As the countdown nears zero for the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York, Luke Donald’s captain’s picks for Team Europe are coming under scrutiny.
Luke Donald selected a nearly unchanged team from the one that won in Rome two years ago. He simply swapped Hojgaards, as Nicolai made way for his twin brother Rasmus, who automatically qualified.
11 of the 12 European players teed off at Wentworth at the BMW PGA Championship in preparation for the event, and it was a largely successful outing for Donald’s side. Ten players made the cut and delivered solid performances.
There was one glaring omission from the weekend’s action, however, as Hojgaard missed the cut at Wentworth. That caused golf journalist Dan Rapaport to question the captain’s selections for Bethpage Black.
Dan Rapaport says Luke Donald would swap Rasmus Hojgaard for Alex Noren
A T-128 finish marked a dismal performance for Hojgaard in his final competitive event before the Ryder Cup. Meanwhile, fellow European Alex Noren continued his impressive run of form in the build-up to the event.
Noren won at Wentworth, following up a victory at the British Masters weeks prior. He was sidelined due to injury until May, but would be peaking in form at the perfect time should he have made the Ryder Cup team.
Based on form, Rapaport explained that he thinks if Donald could re-pick his side, he would swap out Hojgaard for Noren. He said on Dan on Golf, “I feel like there’s a big drop off between the rest of the guys and Rasmus Hojgaard.
“I think if you offered captain Luke Donald the chance to re-pick his team, he would choose those same 11 guys plus Alex Noren. Alex Noren is an assistant captain on the European Ryder Cup team, and he has won two of his last three starts.”
It’s an interesting argument that has been a running theme throughout the lead-up to the Ryder Cup. How much does current form weigh up against historical performances?
Cameron Young’s Ryder Cup case to Keegan Bradley was built around his recent form. He picked up his first PGA Tour win before Keegan Bradley made his picks, and that was enough to see him make the team.
Meanwhile, Donald thinks familiarity and experience are key to Europe’s success. Justin Rose said Europe was a bonded unit, and that gave them an edge going into a hostile environment like New York. Noren wouldn’t fit the bill if recent Ryder Cup experience is deemed crucial.
Following his Wentworth win, Noren weighed in on the debate.
Alex Noren disagrees that he should be on Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team
Noren, who was selected by Donald as his final Vice Captain for the Ryder Cup, disagrees with Rapaport that he should be playing in New York. He argues that while his recent form has been exceptional, he simply has not delivered the body of work to be on the team.
The 43-year-old Swede told Sky Sports Golf, “I think the other guys have played better than me throughout the year. I’ve put in some great results now the last month, a little bit too late.
“I think the guys on the team are going to be fantastic. I’m really looking forward to the match more than anything in a long time.”
It’s a shame for Noren that he couldn’t deliver these results sooner, but ultimately, he’s right. Winning a Ryder Cup on foreign soil is one of the most difficult achievements in sport. A few months of good form shouldn’t be enough to oust a proven performer with two years of performances to fall back on.
While Hojgaard didn’t play in Rome, he was present in support of his brother and spent the weekend around the team. He’s no stranger to the environment, and that would prove crucial when Europe tees off in front of a hostile Bethpage crowd.