Rory McIlroy first to qualify for Team Europe at Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 12th tee during the final round of the US Open. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Jun 17, 2025, 12:53 PM

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LONDON – Rory McIlroy became the first player to qualify for Europe for the 2025 Ryder Cup, the team announced on June 16, with the Masters champion set to make his eighth consecutive appearance in the biennial event.

The Northern Irishman sealed his spot through the European Points List, a qualification pathway based on performances in DP World Tour and co-sanctioned events, as he has enjoyed four victories so far since last August.

"It's always a huge honour to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup, so it means a great deal to have qualified for my eighth in a row and to be part of Luke's team again at Bethpage," McIlroy said.

"Winning a Ryder Cup away from home is one of the biggest challenges there is in golf. We know it is going to be tough in New York, but we are all looking forward to that challenge in September and the opportunity to potentially do something special."

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black in New York from Sept 26–28, with European captain Luke Donald set to round out his 12-man squad later this year through six automatic qualifiers and six captain's picks.

The 35-year-old McIlroy completed a long-sought career Grand Slam at Augusta National in April, on top of victories at the Dubai DP World Tour Championship in November, the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and The Players Championship.

A top-20 finish at the US Open over the weekend was enough to mathematically guarantee his place on the team.

The veteran has been a Ryder Cup mainstay since his debut in 2010, helping Europe to five victories in seven appearances.

Scottie Scheffler became the first automatic qualifier for the United States team after he won the Memorial Tournament earlier this month.

McIlroy has committed to playing the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour this week, the Signature Event that he sat out of last season after narrowly missing out on US Open victory to Bryson DeChambeau.

He is also looking forward to the British Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in July.

“Look, I climbed my Everest (at the Masters) in April, and I think after you do something like that, you’ve got to make your way back down, and you’ve got to look for another mountain to climb,” McIlory said after his final US Open round over the weekend.

“An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those.”

Meanwhile, US Open winner J.J. Spaun jumped to No. 8 in the Official World Golf Rankings released on June 16, a meteoric rise from 109th to begin the season.

Spaun began last week ranked 28th in the OWGR before he scored a two-stroke victory over Robert MacIntyre of Scotland with consecutive birdies in his final round at Oakmont Country Club on June 15 to win the US Open.

Spaun, 34, has five career victories and held the 54-hole lead at the Sony Open and Players Championship earlier this year. He found the water on the island hole, No. 17, at TPC Sawgrass and lost a three-hole playoff to McIlroy at The Players.

The US Open was his first win since the 2022 Valero Open and put him ahead of the six players ahead of him in the OWGR in earnings this season (US$9.644 million). Only No. 1 Scheffler (US$15.174 million) and No. 2 McIlroy (US$14.221 million) have taken home more this season.

Americans Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Russell Henley occupy the No. 3-6 spots and Sepp Straka is seventh. REUTERS, AFP

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