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Team USA Ryder Cup Report Card: Grading the Americans Ahead of Bethpage Black (Part 1 of 2)

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brendon Elliott | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 9:54 PM ET

Three weeks. That's all we've got before the 2025 Ryder Cup kicks off, and Team USA? Well, they're an intriguing mess of contradictions.

Captain Keegan Bradley has put together a roster that'll either make you feel really good about America's chances or keep you awake at night wondering what could go wrong. Four rookies who've never felt 40,000 people screaming at them mixed with veterans who know exactly what that feels like. Some guys are playing lights-out golf. Others... not so much.

I've been diving deep into everyone's 2025 numbers — wins, near-misses, hot streaks, cold spells — trying to figure out what Bradley's actually got to work with at Bethpage Black. My grading system isn't rocket science: A's for the guys who've dominated, B's for solid contributors you'd trust with your mortgage payment, and C's for the wildcards who might deliver magic or disaster (sometimes both).

Europe didn't travel across the Atlantic to lose gracefully, so let's see if these Americans are ready for war.

THE ELITE PERFORMERS (A GRADES)

Scottie Scheffler - A+

From: Ridgewood, N.J.

Current World Ranking: 1

Wins in 2025: 5 PGA Tour victories (PGA Championship, The Open Championship, Memorial Tournament, CJ Cup Byron Nelson, BMW Championship)

Ryder Cup History: 3rd appearance (2021, 2023, 2025) - Career Record: 2-2-3

Current Form: Absolutely ridiculous - 16 top-10s, leading every stat that matters

What Bradley Needs: Look, Scottie carries this team. Full stop. He's not just the best player — he's the emotional backbone when everything starts falling apart on Sunday afternoon. Bradley's going to ride him hard, probably all five sessions if his body holds up, because frankly, he doesn't have much choice.

The question everyone's dancing around isn't whether Scheffler can handle the pressure. He's proven that repeatedly. The real issue? Whether his 11 teammates can match his intensity when matches get tight and the crowd gets ugly.

J.J. Spaun - A-

From: Los Angeles

Current World Ranking: 7

Wins in 2025: 2 victories (U.S. Open, American Express)

Ryder Cup History: Rookie (0-0-0)

Current Form: Best golf of his career, major championship on the resume

What Bradley Needs: Spaun's got that perfect rookie swagger. Confident without crossing into cocky territory. That U.S. Open win at Pinehurst? That's worth its weight in gold because it proves he won't fold when the spotlight gets nuclear-hot.

Bradley should use him early in the week, maybe paired with a veteran in foursomes where Spaun's steady approach can balance someone who plays more aggressively. Sometimes the guys carrying the least emotional baggage play the most fearless golf.

THE SOLID CONTRIBUTORS (B GRADES)

Russell Henley - B+

From: Macon, Ga.

Current World Ranking: 4

Wins in 2025: 1 victory (Arnold Palmer Invitational)

Ryder Cup History: Rookie (0-0-0)

Current Form: Red-hot lately — five top-10s in his last seven starts

What Bradley Needs: Timing matters in golf more than people realize, and Henley's couldn't be better. His best stretch of the year is happening right now, which counts for everything in match play.

That consistency makes him ideal for alternate shot, where one bad swing can torpedo an entire partnership. Another rookie, sure, but he's been knocking on elite doors for years. Bradley can trust him in crunch time.

Justin Thomas - B+

From: Louisville, Ky.

Current World Ranking: 5

Wins in 2025: 1 victory (RBC Heritage)

Ryder Cup History: 4th appearance (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025) - Career Record: 7-4-2

Current Form: Steady with eight top-10s, putting much better

What Bradley Needs: JT brings something you can't teach — Ryder Cup DNA. That 7-4-2 record isn't an accident. He knows how to perform when 20,000 Europeans are screaming for his failure.

The putting improvement is huge because these matches live and die on six-footers with crowds losing their minds. Bradley will count on Thomas' veteran savvy in the tight moments, especially if things get chippy with the galleries. He actually feeds off that chaos.

Cameron Young - B+

From: Scarborough, N.Y.

Current World Ranking: 20

Wins in 2025: 1 victory (Wyndham Championship)

Ryder Cup History: Rookie (0-0-0)

Current Form: Surging perfectly — first tour win plus six other top-11s in his final dozen events

What Bradley Needs: Young's Bethpage Black knowledge is pure gold. He understands where pin positions get nasty, where the rough gets thick, where you can be aggressive and where you absolutely cannot.

His length will be crucial on this beast of a golf course. Playing in front of hometown crowds can either pump you up or crush your soul — Young seems built for the former.

Bryson DeChambeau - B+

From: Modesto, Calif.

Current World Ranking: 18

Wins in 2025: 0 PGA Tour victories, 1 LIV win (LIV Golf Korea)

Ryder Cup History: 3rd appearance (2018, 2021, 2025) - Career Record: 2-3-1

Current Form: Limited schedule but strong major showings (T5 Masters, T10 The Open)

What Bradley Needs: DeChambeau is pure wildcard energy. His power game can absolutely demoralize opponents when he's locked in, but that limited tour schedule is legitimately concerning.

