How Do Golfers Get Selected for the Ryder Cup?

Every two years, 12 of the top golfers from the U.S. face off in a series of foursome and four-ball matches against a dozen of the best linksmen from Europe. It’s called the Ryder Cup. 

When the tournament began in 1927, players were selected by committee. Over the years, selection has shifted toward a system in which six players qualify based on recent performance and six are chosen by a team captain.

Keep reading for details on how golfers are selected for each Ryder Cup team.

How to qualify for the U.S. Ryder Cup team

The top six U.S. players on points qualify automatically. Players earn points starting the year before the event, with the points system prioritizing recent performance:

• Year before Ryder Cup:
  • Every player who makes the cut at the Players Championships or the four Majors earns 1 point per $1,000 in prize money 
• Year of Ryder Cup:
  • 1 point per $1,000 earned at non-Major PGA Tour events through the BMW Championship in August
  • 1.5 points per $1,000 earned at Majors events

In 2025, the following U.S. golfers finished in the top six on points and automatically qualified for the team:

• Scottie Scheffler (37,180.33 points)
• J.J. Spaun (14,851.91 points)
• Xander Schauffele (13,733.52 points)
• Russell Henley (12,276.82 points)
• Harris English (10,880.55 points)
• Bryson DeChambeau (10,774.98 points)

How to qualify for the Europe Ryder Cup team

The top six European players also qualify for the Ryder Cup based on points scored. There are two ways to earn Ryder Cup points:

• Race to Dubai Ranking for the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) tournaments from Aug. 29, 2024, to Aug. 24, 2025
• PGA TOUR FedExCup points events (unless held during one of the five Rolex Series events on the DP World Tour) between Jan. 1 and Aug. 17, 2025

The bigger the event, the more points are available, with the top 100 finishers splitting the total. There are five “bands” of events:

• Band 5: Major Championships – 5,000 points
• Band 4: PGA Tour Signature events, The Players Championship, and FedExCup Playoffs – 3,000 points
• Band 3: DP World Tour Rolex Series events and PGA Tour regular FedExCup events – 2000 Points 
• Band 2: DP World Tour Back 9 events – 1,500 Points
• Band 1: DP World Tour Global Series events and PGA Tour “opposite” events – 1,000 points

For example, if a European were to win the British Open championship in 2025, he would take home 835 points. A player finishing 100th at the same Major tournament would earn just 0.5 points. Meanwhile, a winner of a band 5 event would get 168 points and the 100th-place finisher would net 0.1 points. The full formula is listed here.

How the remaining six players for each team are chosen

For both the European and U.S. teams, the captain picks the remaining six players. Those selections can cause controversy, such as when U.S. captain Zach Johnson passed over Keegan Bradley in 2023 to select Justin Thomas, who ranked 15th in the points standings.

FAQ

Who chooses the captains?

The captains themselves are selected by the PGA of America’s executive committee and the European Tour’s tournament committee, respectively.

Do captains play?

Not typically. They’re more like a coach who sets strategy and talks to the media. The last time a captain also played was in 1963, when Arnold Palmer led the U.S. team. With Keegan Bradley in the top 12 of the standings in 2025, there has been talk that he could select himself to play.

When are captain’s picks announced?

For the 2025 Ryder Cup, the six captain’s picks will be announced Aug. 27. European selections will be announced Sept. 1.

Do LIV Tour events count for points?

No, but LIV golfers can still make the cut. Bryson DeChambeau won a spot after finishing in the top 10 in six Majors in 2024 and 2025, including a win at the U.S. Open.