Ryder Cup 2025: Bernard Gallacher's preview

The 2025 Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, from 26-28 September.

One man who knows a thing or two about the Ryder Cup is three-time captain and Golf Care ambassador Bernard Gallacher. Bernard has attended every single Ryder Cup tournament since 1969, either as a player, captain, vice-captain, or as a special guest of the European Tour.

We caught up with him to get his thoughts on this year’s tournament, Europe’s chances, his memories of being captain, and more.

Here’s what he had to say…

Ryder Cup 2025

This year has the potential to be a true classic, rivalling some of the great tournaments from the past. I love the Ryder Cup. Classics that immediately spring to mind are the draw at Royal Birkdale way back in 1969, the Belfry in 1985, and Europe’s first win on US soil in 1987.

I can’t forget the famous ‘War on the Shore’ at Kiawah Island in 1991 either – my first year as captain, and then captaining Europe to glory at Oak Hill in 1995 – a real proud moment for me.

In more recent years, Ian Poulter’s heroics at Medinah in 2012 are still fresh in the memory, and of course, Rome 2023, when Europe got their revenge for the trouncing at Whistling Straits.

The teams

This year, we have two very evenly matched sides going hard at each other, urged on by a boisterous and partisan American crowd.

Both captains avoided surprises and controversy by picking the golfers we all expected them to.

Team USA

Captain: Keegan Bradley

• Scottie Scheffler
• Xander Schauffele
• Russell Henley
• Patrick Cantlay
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Sam Burns
• JJ Spaun
• Justin Thomas
• Cameron Young
• Ben Griffin
• Collin Morikawa
• Harris English

Team Europe

Captain: Luke Donald

• Rory McIlroy
• Robert MacIntyre
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Justin Rose
• Rasmus Højgaard
• Tyrell Hatton
• Shane Lowry
• Jon Rahm
• Sepp Straka
• Ludvig Aberg
• Victor Hovland
• Matt Fitzpatrick

Luke Donald will be hoping experience will trump a partisan crowd. There are five Ryder Cup rookies in the US side and only one change to the Europe side that won convincingly in Rome in 2023, with Rasmus Højgaard replacing his twin brother Nicolai. 

Who are the key players for Europe?

Rory McIlroy is the obvious choice here. He’s the on-course leader and is very passionate. Here’s here to win, but as they showed last time in Rome, Europe have plenty of strength in depth. This year’s team is collectively stronger than European sides of the past, in my opinion.

Captaincy

This year will be the first time since your own tenure in the '90s that Europe has stuck with the same captain for back-to-back Ryder Cups. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of that continuity?

The experience from last time gives Luke (and Europe in general) a huge advantage, just like me at Oak Hill. Away matches are particularly hostile, though, and this is where he’ll need to draw on that experience especially.

Luke seems to have learned a lot from past captains. He’s savvy with the press, and his speech at the opening ceremony was perfect. But for me, Luke’s most important attribute is the calmness he exudes.

This is something I got better at myself during my second and third Ryder Cup captaincy.

What qualities do you think are most important for a successful Ryder Cup captain?

Experience and having a calm temperament are very important. Luke and Keegan are like chalk and cheese in that respect.

The course

How much of an influence does course setup have on the outcome, and do you expect the US to tailor it in any way?

The Americans will endeavour to set the course up to suit them best, e.g. ultra-fast greens, thick rough off the tee, and thick collars around the green. But it won’t necessarily work because every European player on the team plays full-time on the PGA Tour, so they’re used to those conditions every week. That’s probably the single most important difference between my playing era and today.  

Luke will no doubt already have fourball and foursome pairings in mind, but experience will tell him he must keep an open mind and be ready to change if need be.

Will home advantage be significant?

Home advantage is always hugely important nowadays. The last time Europe won in the US was in 2012, and the last time the US won in Europe was even longer ago in 1992!

The New York supporters will be Keegan Bradley’s 13th man. Coping with that will probably be Europe’s biggest challenge, but Luke and his team will make sure there’s a positive mood around.

I know from experience that it can be tough watching from the sidelines, especially if a certain player is struggling, but all you can do as a coach is keep calm.

How has the Ryder Cup changed since you were captain?

Not a huge amount has changed on the course itself. It’s still just as competitive now as it was back then. However, it’s undoubtedly more of a commercial success now.

Some US players now feel they should be paid for participating, rather than all the profits going back to help grassroots golf, as is the tradition. I don’t agree, and I hope this feeling doesn’t grow and become an issue for the sport going forward. The last few years, in particular, have shown us how money can change things.

Who's going to win?

I'm obviously backing Europe, as always. Bring it on!

What are your Ryder Cup predictions? Get in touch via our social media channels and let us know!