Bradley needs the major championship version of Bryson, not the guy who's been away from weekly competition. When he's firing on all cylinders, he changes the entire dynamic of a match.

Harris English - B

From: Valdosta, Ga.

Current World Ranking: 10

Wins in 2025: 1 victory (Farmers Insurance Open)

Ryder Cup History: 2nd appearance (2021, 2025) - Career Record: 1-2-0

Current Form: Reliable, with two major runner-up finishes proving he can contend

What Bradley Needs: English's iron play becomes surgical when he's dialed in. Those major near-misses actually help him — he's been in pressure cookers and didn't completely melt.

His brief Ryder Cup experience gives him some baseline knowledge of what he's walking into. Perfect foursomes player where precision trumps power.

Ben Griffin - B

From: Chapel Hill, N.C.

Current World Ranking: 17

Wins in 2025: 2 victories (Zurich Classic with Andrew Novak, Charles Schwab Challenge)

Ryder Cup History: Rookie (0-0-0)

Current Form: Two-win season with improved putting that could be crucial

What Bradley Needs: Griffin's Zurich Classic victory matters more than people realize. He knows how to play with a partner, how to pick up a teammate, how to stay positive when everything's falling apart.

That putting improvement is perfectly timed — Ryder Cup matches often come down to makeable putts under enormous pressure.

Sam Burns - B-

From: Shreveport, La.

Current World Ranking: 22

Wins in 2025: 0 victories

Ryder Cup History: 2nd appearance (2023, 2025) - Career Record: 1-2-0

Current Form: Inconsistent individual play but clear chemistry with Scheffler

What Bradley Needs: Burns made this team for one reason: his friendship with Scottie Scheffler. Sounds harsh, but it's strategic brilliance.

When you have the world's best player, you give him whatever makes him comfortable. Their alternate shot chemistry could be devastating. Bradley just needs to figure out how to make Burns effective in other formats too.

THE QUESTION MARKS (C GRADES)

Xander Schauffele - C+

From: San Diego

Current World Ranking: 3

Wins in 2025: 0 victories

Ryder Cup History: 3rd appearance (2021, 2023, 2025) - Career Record: 4-4-0

Current Form: Recovering from early rib injury, consistent but winless

What Bradley Needs: Schauffele's .500 Ryder Cup record is both encouraging and concerning. He doesn't get overwhelmed, but he also hasn't been a difference-maker.

His driving remains elite for Bethpage's demands, but those approach shots have been shaky all year. Bradley is betting on experience over current form — a calculated risk that could backfire if Schauffele's struggles continue.

Patrick Cantlay - C+

From: Long Beach, Calif.

Current World Ranking: 21

Wins in 2025: 0 victories

Ryder Cup History: 3rd appearance (2021, 2023, 2025) - Career Record: 5-2-1

Current Form: Wildly inconsistent — runner-up at Tour Championship but missed cuts in three majors

What Bradley Needs: Cantlay's Ryder Cup record suggests he elevates his game for team play. But those major championship struggles are troubling for someone who built his reputation on clutch performances.

Bradley is making a pure faith pick here, betting that Cantlay's team-play magic can overcome his individual form struggles.

Collin Morikawa - C

From: Los Angeles

Current World Ranking: 8

Wins in 2025: 0 victories

Ryder Cup History: 3rd appearance (2021, 2023, 2025) - Career Record: 4-3-1

Current Form: Brutal drop-off after hot start — just one top-10 in 14 summer starts

What Bradley Needs: This pick screams "reputation over results." Morikawa's iron play, when sharp, remains world-class and perfect for Bethpage's demands.

However, his current form suggests that something deeper is amiss. Bradley is gambling that Ryder Cup atmosphere can snap Morikawa out of his funk. It's happened before, but it's far from guaranteed.

BRADLEY'S STRATEGIC HEADACHES

What Keeps the Captain Awake:

Building Around Scottie: Everything revolves around Scheffler's dominance. Bradley needs pairings and strategies that maximize his impact without burning him out over five grueling sessions.

Rookie Roulette: Four first-timers means four guys who've never experienced Ryder Cup intensity. Bradley must balance giving them opportunities while protecting them from overwhelming situations.

Local Knowledge: Young's familiarity with Bethpage should be leveraged all week — not just for his own play, but also as a resource for team strategy and course management.

Chemistry Experiments: The Burns-Scheffler connection is obvious, but finding other natural partnerships will require careful observation during practice rounds.

Form vs. Experience: With three experienced players (Schauffele, Cantlay, Morikawa) struggling for form, Bradley must decide when to trust track records over current performance.

Power Play: DeChambeau and Young's length advantage on this demanding course needs maximizing through smart course management and aggressive pin hunting.

Pressure Points: Identifying who handles pressure best (Thomas, Scheffler, Spaun) and who might wilt will determine match order and pairing strategies.

This American squad arrives at Bethpage Black with legitimate firepower but glaring question marks. Scheffler's brilliance provides a foundation, but championship teams need contributions throughout the lineup.

Bradley's job is turning individual talent into collective success.

Easier said than done when Europe shows up with their own plans for chaos.

Next week, I'll break down Team Europe's roster and assess how their experience and continuity compare to America's talent and home-course advantage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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