Rory McIlroy first to qualify for Team Europe Ryder Cup team

Rory McIlroy takes one of six automatic qualification spots

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025 - 19:30

Fiona Halligan

Rory McIlroy is the first player to automatically qualify for Team Europe for the 2025 Ryder Cup and set to make his eighth consecutive appearance in the competition.

The Masters champion is the first member of captain Luke Donald's teams for this year's edition of the Ryder Cup, which will take place at Bethpage Black in New York from September 26-28.

The Hollywood native secured his spot with two months to spare in the qualification period after his four victories to date since the European points list started in August.

McIlroy, who has hit a slump since completing the career Grand Slam after winning the green jacket at the Masters, won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November 2024, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the Players Championship on the PGA Tour. He has also 10 top-10 finishes across the qualification period and his 19th-place finish at the US Open at Oakmont secured his qualification.

Speaking on his automatic qualification, McIlroy said “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.

“Rome was such an incredible week with the environment Luke created, and I can’t wait to be back in the team room.

“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.”

Make that EIGHT consecutive Ryder Cups 😏@McIlroyRory is the first #TeamEurope player confirmed for the 2025 Ryder Cup. pic.twitter.com/WfkXS5L8JT
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) June 16, 2025

McIlroy made his Ryder Cup debut in Europe's win in 2010 at The Celtic Manor Resort and was part of the most recent European team to win in the US in 2012 at Medinah. He has been on five winning teams having been part of the successful teams at Gleneagles in 2014, Le Golf National in 2018 and Marco Simone in 2023.

He was Europe's top points scorer two years ago in Rome contributing four points as Team Europe defeated the United States 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 and has won a total of 18 points overall in his previous seven appearances.

Captain Donald is delighted to have McIlroy back on board for the 2025 edition of the Ryder Cup.

“Rory has once again been in superb form this year and I’m really pleased to welcome him to Team Europe as our first automatic qualifier for Bethpage.

“Clearly it is great to have the reigning Masters Champion on your team, but Rory also has a wealth of Ryder Cup experience and that is going to be important for us as we know how tough the challenge is going to be in New York.

“I’m now looking forward to seeing how the other players perform over the next two months and seeing who joins Rory in the other automatic qualification spots.”

The automatic qualification period ends for Team Europe on Sunday, August 24, with the top six players in the European rankings at the conclusion of the British Master securing their spots, with Donald set to select his captain's picks on Monday, September 1.

Currently in the automatic spots are Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Robert MacIntyre, Sepp Straka, and Rasmus Hojgaard.