Ryder Cup: Europe make big changes to qualifying process

Luke Donald’s European team will move to a “simpler” streamlined qualification system for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

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

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.

Europeans will receive points for majors, PGA Tour events and DP World Tour events, but no points can be accrued through the breakaway LIV Golf series. As always, players must have a DP World Tour membership to be eligible.

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While anticipated, the lack of acknowledgement to LIV means Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton – both stars of the 2023 winning team – will likely need exceptional performances in the 2025 majors to automatically qualify.

These qualifying changes were implemented by Ryder Cup Europe after consultation with captain Donald and his assistants Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Bjorn ahead of next September’s showdown at Bethpage Black.

Just like he did for the Rome contest, Donald will have six wildcard picks for the match in New York. A saving grace, perhaps, for Rahm and Hatton, who have both vowed to play the four events needed to retain their DP World Tour memberships for another year.

“A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to get to this point and everything is now focused on doing all we can to retain the trophy in New York next September,” Donald said.

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Guy Kinnings, the Ryder Cup managing partner, added: “This is without question a much cleaner and simpler qualification system than the ones utilised in previous years and we thank Luke and his Vice Captains Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Bjørn for their vital input over the past few months.”

This is the total number of Ryder Cup points that will be available for players at each different tournament…

Ryder Cup qualification points

Major championships: 5,000 points
2025 PGA Tour Signature events / The Players / FedExCup Playoffs: 3,000 points
DP World Tour Rolex Series events: 2,000 points
2025 PGA Tour regular FedExCup events: 2,000 points
DP World Tour ‘Back 9’ events: 1,500 points
DP World Tour ‘Global Series’ events: 1,000 points
2025 PGA TOUR ‘Opposite’ events: 1,000 points

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The qualification process for the 2025 Ryder Cup begins at the British Masters from August 29-September 1 at The Belfry, a four-time venue for the biennial clash.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.