Ryder Cup Europe Stock Watch: Luke Donald's 12th Man conundrum

With only two weeks until a final roster is picked, Keegan Bradley and the American Ryder Cup roster still seem to have several spots unaccounted for. Team Europe faces no such uncertainty, conventional wisdom hinting that 11 of the 12 players locked in. So it is that captain Luke Donald confronts an entirely different challenge.

Europe’s automatic qualification period ends Aug. 24 (a week later than Team USA), coinciding with the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship and the DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters. Donald will complete his roster with his six captain’s picks on Sept. 1, and remarkably, he could field nearly the identical team that captured the cup two years ago outside Rome. Justin Rose’s surprise victory at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis only strengthened this possibility.

But “could” remains the operative word.

While most decisions have been made for Donald, one critical question lingers: Who deserves the final pick? European players have struggled to find their best form this season, particularly those competing for the last spot. Unlike previous years when Europe defaulted to veteran experience, there’s a notable absence of seasoned players outside those already secured.

Donald needs 12 players, and unlike his American counterpart Keegan Bradley, the captain won’t be filling one of those spots himself. Here’s how the European team shapes up as qualifying season enters its final stretch.

Already Secured

Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood

Mike Ehrmann

These three belong at Bethpage Black regardless of their qualifying status. Rose’s stats heading into Memphis weren’t flattering, reflecting his feast-or-famine 2025 campaign. Yet his peaks have been impossible to ignore: a Masters playoff heartbreak, top-10 finishes at a pair of signature events (Pebble Beach and Bay Hill) and a strong sixth-place showing at the Scottish Open.

More importantly, Rose’s 2023 Rome performance cannot be overstated. He expertly guided first-timer Robert MacIntyre through opening-match nerves, earning universal locker-room respect. DataGolf’s Bethpage projections may be lukewarm on Rose, but he’s exactly the type of player Americans dread facing.

Goodstorie

Ryder Cup Europe Stock Watch: Luke Donald’s 12th Man conundrum

Already Secured

Already Secured

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