Team Europe golfers Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, captain Luke Donald and golfer Tyrrell Hatton pose with the Ryder Cup during a practice round of the Ryder Cup golf tournament at Bethpage Black. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Why Team Europe has a supreme advantage at the Ryder Cup

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 5:08 PM ET

Team USA is a -155 favorite (FanDuel) to win the 2025 Ryder Cup because it has home-field advantage and the best player in the world in Scottie Scheffler, but Team Europe has a distinct advantage at Bethpage Black that can't be quantified.

Why Team Europe has a major advantage

The Ryder Cup is just as much about camaraderie as it is about smashing drives and sinking putts. The chemistry component is one the Americans have neglected for years. Team Europe, on the other hand, has mastered it. With the difficult task of winning on away soil in front of them, the Europeans have prioritized team chemistry heading to Bethpage Black.

Not only are 11 of the 12 players from Team Europe's 16.5-11.5 win at the 2023 Ryder Cup back for another go, but the Europeans also reinstated captain Luke Donald and four of their five vice captains from two years ago. The only difference between the 2025 roster and the 2023 roster is Rasmus Hojgaard taking over for his twin brother, Nicolai Hojgaard.

Only 37 players have won away from home. Time we added to that?

Our Time. Our Place. pic.twitter.com/7Lsp0nTY5a
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 23, 2025

As such, Donald has a leg up on American captain Keegan Bradley before a single ball is put in play. The Europeans already know which players work well together and which pairings fit which format. The duos of Tommy Fleetwood-Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm-Tyrrell Hatton and Ludvig Aberg-Viktor Hovland have winning experience in this exact competition.

The Americans have a different plan

The Americans, on the other hand, will be experimenting out of the gate. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are a winning combo, but Team USA has four rookies — Russell Henley, Cameron Young, Ben Griffin and J.J. Spaun — to work in. Bradley can't hide them all week. They'll need to play, and that likely means pairing them up with veterans such as Scheffler, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa. If that goes awry early, Team USA could be in deep trouble.

The Europeans have won the Ryder Cup on U.S. soil only four times, but they've built the consummate team to make it five this year.

How to watch

USA will broadcast the first round Friday; NBC will provide coverage on Saturday and Sunday. (All times Eastern.)

Thursday (Sept. 25): 4-7 p.m. (Opening ceremony on Golf Channel)
Friday (Sept. 26): 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (USA)
Saturday (Sept. 27): 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday (Sept. 28): 12-6 p.m. ET (NBC)

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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