Keegan Bradley Announces Ryder Cup Selection Criteria

Keegan Bradley Announces 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Selection Criteria

The 2025 Ryder Cup selection process has officially been unveiled by the PGA of America, following the delayed appointment of Keegan Bradley as the U.S. Ryder Cup Captain. Announced on Tuesday, the criteria are largely consistent with those used in 2023, but with some adjustments to simplify the process and make it more transparent.

One notable addition to this year’s selection criteria is a new clause at the end, clarifying an important point:

“Points ranking does not guarantee qualification for the Ryder Cup. Players must separately meet all eligibility requirements.”

A spokesperson for the PGA of America explained that this update was made to ensure that players are fully aware of their membership and eligibility requirements. This addition affirms that being on the points list alone is not sufficient for automatic selection.

U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley: Maintaining Tradition with Adjustments

During a press conference held in New York City, U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley expressed his support for keeping the selection criteria largely the same as in previous years.

“I think we’ll keep it the same; I think the points system does a great job in identifying the 12 best players,” Bradley said during the Ryder Cup’s “Year to Go” press event. He emphasized the importance of big tournaments, stating, “We play our Elevated Events, and majors carry so much weight, and I think that’s important with how strong the fields are, you know, week-to-week, the pressure of playing in these big tournaments and majors, and that shows up on the points list.”

Bradley also highlighted that the pressure of performing in significant events such as majors helps to identify the most capable players, and the points system reflects this meritocratic process.

Qualifying Points Frozen for 2024

Although the selection criteria have been released, it’s important to note that the current U.S. Ryder Cup points list is frozen for 2024. The accumulation of points will begin anew in 2025, starting with the PGA Tour season opener in Hawaii.

As of now, the top 10 players on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list are as follows:

1. Xander Schauffele

2. Scottie Scheffler

3. Bryson DeChambeau

4. Collin Morikawa

5. Brian Harman

6. Billy Horschel

7. Wyndham Clark

8. Patrick Cantlay

9. Russell Henley

10. Tony Finau

Selection Criteria for the 2025 Ryder Cup

The following events and points system will determine who makes the U.S. Ryder Cup team:

2024 Major Championships

1 point will be awarded per $1,000 earned for all players who make the cut at the following events:

The Masters

PGA Championship

U.S. Open

The Open Championship

2024 THE PLAYERS Championship

1 point per $1,000 earned for all players making the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship.

2025 Regular PGA TOUR Events

1 point per $1,000 earned for all players making the cut in regular PGA TOUR events starting January 1, 2025, through the BMW Championship (ending August 17, 2025).

Points will not be awarded for Opposite Field PGA TOUR events in 2025.

2025 Major Championships

1.5 points per $1,000 earned for players making the cut at the 2025 Major Championships:

The Masters

PGA Championship

U.S. Open

The Open Championship

Automatic Qualifiers and Captain’s Picks

At the conclusion of the 2025 BMW Championship, the top six eligible players on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list will automatically qualify for the team. The remaining six spots will be filled through Captain Keegan Bradley’s picks, which will be announced after the 2025 Tour Championship.

Clarification of Eligibility

The new line added to the criteria reiterates the importance of eligibility, with the phrase, “Points ranking does not guarantee qualification for the Ryder Cup. Players must separately meet all eligibility requirements.” This ensures that players, regardless of their position on the points list, must meet the membership criteria and other eligibility requirements to be part of the 2025 Ryder Cup team.

As the countdown to the 2025 Ryder Cup begins, players will soon start earning points toward qualification, with the first event in Hawaii marking the start of the new season.