This is how the European team would look if the Ryder Cup was played today

It’s just over a year until the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage but excuse us if we get a little excited at the prospect of the match.

Qualifying for Luke Donald’s European team began at last week’s Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.

The mastermind of last year’s ‘Romp in Rome’ announced a series of changes last month that designed to streamline the qualifying process.

In a significant change from previous years, there will only be one Ryder Cup Points List, with scoring now based on an all-new tournament banding structure.

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It means that rather than three players qualifying from the European Points (based on Race to Dubai points) and World Points List (based on Official World Golf Ranking Points), six players will automatically qualify from the new standings, with the remaining six players chosen at Donald’s discretion after qualifying ends.

Europeans will receive points for majors, PGA Tour events and DP World Tour events, but not from playing on the LIV Golf League. As always, players must have a DP World Tour membership to be eligible.

No points will be awarded for performances on the PGA Tour until the start of its 2025 season in January, so the next few months represent a great opportunity for DP World Tour-based players to lay down an early marker.

And haven’t they just!

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Denmark’s Nikas Norgaard is in pole position after week one, following his victory in the British Masters – his maiden win on the one-time European Tour.

His compatriot Rasmus Hojgaard – whose twin brother Nicolai was part of the team last time out – is next on the list after finishing third at The Belfry.

Here’s a look at the top-12 players on the standings after the opening week of qualifying…

2025 Ryder Cup – Projected European team after Week 1 of qualifying

Bold denotes players in automatic qualifying places

Niklas Norgaard (DEN)
Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN)
Jeong weon Ko (FRA)
Jesper Svensson (SWE)
Jorge Campillo (SPA)
Matteo Manassero (ITA)
Matt Wallace (ENG)
Andrew Wilson (ENG)
Max Rottluff (GER)
Harry Hall (ENG)
Jordan Smith (ENG)
Alex Fitzpatrick (ENG)

Of course, the big question is this: how many of these players will make the final roster for the trophy defence at Bethpage in a year’s time?

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor