A player who hoped to be on the American Ryder Cup team was “devastated” not to be selected, according to Rex Hoggard.
Keegan Bradley’s picks are in for the 2025 Ryder Cup. We now know the 12 players Team USA will take to Bethpage to defend their home soil against the incoming Europeans. There were some shocking inclusions and omissions from the team.
Bradley weighed whether to pick himself as the first playing captain since 1963 for the better part of a year. Ultimately, he decided against it, which opened the door for players outside the top 12 to make the team.
But another player who ranked in the top 12 Americans was heartbroken to learn he would not be on the team.
Maverick McNealy was ‘devastated’ not to make the Ryder Cup team
Bradley said before making his selections that there would be players who expect to be on the team that would be left out. Many expected Ben Griffin not to be selected, but he made the team. Instead, Maverick McNealy received the fateful phone call from Bradley, and he didn’t take the news well.
On the Golf Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav, Rex Hoggard revealed how McNealy reacted to the call. He said, “I think Mav was devastated… He’s played really well this year, and most of these players have done all their damage, and have earned all of their ability to qualify for this team.”
“I would say Mav is probably the most disappointed.”
McNealy was the highest-ranked player not selected by Bradley. He was tenth in the standings after showing good form in 2025. But Bradley said no one outside the top six could expect to be picked, and he stayed true to his word.
Bradley, McNealy and Brian Harman were in the top 12 and not selected. Instead, hometown hero Cameron Young achieved his Ryder Cup dream. As did Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.
McNealy’s 2025 was unexpectedly phenomenal. He rose from 129th in the world golf rankings to the top 15 with a second place at the Genesis Invitational and three third-place finishes, most recently at the BMW Championship in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
But his 2024 play cost him an automatic spot, and when you finish outside of the top six you leave yourself open to disappointment.
Fans question Collin Morikawa’s inclusion on Ryder Cup team, says Ryan Lavner
In stark contrast to McNealy, whose recent form has been red hot, two-time major winner Collin Morikawa has no claim to be on the team based on his 2025. He was likely picked due to his historical play and natural talent.
Ryan Lavner said to Hoggard that fans should question whether Morikawa deserves to make the team. He said, “Collin Morikawa is the player who fans at home are being like, ‘Why are we picking this guy?’ His best finish in the past three months is a tie for eighth.”
Two second-placed finishes at the start of the year saw glimmers of hope for a change in fortune for Morikawa. But since then, he missed the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship and finished 22nd, 33rd and 19th in the three playoff events.
His game doesn’t suit Bethpage, which is likely to be set up to favour long hitters off the tee box, and he hasn’t shown elite-level play since his two major wins during COVID.
If there’s a player McNealy can point to and say he should have been on the team over them, it’s Morikawa.