Can Team Europe secure an overdue away Ryder Cup success?

Odds Now golf tipster Ross Kilvington presents his new regular column discussing the latest news and topics in the world of golf.

In this latest edition, Ross looks at whether or not Team Europe can win a first Ryder Cup away from home soil since 2012.

The stage is set at Bethpage Black

After 12 months of qualifying, Team Europe is finally set for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Bethpage Black in New York will host the competition, and it could be one of the most exciting yet.

Team USA may have the best player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, but Keegan Bradley also has four rookies in his side.

Compare this to Europe, who will feature just one, and it is evident that the two teams are finely poised to undergo battle in a few weeks.

Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Bob MacIntyre, Rasmus Hojgaard, and Tyrrell Hatton secured automatic qualification spots for the visitors before Luke Donald announced his captain’s picks on Monday.

Joining those six locks were Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberb, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sepp Straka, Jon Rahm and Shane Lowry.

Swapping one Hojgaard twin for the other means Donald is bolstered by continuity from 2023. Will it be enough to triumph in the States, however?

Team Europe looks as strong as ever

Since America claimed their previous away win at the Belfry in 1993, Europe have won 10 of the 14 Ryder Cups held.

America may tend to have the better players, but European success is largely considered to be down to a strong team ethic, camaraderie and a deep desire to prove that world rankings simply don’t matter when it comes to a team environment.

Golf journalist Jamie Kennedy stated on X that Team Europe has an average data golf ranking of 20.8, meaning they are the third-best European side since 1983.

In comparison, America’s data golf ranking for this year stands at 12.0, making them the second-best American side after the triumphant 2021 team.

With McIlroy winning three times on the PGA Tour, including the Masters this year, combined with both Rose and Fleetwood triumphing during the FedEx Cup playoffs, these three will lead the European charge.

Straka, Hovland and Aberg have also won on the PGA Tour during 2025, and they won six points between them in Rome.

Rahm and Hatton may have been playing in the LIV Golf League in 2025, but the pair enjoyed solid major seasons, combining for three top-tens in eight starts.

Add in Hojgaard, Lowry, MacIntyre and Fitzpatrick, there is no doubt Donald has a team ready to shatter hearts in New York.

Several players were unlucky to miss out

The 12 chosen Europeans form a formidable team, but several players on the outskirts might feel unlucky to have missed out.

Marco Penge has won twice since returning from a three-month ban in February. The Englishman’s game would have suited Bethpage Black well, but it was always a long shot for him.

There was plenty of talk online surrounding Harry Hall, who had impressed during the 2025 PGA Tour season. The Englishman finished in the top 25 across 11 of his 12 starts since May, but it wasn’t enough to earn a pick from Donald.

Matt Wallace showed just how much he wanted to make the team following a runners-up finish at the European Masters.

“I’d never give up on the Ryder Cup,” Wallace said. “I just won’t,” in what was an emotional scene following the event. At 35, he still has time to make a Ryder Cup team one day – but it won’t be at Bethpage.

Elsewhere, the likes of Aaron Rai, Thomas Detry and Nicolai Hojgaard looked like they could give Donald something to think about at one time or another throughout the 2025 season.

Ultimately, though, this European team should be confident of securing their first away victory since "The Miracle at Medinah" in 2012.

Given the strength of the two teams, don’t be surprised to see a 14.5 – 13.5 scoreline. I’m anticipating an absolutely classic renewal.