Team Cup: Who scored points for the Ryder Cup? Who lost some?

Beyond the clear, and somewhat humiliating, victory of the British team over the Continentals (17-8), the question is above all to know how many of the twenty players present between Friday and Sunday in Abu Dhabi will be in Team Europe in September in Bethpage for the 45th Ryder Cup in history.

L.V.

Two years ago, during the previous Team Cup (which was also called the Hero Cup), six of the twenty players summoned had confirmed their presence in Rome a few months later for the 44th Ryder Cup won brilliantly by the Europeans (16.5 to 11.5): Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai Højgaard et Sepp Straka.

How many will this time make the perilous journey to Bethpage (New York) and its audience already white-hot? If we take into account the absences this week in Abu Dhabi of Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland et Jon Rahmthere are still eight places to take* to participate in the big “party” in the suburbs of the Big Apple.

They have confirmed their essential status

Winner of all his matches, including one in singles against Matthew Pavon (3&1 victory) by offering a game of Golf of a level rarely achieved in a Team Cup, Tommy Fleetwood, the current world No. 9, now obtains his ticket to Bethpage, even if he does not occupy for the moment that the 16th place in the European ranking where only the first six will be guaranteed to be qualified on the evening of British Masterson August 24 (the other six will come from the captain’s six picks).

Also undefeated, even if he had to share the half point during the Foursomes on Saturday morning, Tyrrell Hatton appears to be essential in the European Ryder Cup team. We also trust here in DP World Tour to resolve his dispute with the current member of the LIFE Golfwho appealed the European Tour sanctions handed down against him. And unlike Jon Rahm, who did not deign to make the trip to Abu Dhabi, even though he is at the start of the Hero Dubaï Desert Classic next week, his very noticeable presence in this Team Cup proves that the Englishman places the Ryder Cup above all controversies.

They scored points…

Unquestionably the “strong” man of the Continentals, winner of his three doubles matches in which he very often appeared as the leader, Matthew Pavon did the job as they say to impress Luke Donald and all his staff. Paul McGinleyformer captain who won the Ryder Cup (in 2014) and a man who is widely listened to in the European locker room, was not stingy with his praise when he mentioned the Frenchman on several occasions, notably on SkySports.

It is not because you win 4 matches that you are automatically selected for the Ryder Cup. You have to play well in Majors, you have to win tournaments, be consistent all year round.

Matthieu Pavon at the microphone of Canal+

Despite a singles defeat in Part 1 (certainly a sign of confidence) against the ogre Fleetwood, the Bordeaux player is aware of having taken an important step in this quest for a place in the Ryder Cup.

« It’s a strong sign (to be in part 1) but there is a big season ahead of uswarns Matthieu Pavon on the microphone of Canal+ after his lost singles match. It is not because you win 4 matches that you are automatically selected for the Ryder Cup. You have to play well in Majors, you have to win tournaments, be consistent all year round. This will be the most important. We will have to finish this marathon in a big sprint and maybe we will have a chance to be part of this elite. »

Just like Fleetwood and Hatton, Paul Waring came out of this 2025 Team Cup with a flawless record: three wins and one draw. Certainly, the Englishman, 40 years old on February 2, is much less in the media about his two compatriots but the man has clearly changed his status since the beginning of November. Since his great victory at theAbu Dhabi HSBC Championshipfirst of two end-of-season playoffs on the DPWT. A success which allowed him to land one of the ten spots to evolve on the PGA Tour in 2025 (5th in the 2024 Race). Good performances on the toughest of circuits could, who knows, allow him to create the “big surprise” of the year. He currently occupies 5th place in the European ranking and is therefore “qualified” for the moment.

We won all our matches, we were never down… They know that our relationship between us is very strong.

Romain Langasque at the microphone of Canal+

Just before the start of the Team Cup, he told us he had a 20% chance of being at the next Ryder Cup today. What is happening today for Romain Langasque after winning three of his four matches (all in doubles with Matthieu Pavon)? A few minutes after his heavy defeat (5&4) in singles against Laurie Canterthe Riviera remained lucid in his case.

« If Matthieu ever qualifies, and me too, they know (the technical staff)he whispers softly into the microphone of Canal+. We won all our matches, we were never down… They know that our relationship between us is very strong. If I continue to develop my level of play since March-April last year, I really think I have a chance. But I’m coming from afar. There is still work to be done. A victory in a Major, and everything can work in my favor. I know it, I am aware of it. »

Justin Rose, a special case…

Captain of the British, Justin Rosedisplays one of the worst ratios of his team: four matches, two defeats. Each time against the Pavon-Langasque duo. But the aura of the Englishman, 44, remains intact. Especially towards his friend, Luke Donald. It is difficult to see how the latter could thus deprive himself of a boy who has won the Ryder Cup four times in six appearances and who has brought 15.5 points to Europe between 2008 and 2023.

They disappointed…

Most certainly disturbed by the last minute package of his twin brother, Nicolai, who was ill, Rasmus Højgaard is clearly the biggest disappointment of this Team Cup. The Dane, although 2nd in the 2024 Race and “qualified” for the 2025 PGA Tour, appeared completely irrelevant, both in doubles (three defeats with the young Rasmus Neergard-Petersenarrived straight from Challenge Tour) than in singles where he nevertheless had the merit of avoiding zero points by grabbing the half point of the draw against Aaron Rai. With 706.53 points, he is however comfortably installed in 2nd place in the European Ranking (a little less than 100 points from McIlroy, undisputed leader but 120 points ahead of 3rd, Tyrrell Hatton). It’s up to him to reverse the trend on the PGA Tour. He has six months for this.

They too potentially in the antechamber, Matt Wallaceat the gates of the Ryder 2018 at Golf Nationalet Aaron Rai did not convince in Abu Dhabi. The first lost two of his matches (including the single against Rozner on a missed putt of just over a meter at the 18th) and ultimately only brought home a point and a half. His difficulties in doubles, particularly in putting, stood out. As such, he is the representative of Team GB&I with the lowest points balance: 1.5! From there, his 4th place in the European ranking does not necessarily guarantee him a pass to New York. As for the second, 22nd player in the world and recent winner on the PGA Tour (in August at Wyndham Championship), he did not offer the best guarantees (on his putting and his iron play in particular), also being caught on the 18th by a ghostly Ramus Højgaard.

Tom McKibbin, LIV or not LIV ?

Winner in his three doubles matches, the 22-year-old Northern Irishman lost 1 down in the singles against Matteo Manasseroyet one of the weak links of the Continentals. Promoted to the PGA Tour, his future looks bright, especially as he has the advantage of having a certain Rory McIlroy as a mentor… They are both members of theHolywood Golf Clubnear Belfats. But the winner of theEuropean Open in 2023 has, it seems, become the target of Jon Rahm and his team on LIV Golf, XIII Legion. A breakaway Tour start could seal his Ryder Cup fate. Will he dare to take the plunge?

*Robert MacIntyre, 14th in the world, Shane Lowry, 27th in the world, and even Sepp Straka, 38th in the world, can also be among the near starters for Bethpage. They were also all three of the victory in Rome.

Photo : Kate McShane / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP