Can LIV Golfers Play In The Ryder Cup?

### Will LIV Golfers Compete in the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black?

The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is just over a year away, where 12 of the top US stars will face off against a dozen of Europe’s finest. A key question remains: will LIV golfers have the opportunity to participate, or has their choice to join the lucrative circuit jeopardized their chances?

The short answer is yes, LIV golfers are eligible, but their road to qualification is more challenging compared to players on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

#### US Team Qualification

For the US team, the qualification process has already commenced. Six automatic spots will be secured by players based on money earned over a designated period. Additionally, captain Keegan Bradley will select six wildcards to complete the team.

#### European Team Qualification

The European team has made adjustments to its qualification criteria. Historically, six players qualified via the European Points List and the World Points List, with captain Luke Donald selecting six wildcards. Moving forward, a single streamlined points list will be used, encompassing a range of tournaments including Majors, PGA Tour events, and DP World Tour contests.

#### LIV Golf Tournaments and Qualification

Crucially, LIV Golf tournaments do not contribute points towards the Ryder Cup qualification for either team. For US players, points are awarded at a rate of one point per $1,000 earned in eligible events, making performances in Majors particularly significant.

Bryson DeChambeau, a LIV golfer, currently sits third on the US points list, primarily due to his earnings from a successful Major season, including winning the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2. However, suspended LIV golfers cannot accumulate points through PGA Tour events.

European LIV golfers technically can still qualify automatically by competing in Majors and maintaining their DP World Tour memberships. Players like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton aim to accumulate points by participating in the minimum number of DP World Tour events required to retain their memberships.

#### Wildcard Possibilities

If LIV golfers struggle to qualify automatically due to limited opportunities to earn points, they may still hope for a wildcard selection. Brooks Koepka, a LIV golfer, was chosen as one of Zach Johnson’s wildcards for the US team in 2023 after a standout season that included winning the PGA Championship. However, his selection was an exception rather than the norm, being the sole LIV golfer among the 24 players on both teams.

#### Political Considerations

The selection of LIV golfers as wildcards may hinge on the political landscape and the outcome of ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund backing LIV Golf. These discussions are expected to conclude before the wildcards are chosen next year, potentially influencing whether captains feel comfortable selecting LIV players.

As the 2025 Ryder Cup approaches, the eligibility and selection of LIV golfers remain a point of intrigue, influenced by their performances in eligible events and the broader political dynamics within the golfing world.