US Team announces latest Ryder Cup qualification criteria: Full list of rules explored

While the 2025 Ryder Cup may be a year away, it has already ignited the enthusiasm of fans. On Tuesday, October 8, American captain Keegan Bradley shared a crucial aspect of his strategy: the ranking system.

Each captain can devise a system for selecting their team. This typically involves a points-based system that takes into account performance in the season’s main events.

Bradley has decided to stick with virtually the same system that was used to select the team for last year's Ryder Cup.

Here's a look at the system that Bradley has implemented:

2024 Major Championships

1 Point per $1,000 earned for all players who made the cut at The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open.

2024 The PLAYERS

1 Point per $1,000 earned for all players who made the cut at THE PLAYERS.

2025 Regular PGA TOUR events

1 point per $1,000 earned for all players who make the cut in events beginning January 1, 2025, through the conclusion of the BMW Championship, August 17, 2025 (second FedEx Cup Playoff event).
2025 Opposite Field PGA TOUR events will NOT receive points.

2025 Major Championships

1.5 Points per $1,000 earned for all players who make the cut at The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open.

The ranking system will consider performances from January 1, 2024, up to the 2025 BMW Championship. The top six ranked players will automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup team, while the captain will have the discretion to select the remaining six.

Here's what Bradley said with regard to his decision (via ASAP Sports):

"I think the points system does a great job in identifying the 12 best players. We play our Elevated Events and majors carry so much weight...the pressure of playing in these big tournaments and majors, and that shows up on the points list."

Changes to European Ryder Cup team selection system

Luke Donald, captain of the European team for the Ryder Cup, has also shared the ranking system that will be used to select his team. The system will be different from the previous edition as there will be a single ranking for all the players.

In contrast to the previous Ryder Cup, where some European players were ranked based on their world ranking and others according to their DP World Tour ranking, this dual ranking system will be abolished for the next edition of the event.

Under the new system, a certain number of points will be allocated to players at each tournament. The distribution of points will vary depending on the level of the event.

Band 5 - Major Championships 5000 Points
Band 4 - PGAT Signature events/The Players/FedExCup Playoffs events 3000 Points
Band 3 - DPWT Rolex Series events and PGAT regular FedExCup events 2000 Points
Band 2 - DPWT Back 9 events 1500 Points
Band 1 - DPWT Global Series events and PGAT “opposite” Events 1000 Points

Similar to the American team, the top six finishers will automatically qualify for the event, while the remaining six players will be selected by the captain