European Ryder Cup pairing strategy focuses on BMW PGA

The Ryder Cup is over two weeks away, with both sides retreating to their respective corners, providing various “training camps” for Americans and Europeans this week.

11 of 12 euros were in the BMW PGA championship at DP World Tour this week at Wentworth Golf Club, only Sepp Straka participated. Meanwhile, in Napa, California, 10 of the twelve Americans will play at the Procore Championship. Xander Schauffele wasn’t there after his son was recently born, Bryson DeChambeau was present, but was not allowed to play as he was no longer a member of the PGA Tour.

European teams use the BMW PGA Championship in 2023 to stay sharp, build team chemistry and soft launch some Ryder Cup pairings. Before the trip to Rome, the U.S. team had only two players (Justin Thomas and Max Homa) who competed in the then-match championship, with nine of 12 winning five weeks between the Tour and the Ryder Cup. The result is 16.5-11.5 waxing from Europeans, making Americans want to rethink things. Captain Keegan Bradley asked his team to take a tie trip to Procore this week, and our Nick Piastowski is recording Americans’ training camps on site.

As for the Europeans, Captain Luke Donald will not rely on his plan to win in Rome, although they returned 11 of the 12 members from the 2023 team that won 2023. Bethpage Black’s pairing will be different as his team has grown.

“I think the players have changed,” Donald said Wednesday at Wentworth. “It’s been two years since Rome and I’m very excited about continuity and having a team that’s very similar to Rome. I think that’s a huge benefit for us. But the players have changed. [Bob MacIntyre]. He has become a better player over the past two years. I haven’t seen a similar choice from Foursomes, but the potential this time is because of the way he plays the game now.

“Again, you have to always think about not everyone playing the same thing. People are not going to be a good driver or close to a player or putter. These things move through your career, so you adapt to that.”

In 2023, the BMW PGA Championship grouping was realized in a pairing at Marco Simone a few weeks later. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton played the first two rounds along with Ryder Cup rookie Nicolai Hojgaard. Rahm and Hatton were in two four-man meetings together in Rome, while Rahm paired with Hojgaard in a four-ball match. Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre played their first two rounds at Wentworth along with Matt Fitzpatrick. Rose and MacIntyre worked together in two four-ball matches. Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland participated in the four-man theater and a four-goal in Rome. They were united and started the 2023 BMW PGA Championship. The same goes for Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry, who attended two four-person meetings together.

Donald said Wednesday that we could “read” pairings at this week’s BMW PGA Championship to try to hint at his Bethpage Black plan, and of course, we plan to try reading tea leaves.

Tommy Fleetwood will play in Rome with Rory McIlroy and Nicolai Hojgaard in Rome, where he will play the first two rounds at Wentworth with Justin Rose. Fleetwood and McIlroy were unbeaten for the Ryder Cup pair, both of which played Taylormade tp5 goals, while Rose played champion prov1x, which could play in the pairing style. Last week, Donald explained at the Amgen Irish Open how his type of player uses factors to paired four-man decisions.

“I think some players are very special about the ball they play,” Donald said. “Some people are good at adjusting. But you can get into a game with your personality, your stats are great, they are suitable for golf courses and odds and escape phases, and then all of a sudden, golf doesn’t work. So that’s definitely one of the factors we have to look at.”

Maybe that means Rose and Fleetwood are potential four-ball pairings. But given that Ross is one of the best four-player players in Ryder Cup history (7-2-1 career record), it’s safe to say that he can adapt to other balls and provide Europe with alternative pairings of two of the world’s hottest golfers, if Donald chooses to do so.

As for McIlroy, he was formed with Shane Lowry and Jon Rahm at BMW PGA. Lowry played only in Straka in Rome, while Rahm allocated time between Hatton and Nicolai Hojgaard. Lowry and Straka both play Srixon Z-Star XV; Rahm plays Callaway Chrome Tour X with Rasmus Hojgaard.

McIlroy and Lowry are good friends and have participated in Zurich Classics, the team event on the PGA Tour, and have jointly achieved great success in the past two years, including a victory in 2024. This allows them to familiarize themselves with which balls are used and will provide Europe with high-energy pairings to run out on hostile territory. As for Rahm, he has been very successful in pairing with Hatton in 2023.

“Too much complaint, don’t you?” Hatton joked Wednesday about a potential pairing with McIntyre. “It’s going to be bad.”

Meanwhile, Åberg and Fitzpatrick both play ProV1X, grouped together and started litigation at Wentworth. When Donald talks about his team growing, Åberg has to be the top priority. The Swedes recently became a professional player when he joined the European team in 2023. Now, he has reached the top of the game and will rely on Bethpage Black to be one of Donald’s top points. It’s hard to imagine Europe getting rid of the Åberg-Hovland Foursomes pairing, but the Swedish star might be a good four-goal companion for Fitzpatrick, who only played with Rome’s McIlroy.

Hovland and Ryder Cup rookie Rasmus Hojgaard will walk around Wentworth together Thursday and Friday. Hovland only worked with Åberg in 2023, while Rasmus’ twin brother Nicolai played four games with Rahm and Fleetwood. After successfully pairing with the rookie with Roma’s Åberg, Hofland may be asked to be in 2025 for other rookies near 2025, given the success of the Åberg-Hovland Foursomes team, it is likely during the four-goal period.

European teams will conduct reconnaissance visits to Bethpage next Monday and Tuesday, and Straka will join them. They will then spend the rest of the week decompression, and then Europe’s chances are the first team to win the Ryder Cup in 13 years.

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