Two years after the Ryder Cup loss, the United States makes a major change
The U.S. roster has changed its preparations after two years of dominance in Rome in Europe as the 2025 Ryder Cup approaches Bethpage.
The field of the Procore Championship held next week at Silverado Resort in Napa, California, has been confirmed, with 10 of the 12 players on the Ryder Cup team being put into practice. The only two that were not on the field were Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, the latter of whom were LIV golfers not allowed to enter the field. (However, despite the lack of a game, Schauffele and Dechambeau can still be with the team in some capacity next week.)
Two years ago, nine of the 12 Ryder Cup players in the Americans were five weeks away from the Championship golf in a 16.5-11.5 lead. This is partly a problem with the PGA Tour program, and it is also the lack of events between the Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup, but only two American players (Justin Thomas and Max Homa) competed in the same game in 2023, then called the Fortinet Championship. Both are in the top 10 in Napa, with a total of 5 points in Rome.
The lack of competitive start to the U.S. team is a major topic of discussion after road loss, especially since all 12 European Ryder Cup members competed in the BMW PGA Championship two weeks before the Ryder Cup and won seven titles in the top ten.
While nine of the 12 members of the 2023 U.S. team did take part in Marco Simone’s scouting tour weeks before the event, the lack of competitiveness still showed up after their losses. Although Captain America Zach Johnson said he believes the long rest is a factor.
“There is also something to say about rest, recovery and positioning that makes your game possible,” he said in a 2023 press conference. “I mean, these guys have won a lot of golf games with a few weeks off. So I don’t think so. We have preparation time here. Again, two and a half weeks ago. Representatives are representatives. Representatives are schedules. You can’t control what we can control. I think I have a pretty proper plan. I might reflect it, I might reflect something.”
“But I won’t be prepared for these guys.
It’s clear that Captain America Keegan Bradley’s priorities in Napa this year. The NAPA Stop is the first event on the fall schedule and has been working to attract some top names in the game as many players who advance to the Tour Championship get a long break, while others who are still competing for FedEx Cup priorities start a major fall.
Now the world number one Scottie Scheffler is in the field (which will be an out-of-control betting favorite) and will join Ryder Cup teammates JJ Spaun, Russell Henley, Harris English, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.
Bradley will of course be there, with five of his deputy captains (Gary Woodland, Brandt Sneedke and Weber Simpson) on site.
Ryder Cup 2025
