Europe won the last Ryder Cup in fine style as ace captain Luke Donald masterminded a convincing victory in Italy, but a much tougher task will probably be facing Donald and his team when they take on the United States in New York next year – read our piece looking at 5 potential Ryder Cup Wildcards for Team Europe next year.
Ryder Cup Wildcards: 5 Europeans to Star in 2025
Donald looks set to have numerous selection headaches, with some key players having joined LIV Golf since the last Ryder Cup. Here we look at five players who may end up with wildcard picks for Team Europe. Donald had six picks for the last match.
Ryder Cup Wildcards: Jon Rahm
Golfing politics means Donald will probably have to use at least one of his wildcard picks on a LIV Golf player. The LIV representatives will probably fail to earn enough Ryder Cup points to qualify automatically for the team through any other route.
Jon Rahm, a former world number one and two-time Major champion, seems likely to be given a wildcard pick by Donald should it be required. Rahm altered his schedule in the last few months to include some DP World Tour events, fulfilling his obligations with regards to DP World Tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility.
By teeing up in the Olympics, the Spanish Open, the Dunhill Links and the Andalucia Masters, Rahm has given himself the chance of playing in the Ryder Cup. Rory McIlroy has been outspoken in his desire for having Rahm as a teammate at Bethpage Black in September.
Ryder Cup Wildcards: Tyrrell Hatton
Another LIV player likely to require a wildcard selection is Tyrrell Hatton, who won two points as a foursomes partner of Rahm in the last Ryder Cup. Hatton has done the same as Rahm, adding DP World Tour events to his schedule to earn Ryder Cup eligibility.
Hatton teed up in the Dubai Desert Classic in January before joining LIV. The requirement for Ryder Cup eligibility is four DP World Tour events this season, so playing in the British Masters, Spanish Open and Dunhill Links was enough. The Englishman won the Dunhill Links.
Ryder Cup Wildcards: David Puig
Rahm and Hatton will probably need to suffer a dramatic drop in form for Donald to ignore them. Another LIV player probably needs to step up a gear next year to enter the equation, but David Puig has certainly put himself on the fringes of wildcard contention.
Puig turns 23 in December and is one of the fastest improvers in world golf. The former Stateside college star has won twice on the Asian Tour and has also impressed on the LIV circuit. Donald may be tempted to pair Puig with his fellow Spaniard Rahm in an all-LIV alliance
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Ryder Cup Wildcards: Justin Rose
Donald will need some experienced campaigners on his team as Europe enter the Bethpage Black bearpit. If Justin Rose fails to qualify for the team automatically, expect the six-time Ryder Cup star to get a call-up.
Rose will be 45 by the time of the next match.
Ryder Cup Wildcards: Tom McKibbin
A PGA Tour card may be coming for Tom McKibbin at the end of this DP World Tour season through the Race to Dubai Rankings, and the Northern Irish youngster can put himself in contention for a Ryder Cup debut.
McKibbin, good friends with McIlroy and Shane Lowry, would be welcomed on to the side by that duo, who are potential foursomes and fourballs partners.
By Steve Palmer
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