, US 13.5, in a thriller for the centuries.

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