Staff WriterRasmus Højgaard has booked his ticket to the 2025 Ryder Cup, joining Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose in Luke Donald’s European squad for Bethpage Black. The 23-year-old Dane grabbed the last automatic qualification spot after finishing tied 13th at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
It marks a fitting rise for the five-time DP World Tour winner, who will be making his Ryder Cup debut on Long Island. His qualification run included a memorable victory over McIlroy at the 2024 Amgen Irish Open, alongside 10 more top-20 finishes worldwide — from a runner-up showing at the DP World Tour Championship to near-misses at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and his home Danish Golf Championship just last week.
Donald: “Rookies bring energy”
For Europe’s captain Luke Donald, the arrival of Højgaard signals more than just another name on the team sheet.
“There’s no question that finalising the automatic qualifiers is a major milestone in every Ryder Cup journey, and I’m delighted to welcome Rasmus to Team Europe,” Donald said.
“Rookies can bring an energy and excitement that inspires even the most experienced players, and having been part of the team behind the team in Rome, I have no doubt that Rasmus will be full of enthusiasm for the challenge of Bethpage Black.
“All six players have put in exceptional performances across the qualification period, and I look forward to each and every one of them being a part of the 2025 team.”
McIlroy the talisman
If Højgaard represents fresh legs, Rory McIlroy remains the heartbeat. The World No. 2 qualified first, powered by four victories, including his history-making triumph at Augusta to finally complete the career grand slam.
The Northern Irishman will be making his eighth straight Ryder Cup appearance — a run stretching back to 2010 — with five wins already under his belt. At Bethpage, he will be Europe’s elder statesman among the automatic qualifiers.
Rose and Fleetwood steady the ship
Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood weren’t far behind in locking their spots. Rose turned back the clock in Memphis, defeating J.J. Spaun in a playoff at the FedEx St. Jude Championship for his 12th PGA TOUR title, securing a seventh Ryder Cup outing.
Fleetwood, ever the metronome, stitched together ten top-10 finishes since last August, including tied-third at the FedEx St. Jude and tied-fourth at the BMW Championship. He’ll be suiting up for Europe for the fourth time running.
MacIntyre and Hatton grind it out
Robert MacIntyre made sure of his place with a runner-up finish to Scottie Scheffler at the BMW Championship. The Scot has been on a tear — second at the U.S. Open, tied-seventh at The Open, and, lest we forget, an undefeated Ryder Cup rookie in 2023.
Hatton, meanwhile, will bring his trademark fire for a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance. Since last August, he’s collected wins at the Alfred Dunhill Links and Hero Dubai Desert Classic, while mixing in top finishes at Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Open.
Six seats left
With the automatic six now set, Donald still holds the keys to the back half of his dozen. His Captain’s Picks will be unveiled live on September 1, broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, Golf Channel in the US, and across Ryder Cup Europe’s channels.
Bethpage Black is already shaping up to be a Ryder Cup for the ages. Europe’s core looks balanced — McIlroy and Rose’s battle scars paired with the adrenaline of Højgaard and MacIntyre.
And with six more names to come, Donald has both a foundation and a conundrum: how to blend Europe’s grit, guile, and rookie spark into a side that can wrestle the Cup away from an American crowd that’s going to be louder than a fire alarm in a brewery.
