Will Bryson DeChambeau, other LIV Golfers play at the 2025 Ryder Cup? Latest ruling explored
The PGA of America has opened the doors for American LIV golfers, such as Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, to qualify for the 2025 Ryder Cup. The biennial team event features two teams—the European team and the USA team—each comprising 12 players. Six players qualify automatically, based on their Ryder Cup team rankings, while the remaining six are chosen as captain's picks.
The PGA of America recently announced that moving forward, American LIV golfers can compete in the biennial tournament via qualification or as captain's picks. The organization released a statement saying (via Golf Digest):
“To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and that the U.S. Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of American board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both.
“Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the U.S. team as a captain’s pick is eligible to compete."
Notably, DeChambeau has a strong chance of qualifying for the 2025 Ryder Cup. With a victory at the 2024 US Open, the American golfer has secured the third spot in the US team rankings for the Ryder Cup. If he maintains his ranking, he could qualify for the prestigious team event.
To earn points for the US Ryder Cup rankings, players must perform well in tournaments before the team event. In the 2024 season, only five events for American players contributed points to the Ryder Cup standings, including the four Majors and The Players Championship. However, the points distribution for the 2025 season is yet to be announced.
Currently, Xander Schauffele leads the US team standings for the Ryder Cup after winning two Majors—the PGA Championship and The Open Championship—in 2024. Scottie Scheffler, who won the Masters and The Players Championship, is ranked second, followed by DeChambeau.
How can LIV golfers qualify for the European team at the Ryder Cup?
LIV golfers are also eligible to be part of the European team at the Ryder Cup 2025 if they qualify or become a captain's pick for the event. However, for that to happen, the players must hold a DP World Tour card, which can be retained by playing in at least four European Tour events in a season.
LIV golfer Jon Rahm is a leading player who could be part of the European team at the Ryder Cup, but to be eligible for the event, he has to play in at least three more DP World Tour events to secure his membership. He had competed at the Paris Olympics, which is also counted as a DP World Tour event, leaving him with three more to play.
However, the Spaniard has some fines due on the DP World Tour, which restrict him from competing on the circuit. Rahm must clear his outstanding fines to be allowed to play on the DP World Tour. Initially, the former Masters winner was not in favor of paying the fines. Ahead of the LIV Golf Chicago event, he said (via USA Today):
"I'm not a big fan of the fines. I think I've been outspoken about that. I don't intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen."
Nonetheless, Jon Rahm has filed an appeal over the DP World Tour's fines, and the hearing is still awaited. After the hearing, if he is allowed to play in three DP World Tour events, he could secure his membership and become eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
However, the criteria remain: either the player must secure a top-6 spot in the team standings or become a captain's pick. The European team qualification process began with the start of the Betfred British Masters, which was held from August 29 to September 1, and will continue throughout this season and next year. It will conclude on August 24, 2025. After this, the top 6 in the standings will automatically qualify, and the next six will be chosen by the captain.
According to the official Ryder Cup website, here is the points distribution for the European Team:
- Major Championships: 5,000 points
- 2025 PGA TOUR Signature events / The Players / FedExCup Playoffs: 3,000 points
- DP World Tour Rolex Series events: 2,000 points
- 2025 PGA TOUR regular FedExCup events: 2,000 points
- DP World Tour 'Back 9' events: 1,500 points
- DP World Tour 'Global Series' events: 1,000 points
- 2025 PGA TOUR 'Opposite' events: 1,000 points
Currently, the top-6 in the European Ryder Cup team standings are Rasmus Hojgaard, Matt Wallace, Niklas Norgaard, Rory McIlroy, Alfredo Garcia Heredia, and Matteo Manassero.
The next edition of the Ryder Cup will take place from September 26 to 28, 2025, at Bethpage in New York.