Europe’s Ryder Cup Advantage: Performance vs. Tune-Up Results

If their preparedness isn’t optimal by now, it wouldn’t be due to insufficient effort. Participants slated for both sides of the 2025 Ryder Cup contest have only a brief period remaining before the celebrated event commences at Bethpage Black, situated in Farmingdale, New York.

Directly following an appearance by 11 of their 12 players at the DP World Tour’s esteemed BMW PGA Championship, the European contingent arranged a special conveyance from Wentworth to Bethpage Black, purely for reconnaissance. Adhering to the victorious game plan from the 2023 Ryder Cup, also overseen by Luke Donald, the Europeans intend to scrutinize the condition of the hosting ground over a two-day golfing endeavor, whilst concurrently gauging the readiness of their own ensemble.

Their collective has witnessed recent triumphs, exemplified by Rory McIlroy’s victory at the Irish Open and Tommy Fleetwood’s capture of the Tour Championship, thus securing the FedEx Cup. Justin Rose emerged victorious in the FedEx Cup Playoffs’ opening phase, achieving a sensational playoff triumph at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

However, the recent spate of winners isn’t exclusively represented by those in blue and gold. Scottie Scheffler, currently ranked No. 1 globally and the leading American golfer entering the Ryder Cup, clinched his sixth victory of the year at the Procore Championship, triumphing over a two-stroke deficit against prospective teammate Ben Griffin, who consistently displayed commendable performance.

Cameron Young thoroughly dominated the field in the PGA Tour’s concluding regular-season event, marking his inaugural career victory, and his elevated standard of play has been maintained since. J.J. Spaun nearly overtook Rose in Memphis but ultimately conceded on the third playoff hole. 

It’s apparent that both squads possess eager and well-prepared individuals. They’ve experienced success and are familiar with managing emotions amidst high-stakes situations, given their recent encounters with such circumstances.

After all, the purpose of these preparatory competitions was to simulate some semblance of the pressure inherent in the Ryder Cup. While these tournaments are dwarfed by the Ryder Cup, they offer insights into a player’s fortitude, as Griffin discovered acutely on Sunday evening in Napa, California.

“I missed a couple of [putts] on the front nine, and then a few more down the stretch from mid range,” Griffin remarked. “Usually, I make a decent number of those. It’s unfortunate, as it seems to be a recurring pattern. I’ll analyze it … it just slightly deviated. These things happen, I’ll recover.”

And crucially, Griffin now has a week to address his inclinations, refine his sensations, and deepen his understanding of his methodology. However, not all encounters under pressure are alike. A top-five placement achieved through a Sunday surge from a lower position on the leaderboard doesn’t carry the same weight as finishing in the final pairing, where the pressure has been building overnight and is at its zenith.

Therefore, who has been displaying competitive form lately, and who requires an elevation of their performance on the most prestigious international stage? Let’s examine the performances of players from both teams in their most recent competitive outings. As of now, the Americans hold a slight advantage as the favored team at -145 leading into the Ryder Cup, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

United States

Shall we address the notable subject? It has been over a year since Schauffele executed a significant stroke in the culminating round of a competition (incidentally, this is the golfer ranked third in the world). The individual who secured not one but two major championships in 2024, and who is anticipated to fulfill a substantial role for the U.S. team, possibly alongside Cantlay, an accomplished foursomes partner, who finally displayed visible excitement at the Tour Championship.

How will Schauffele respond to the intense demands of the Ryder Cup? While he has prospered in critical moments throughout his career, a considerable period has passed since he faced such pressure. The experience might feel somewhat unfamiliar, particularly given his performance inconsistencies in 2025.

English presents an intriguing case. He finished second to Scheffler at both The Open Championship and PGA Championship, owing to remarkable Sunday showings—a 66 at Royal Portrush, finishing four strokes behind, and a 65 at Quail Hollow, finishing six strokes behind. Not since his victory at Torrey Pines at the start of the year has he commenced the final round as the focal point.

Europe

Europe lacks a counterpart to Schauffele’s situation, as a majority of their team has had a chance to triumph in the past month. To be precise, 10 of their 12 players have entered the final round of a golf tournament in contention over the past two months, whereas only six on the American side have been in a comparable position.

Already possessing more experience than their U.S. counterparts, the European team has more effectively replicated the Ryder Cup atmosphere in preparation, including employing virtual reality to acclimate to anticipated crowd noise. This Ryder Cup presents their greatest opportunity to claim the cup on American ground since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012, and they appear exceptionally well-prepared for the task.