Team USA is bringing four rookies to Bethpage Black for the 2025 Ryder Cup, but it’s two familiar faces that could cause the biggest headaches for Keegan Bradley and the Americans.
Keegan Bradley’s selections were the source of scrutiny for months on end, as the golfing world wondered whether he would become the first playing captain since 1963. He ranked in the top 12 Americans, but elected to leave himself out, heaping the pressure on his six captain’s picks to deliver.
Team U.S. convened at the Procore Championship in the build-up to the Ryder Cup. 10 of the 12 players competing in the tournament impressively made the cut. Bradley can take confidence from the form his team showed, as two of his players, Scottie Scheffler and Brian Griffin, battled for the win on the 18th.
But two of his team were unable to play the Procore, including LIV Golf and YouTube star Bryson DeChambeau, who is banned from playing PGA Tour events due to his commitments to another tour. Concerns about their lack of competitive action in the lead-up to the Ryder Cup have been raised.
Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele named as potential concerns for Keegan Bradley
Joining Bryson DeChambeau as a noticeable absence from the Procore Championship was Xander Schauffele, who recently welcomed the birth of his first child. Both players qualified for the Ryder Cup automatically, but they’ll be entering the tournament cold.
DeChambeau impressively qualified for the competition through eight events, as only his major championship performances contributed to his Ryder Cup rankings. Winning the U.S. Open and finishing second in the PGA Championship in 2024 ultimately secured his spot.
Schauffele also did the bulk of his work in 2024 to lock in his place on the team. A disappointing 2025 meant Schauffele lost his Tour Championship streak, failing to qualify for the first time since 2017.
Both DeChambeau and Schauffele are undoubtedly two of the best players in American golf. But 2025 form and a lack of competitive playing time in the lead-up to the Ryder Cup has concerned golf writer Sean Zak.
Zak wrote for Golf.com, “If we’re really trying to worry about form — is the two players who weren’t in the field: Xander Schauffele, who just became a first-time father, and Bryson DeChambeau, who wasn’t allowed to play.
“Both players have had moments of greatness in 2025, but both players mostly made the team on the merits of their success in 2024. Which begs an important question: Do either of them play four matches? For either to play five matches feels unlikely.”
The biggest mistake made by the Americans in the lead-up to their loss in Rome two years ago was their preparation for the event. The team went five weeks without competitive action, leading to a humiliating loss and Scheffler’s record-breaking Ryder Cup defeat to Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland.
Bradley hasn’t made the same mistake as his predecessor in 2023, but doubt could be cast in his mind over DeChambeau and Schauffele entering the competition.
Luke Donald faces the same Ryder Cup concerns over Sepp Straka
Turning our attention to the visitors, and Luke Donald’s Europe faces the same concerns as Bradley over one of their automatic qualifiers. Sepp Straka missed crucial playing time during the FedEx Cup Playoffs due to a private family matter.
Straka was absent at Wentworth, as the rest of the European team teed off at the BMW PGA Championship in preparation for the Ryder Cup. He is present at Bethpage Black, however, as Europe plays a pre-Ryder Cup practice round on foreign soil for the first time.
Zak expressed his concern about Straka’s recent form, writing, “Looking across the aisle, a similar situation is brewing.
“Sepp Straka also recently welcomed a newborn to his family, and though he will be at Bethpage for two days of team camp this week, his form in recent months has been far less consistent than the spring.”
Straka has also struggled at major championships in 2025. He made the cut only once, at The Open Championship, where he finished 52nd. That’s also a concern, entering the pressure cooker environment of a New York crowd.
Donald will hope that Straka can shake the rust off during his practice round at Bethpage, and be firing on all cylinders when the chips are down.