As the 2025 Ryder Cup approaches, the competition for Team USA’s roster is heating up. With only six automatic spots available via points and six captain’s picks to be determined later this summer, players are jockeying not just for position, but for the confidence of captain Keegan Bradley, who might also find himself part of the squad in more ways than one.
The Unquestioned Leader
Scottie Scheffler has distanced himself from the field. With over 27,000 Ryder Cup points, he is the only player whose spot is entirely secure. His elite consistency this season has placed him at the center of the U.S. effort, and he will anchor the team at Bethpage Black without question. There is no drama with Scheffler–only excellence.
Below Scheffler, the leaderboard becomes far more congested. Xander Schauffele sits in second place with 12,472.70 points, narrowly ahead of J.J. Spaun, who has posted 12,271.85. Russell Henley, continuing a quiet but effective season, holds the fourth position, while Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas round out the current top six.
Each is playing well enough to maintain their place, but the margins are slim. A missed cut or a surprise winner in the coming events could shake up this group significantly.
Just outside the top six lies a high-stakes battlefield. Collin Morikawa is arguably the most experienced Ryder Cupper in the group but currently finds himself on the outside looking in. Ben Griffin, Harris English, and Maverick McNealy are all within striking distance and have shown flashes of the form needed to push into the automatic qualification group.
Then comes Bradley–ninth in the standings with 7,845 points. Fresh off his emotional victory at the Travelers Championship, Bradley is not only a captain now, but also a contender for one of the coveted twelve spots. His dual role has added intrigue to the Ryder Cup narrative this summer and introduced a decision no U.S. captain has had to face in over 60 years.
| 1 | Scottie Scheffler (Q) | 27,536.93 |
| 2 | Xander Schauffele | 12,472.70 |
| 3 | J.J. Spaun | 12,271.85 |
| 4 | Russell Henley | 11,166.85 |
| 5 | Bryson DeChambeau | 10,318.00 |
| 6 | Justin Thomas | 9,997.69 |
| 7 | Collin Morikawa | 9,482.01 |
| 8 | Ben Griffin | 8,432.91 |
| 9 | Keegan Bradley | 7,845.22 |
| 10 | Harris English | 7,666.52 |
| 11 | Maverick McNealy | 7,126.46 |
| 12 | Brian Harman | 6,521.26 |
Lead from the Fairway?
Bradley’s situation is unique in modern golf. When he was named captain, it was widely assumed that he would serve solely in a leadership capacity. But his recent play has changed the equation entirely. With his world ranking inside the top 10 (number 7) and a Ryder Cup resume that includes passionate performances and team-first energy, many believe he deserves to play.
“Listen, this changes the story a little bit. I never would have thought about playing if I hadn’t won,” Bradley said. “This definitely opens the door to play. I don’t know if I’m going to do it or not, but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what’s best for the team and we’ll see.”
The controversy lies in what comes next. Should Bradley fall short of the top six, he will have to decide whether to select himself. Critics argue it’s a no-win situation: exclude himself, and he might leave the team weaker; include himself, and he risks the appearance of bias.
But increasingly, analysts suggest that not playing could create the bigger distraction, especially given his current form and the precedent set by past U.S. captains like Arnold Palmer, who led and played in 1963.
Events That Could Shift the Standings
With the Rocket Classic and The Open Championship on the horizon, there’s still time for players to make a run. The final standings will be locked after the BMW Championship, giving everyone a handful of high-pressure opportunities to either move inside the top six or make a strong enough case for a captain’s pick.
As it stands, the cutoff line between sixth and tenth place is tight. A top-five finish in a major could swing the balance. A late-season slump from a current qualifier could open the door. The standings today are meaningful, but they are far from final.
Europe’s Top Six
As of June 22, Fleetwood has climbed to No. 2 in Europe’s Ryder Cup standings, reinforcing his status as a near certainty for Captain Luke Donald’s automatic qualifiers. His rise reflects a broader trend of European consistency, with stars like McIlroy already locking in their positions.
| Pos. | Previous | Player | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Rory McIlroy | 3138.45 |
| 2 | 7 | Tommy Fleetwood | 1237.43 |
| 3 | 2 | Tyrrell Hatton | 1216.55 |
| 4 | 4 | Robert MacIntyre | 1212.11 |
| 5 | 3 | Shane Lowry | 1202.11 |
| 6 | 5 | Sepp Straka | 1146.33 |
| Pos. | Previous | Player | Points |
| 7 | 6 | Rasmus Hojgaard | 1,072.33 |
| 8 | 8 | Ludvig Aberg | 909.53 |
| 9 | 9 | Justin Rose | 886.84 |
| 10 | 10 | Viktor Hovland | 882.31 |
| 11 | 11 | Thomas Detry | 750.59 |
| 12 | 12 | Matt Wallace | 707.57 |
Former pro Wayne Riley expressed his feelings on the Bradley captain-player dilemma: “Luke Donald must be laughing his head off. A lot of people a year ago thought Europe were going to get hammered at Bethpage, but not anymore…
“I don’t think you can be a playing captain in something so very big,” he added. “He’s got to drop himself as a captain, he’s got to just play. But then who does he give the captaincy to? Right now, for me, the whole thing is advantage Europe.”
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