The Ryder Cup is the oldest golf tournament to pit nations versus nations. Founded in 1927, it was originally a competition between the best United States, British, and Irish golfers. Other European golfers were added to the team in 1979, and since then, it has become one of the most competitive matches in the world. After domination by the United States prior to 1983, the European team has won 13 of the 19 matches held since that time. And 2025 is shaping up to be a doozy.
Being held at the legendary Black course at Bethpage on Long Island—one of the few public courses to host PGA events—the home course advantage the U.S. should have may not be so favorable. Paul Azinger, the Ryder Cup captain in 2008 when the U.S. team dominated at Valhalla, has said he believes the choice of Bethpage was a “huge mistake.”
“I feel like (captain Keegan Bradley) is going to have to get these guys on a mission and on a mission quickly and single-minded to figure out how to fall in love with Bethpage Black,” Azinger said. “I guarantee you they don’t love it either. Europe doesn’t care what the course is. Our guys might.”
One of the rookies on the team, and a New York native, Cameron Young, has a different opinion.
“This Ryder Cup in particular—in New York, at Bethpage—is so special to me,” Young said the day he was chosen to be on the team. “I’ve been picturing the moment that I can possibly get a call to play on the team for a very, very long time.”
Team Makeup
Ironically, the biggest mystery leading up to the naming of the team is whether Bradley would be a player-coach, something which hasn’t happened in 62 years. But Bradley’s excellent play in 2025 made that a possibility. Eventually, he chose only to coach, and that’s probably a good thing for the team.
“I was picked to do this job as captain,” he said, “and there’s been certain things that I’ve done during the week or lead-up that if I was playing, I don’t think I could have done at the level that I needed to do them at.”
But Bradley picked a powerful team, starting with the automatic qualifiers, Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau. The remainder of the team is picked at Bradley’s discretion, and he picked well—Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, and Young.
For the Europeans, coach Luke Donald also has a star-studded team. The auto qualifiers are Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Højgaard, and Tyrrell Hatton, with Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, and Sepp Straka as the captain’s choices.
Betting Perspective
The Ryder Cup has a very wide selection of bets outside of who will win, the U.S. or Europe. If you like that bet, you’re going to have to pay to bet the U.S. Since the host teams have won the last five Cups, the U.S. is a prohibitive -155 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook. If you want value, Europe is +160, with a tie—14 points to 14 points—at +1200. The Ryder Cup has ended in a tie only twice in its history, but the high odds present an intriguing opportunity. Europe would retain the trophy in a tie, which some betting markets include in Europe’s outright odds.
Days one and two feature foursomes—each player on a two-man team alternatively hits the same ball—and four ball (best ball)—each player plays their own ball and the best score wins. Day three features 12 head-to-head singles matches, with all 24 players competing.
Unlike “normal” tournaments where the sports book manufacturers head-to-head matchups, at the Ryder Cup, the matches really are head-to-head and in person. It gives golf bettors who understand edges and weak spots a real advantage. So keep an eye out for those Day 3 matchups to see which golfers are facing down each other.
And also pay attention to the records of the golfers who have played in the Ryder Cup previously. Take Patrick Cantlay, for example. Known for his consistency and clutch putting, Cantlay has an impressive 5-2-1 career Ryder Cup record and was the Americans’ top scorer in the 2023 event. His match-play intensity often elevates his performance in this format.
Young, the New York native, will make his Ryder Cup debut on his home turf, where he previously won the New York State Open. His tremendous length off the tee and recent improvements in putting could make him a force at Bethpage Black. He’s one of four rookies on the U.S. squad, along with J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, and Ben Griffin.
The world’s top-ranked golfer, Scottie Scheffler, has had an exceptional 2025 season, winning two major championships (the PGA and Open Championship) and three other PGA Tour events. Despite a 2-2-3 career Ryder Cup record, his current form and ball-striking ability make him the Americans’ strongest asset.
European Strength
Or Rory McIlroy. The emotional leader of Team Europe, McIlroy, completed his career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters and brings a wealth of experience and passion to the team. He was the top point scorer in 2023 with a 4-1-0 record.
Jon Rahm is a talismanic figure for Europe. Rahm remains one of the world’s best despite his LIV Golf affiliation, which has affected his world ranking. He has a stellar Ryder Cup record and is particularly known for thriving under pressure.
Justin Rose is the oldest player in the competition. Rose brings immense experience to a hostile environment. The 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship winner still plays high-level golf, and his calm demeanor could be a major asset for Europe.
Tommy Fleetwood has the best winning percentage on the European team, excluding rookies, and enters the competition in excellent form after his recent Tour Championship win. His reliable play across formats makes him a solid bet to play in all five sessions, and thus an excellent bet to become the top European scorer at +450.
Live and Let Die
The Ryder Cup is also a great opportunity for live betting based on real-time developments in individual matches and overall team momentum.
Keep in mind these live betting strategies:
Momentum shifts: One of the most important aspects of live betting in golf is capturing momentum. If a player or team is starting to make putts and take control of a match, their live odds will often reflect the shift more slowly than what’s actually happening on the course.
Captains’ decisions: Captains’ pairings and strategies are key throughout the first two days. A captain benching a struggling player or continuing to play a hot one can inform your live bets on a specific session or the overall tournament.
Player body language: Watching the players’ attitudes and confidence levels can give you a better feel for a match than statistics alone. A confident European duo may have the mental edge at Bethpage Black, even if the on-paper matchup favors the American side.
Bankroll management: The Ryder Cup’s excitement can tempt bettors to overextend themselves. Set a budget for your live bets to ensure that a bad session doesn’t wipe out your entire betting bankroll.
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