The choreography of Ryder Cup performance often begins weeks ahead of the decisive battle. For Team Europe, the 2025 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth serves not just as a marquee Rolex Series event, but a calculated pre-Ryder Cup mission. Here, 11 of the 12 European squad members–excluding Sepp Straka, who is absent due to welcoming a new child–are teeing it up in hopes of sharpening their form and synergy.
“I don’t think an official announcement has been made, but him [Straka] and his wife welcomed their baby a few weeks ago prematurely,” Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald said. “Everything is going extremely well with their baby. He just doesn’t want to be so far away. I think that’s only fair.”
Donald has apparently leveraged the draw to align key players in the same early tee times across the first two rounds. It’s a move reminiscent of the successful 2023 buildup and a bid to ignite on-course chemistry through shared fairways and post-round regrouping.
As Jon Rahm noted, balancing personal performance with the collective team bond remains critical: “I wouldn’t be surprised if like in the past, Ryder Cup teammates played together this week and spent some more time together on the golf course, as well. But I wouldn’t say too much, right.”
The Scouting Blueprint
No preparation is complete without a terrain walkthrough. Team Europe has scheduled a two-day scouting trip to Bethpage Black immediately following the BMW PGA Championship. A chartered flight will transport players, Donald, and support staff to New York, where they’ll begin acclimating and studying the unique layout of the course that will host the Ryder Cup from September 26-28.
Following the scouting immersion, the group will remain in the U.S.–ensuring they adapt to the time zone and environment before the high-stakes showdown.
“I think getting us all back together and building that up again is going to be really important,” Rory McIlroy said, “but I think it will be easy when we all get together. It’s like nothing’s ever really changed.”
Odds and Predictions for the BMW PGA Championship
The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth offers a timely preview of the Ryder Cup, and oddsmakers are weighing in on which stars are poised to shine.
Favorites and Form
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McIlroy leads the betting, currently priced around 6/1 (best) or 11/2 depending on the sportsbook. His form is exceptional, fresh off an Irish Open victory and arguably enjoying the best putting season of his career. His comfort at Wentworth, where he won in 2014 and has consistently finished in the top 10 since, makes him a logical choice.
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Rahm is positioned as a serious challenger, with odds like 7/1 via some outlets, and around 13/2 (~6.5/1) elsewhere. Despite not winning yet this season, his past track record at Wentworth (finishes of 2nd, T2, and 4th in his last three) reinforces his threat.
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Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, and Tyrrell Hatton lurk behind the favorites, each offering value with odds ranging between 9/1 and 16/1. Fleetwood enters in excellent form following his Tour Championship win; Åberg brings rising potential; and Hatton, a former Wentworth champion (2020), could rebound strongly.
Value Picks and Longshots
Justin Rose emerges as a compelling each-way play (aiming for a top-10 finish) with 4/1 odds in that category. His recent resurgence and familiarity with the course play to his advantage.
From Golf Monthly, a few high-upside names to watch include:
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Corey Conners (+3500) for his precise ball-striking
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Justin Rose (+5000) as a hometown contender
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Tommy Fleetwood (+1100), again offering strong form
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Matt Wallace (+6000), a value bet with past experience at Wentworth
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BetFred’s each-way recommendations are also worth noting:
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Matt Fitzpatrick at 22/1 – solid Wentworth form with consistent cuts and a few top-10s
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Alex Noren at 35/1 – former Wentworth champion with continued short-game consistency
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Rasmus Hojgaard at 40/1 – another longshot with upside
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GolfMonthly’s “sleeper” column reinforces the idea that this tournament is ripe for surprises–previous editions have seen underdogs like Ryan Fox (+5000) and Danny Willett (+6600) claim titles.
Formidable Lineup & Form
Team Europe arrives with momentum. McIlroy, riding a career-peak season exudes confidence in the squad’s readiness, calling this group “more accomplished” than the winning roster in Rome two years ago. Supporting him are rising stars who’ve clinched significant victories: Robert MacIntyre, Åberg, and Hojgaard, each bolstering Europe’s depth and dynamism.
Notably, Shane Lowry (one of the captain’s picks) has introduced a new Srixon ZX7 LS+ driver into his bag as he preps for Wentworth and, ultimately, Bethpage. These subtle yet telling tweaks reflect the team’s attention to both mental and technical execution.
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