What is the Ryder Cup? 2025 format, teams, all-time winners

Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black favors long hitters and tight pairings; U.S. home advantage and power players could tilt momentum stateside. Punters may prefer U.S. in overall match markets and target pairings involving Scheffler or Schauffele in foursomes/four-balls for match-bet value.

Ryder Cup 2025 Preview: Bethpage Black Set to Host High-Stakes Team Battle

When and where

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be contested Friday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. The iconic, brutally demanding public layout promises a physically and mentally taxing test that rewards length and course management.

Broadcast and viewing

Television and streaming coverage will be available across major broadcasters and streaming platforms, giving fans worldwide access to the three-day match-play spectacle.

Teams and qualification process

How teams are built

Each side fields 12 players. For the United States, the top six eligible players in Ryder Cup standings following the BMW Championship earn automatic berths; the U.S. captain fills the remaining six spots. For Europe, the top six in points after the Betfred British Masters qualify automatically, with the European captain selecting the remaining six.

Confirmed players

United States (six automatic qualifiers to date): ▪︎ Scottie Scheffler ▪︎ Xander Schauffele ▪︎ J.J. Spaun ▪︎ Russell Henley ▪︎ Harris English ▪︎ Bryson DeChambeau

Europe (six automatic qualifiers to date):
▪︎ Rory McIlroy
▪︎ Robert MacIntyre
▪︎ Tommy Fleetwood
▪︎ Justin Rose
▪︎ Rasmus Højgaard
▪︎ Tyrrell Hatton

Captains: U.S. captain Keegan Bradley and Europe captain Luke Donald will finalize their rosters with six picks apiece.

Format and match structure

Three days, 28 points

The Ryder Cup is match play across three days with 28 points available. The first two days feature pairs formats—foursomes (alternate-shot) and four-balls (best-ball). The final day is 12 head-to-head singles matches. Each match is worth one point; halves split a point. The first team to surpass 14 points wins; a 14-14 tie allows the current holder to retain the trophy.

Strategy implications

Pairing chemistry and course fit are crucial. Foursomes punish errant tee shots and reward steady, complementary partners. Four-balls can magnify star power, where individual firepower wins holes.

Betting considerations and markets

Home-course characteristics at Bethpage Black favor long hitters with accuracy off the tee and resilience around tricky greens. Expect markets for: ▪︎ Overall match winner (USA vs Europe) — home advantage and power profile give the U.S. an edge in many markets. ▪︎ Session/match bets — early sessions in foursomes may produce upsets; study pairings for value. ▪︎ Player head-to-heads and singles — target matchups favoring known power and form. ▪︎ Prop markets — point totals for teams, winning margin, and top point scorers.

Sharp bettors will weigh captain picks, pairing announcements, recent form, and how players handle pressure in alternate-shot formats.

History and context

All-time series

The United States leads the all-time Ryder Cup series 27-15-2. Recent editions: Europe won in 2023 (16½–11½); the U.S. prevailed in 2021 (19–9) and 2016 (17–11).

Why 2025 matters

A U.S. victory at home would narrow the gap in the overall series and intensify the rivalry. For Europe, success at an intimidating U.S. course would underline their depth and match-play pedigree.

Compensation and charitable elements

The Ryder Cup does not pay prize money in the usual tournament sense. U.S. players receive appearance-related compensation that includes charitable allocations; formats and team selection emphasize pride, national representation and charitable giving over individual purses.

Final takeaway

Bethpage Black sets the stage for a physical, high-stakes Ryder Cup that favors powerful, steady ball-strikers and disciplined partnerships. Bettors should monitor final rosters and pairings closely—those factors will strongly influence match and session markets, especially in foursomes and four-ball play.

The 45th edition of the Ryder Cup will take place in September 2025. Check out details on the dates, format, teams, all-time winners and more now.

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