U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley announced his six captain’s picks on Wednesday, finalizing the 12-man team that will compete against Europe next month at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.
Six players already secured automatic spots through season-long points, with Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau being guaranteed spots on the team.
The Ryder Cup is set to be played from September 26 to 28 at Bethpage, marking the first time the course has hosted the biennial event and only the third time a New York State course has hosted the tournament.
During a news conference hosted at PGA Frisco, Bradley announced the six captain’s selections for the event.
Justin Thomas
Bradley called Thomas the “heartbeat” of the U.S. team, noting that his consistent play throughout the season and experience in previous Ryder Cups stood out as a key reason to select the 32-year-old.
“He had an amazing win at RBC this year. He’s the fifth-ranked player in the world. This guy was born to play Ryder Cups, and specifically, I think, at Bethpage Black,” said Bradley.
Thomas will make his fourth Ryder Cup appearance next month, extending his streak of selections dating back to 2018.
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa, the two-time major winner, will return for his third Ryder Cup, known for his sharp iron play and calm under pressure.
Despite struggling at times during the 2025 PGA season, Morikawa brings experience to this tournament, having achieved multiple top-10 finishes in the most recent season.
“His golf resume speaks for itself. More importantly, he’ll do whatever it takes to help our team win. He brings so much to our team, and I’m really proud to have him,” said Bradley.
When asked about the pressure of participating in yet another Ryder Cup, Morikawa said there is “always more pressure” to improve, and that is something everyone on the team deals with.
“But with that, we always talk about pressure being a privilege, and I think all 12 of us are going to be ready to step on that tee and take that into our hands and look at pressure as something that we can overcome. And we’re going to use that as a positive,” he added.
Ben Griffin
A first-time Ryder Cup selection, Griffin’s rise from leaving professional golf in 2018 to winning multiple tournaments this season has been widely viewed as one of the year’s best comeback stories.
Griffin is one of the more surprising selections announced by Bradley, with many expecting the young golfer to be the biggest snub from the team.
“Ben is an extremely confident, excited player. He’s burst onto the scene this year with 10 top 10s, only second to Scottie on our team, including two wins—one at Colonial and one at Zurich, which plays the same format as the Ryder Cup. I’m really proud of this player for making this team. He had to show all year that he was playing at this level, and he was consistent the entire year, and we’re really lucky to have him on our team,” Bradley said.
Cameron Young
Young was the fourth selection announced by Bradley during the event, with the Ryder Cup captain citing his performance in recent years and experience on the course as factors that helped sway his decision to select him for the team.
“This Ryder Cup in particular, in New York, to have Bethpage is so special to me. I’ve been picturing the moment that I could possibly get a call to play on the team for a very, very long time,” Young said.
This will be Young’s first time joining the U.S. team at the Ryder Cup, making him one of four total rookies at the event.
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay is set to make his third Ryder Cup appearance after being a member of the U.S. team in 2021 and 2023, bringing experience, composure, and proven match-play consistency to the U.S. team at Bethpage.
Bradley implied that Cantlay was one of the easiest decisions to make, explaining that the 33-year-old was “born for the Ryder Cup” and will be one of the most important leaders on the team.
“One of the greatest pleasures of these last couple of years of being the Ryder Cup captain is getting to know Patrick better. He’s got a 15-6-1 record in team events. He’s a leader of our team. When he speaks, people listen,” he added.
Sam Burns
Burns’ late-season surge seemingly clinched his selection to the Ryder Cup team, with his impressive putting potentially being a key factor for the selection.
“Sam is an incredibly passionate golfer. He’s the best potter on the planet. He has won the match play championship. He has an extreme competitive fire in his belly. I have a lot of respect for Sam and the way he came on at the end of the season to make this team. His back was against the wall, and he played well every week at the end of the season,” said Bradley.
The 29-year-old will be making his second appearance at the Ryder Cup after joining the team in 2023, collecting a record of 1-2 during that tournament.
Burns later discussed the selection and said he is prepared for an “incredible week,” noting that he fully expects the U.S. fans to help carry this team to victory.
“I know that we’re going to have tons of support out there at Bethpage. These fans are special, and they love getting behind their teams and their country.”