Luke Donald Announces One Big Change To European Ryder Cup Qualifying Process
Team Europe's Ryder Cup qualifying window begins later this month at the Betfred British Masters


Team Europe's Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has announced there will be just one qualifying points list for his men ahead of the 2025 event at Bethpage Black, with the process to book a spot on the visitors' roster beginning later this month.
Previously, a World Points List - which was based on Official World Golf Ranking points accrued during the qualifying period - and a European Points List, which was based on Race to Dubai Ranking points accrued during the qualifying period, has been in effect - leading to six automatic qualifiers.
While the breakdown of automatic qualifiers and captain's picks will not change for 2025 - there will remain six of each - the new streamlined Ryder Cup Points List will make it clearer as to who is in line for a coveted place in Team Europe's dozen.
Points will be earned in accordance with a new tournament banding structure implemented by Ryder Cup Europe, in consultation with captain Luke Donald. Major championships offer a total of 5,000 points, PGA Tour Signature Events, The Players, and 2025 FedEx Cup playoff tournaments offer 3,000 while DP World Tour Rolex Series events and regular PGA Tour competitions will hand out 2,000 Ryder Cup points in total.
From there, 'Back Nine' events on the DP World Tour are able to offer 1,500 points in total while regular DP World Tour tournaments and opposite events on the PGA Tour can give out 1,000 each.
Excited to start the qualification process again and see who can push for a place on Team Europe 💙🏆💛 https://t.co/uDJfeiA56CAugust 6, 2024
Donald said: “I am delighted to be able to confirm the details of the qualification process for our 2025 Ryder Cup team. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to get to this point and everything is now focused on doing all we can to retain the trophy in New York next September.”
The qualification process will begin at the Betfred British Masters, which takes place August 29 – September 1, 2024, and end at the culmination of the unconfirmed DP World Tour event which concludes on Sunday August 24, 2025.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
However, with the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs around the corner and only one more regular event before that happens, Team Europe pointed out that the only place to earn Ryder Cup points before January 1, 2025 will be in events on the DP World Tour - which includes the remainder of the regular season and the DP World Tour playoffs.
For PGA Tour-based golfers, it will only be possible to collect Ryder Cup points from January 1, 2025 until Sunday, August 17, 2025.
Team Europe has also stated that in order to be eligible for its Ryder Cup side, players must be European - defined in accordance with the IGF National policy - and hold an active DP World Tour membership.
Team Europe celebrate winning the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone in 2023
Guy Kinnings, CEO of PGA European Tour, the managing partner of Ryder Cup Europe LLP, said: “This is a major milestone moment in our journey to the 2025 Ryder Cup.
"This is without question a much cleaner and simpler qualification system than the ones utilised in previous years and we thank Luke and his Vice Captains Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Bjørn for their vital input over the past few months.”
The 2025 Ryder Cup is set to begin at Bethpage Black in New York on September 26, 2025 and end on September 28, 2025.
Team Europe are the current holders of the trophy following their 16.5-11.5 victory over Team USA at Marco Simone in 2023.

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
US Open Prize Money Payout 2025
A record-equaling purse is available at the third Major of the year, which comes from Oakmont
-
US Open Green Speeds At Oakmont: How Fast Are Putting Surfaces?
Oakmont Country Club has been set up in an extremely tough way in 2025 with a potential over-par winning score on the horizon - but how fast are the greens?
-
Keegan Bradley Reveals When He Will 'Reevaluate' Chances Of Being Ryder Cup Player-Captain
The Team USA Ryder Cup captain has revealed when he is likely to make a call on his own chances of playing at Bethpage later this year
-
Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup ‘Experience’ Hint That May Well Be Music To Sergio Garcia’s Ears
The Team Europe Ryder Cup captain has admitted that experience will likely be a factor in his selection for the Bethpage Black match - and that could be good news for Sergio Garcia
-
‘We’re Trying To Put The Best Team Together’ – Keegan Bradley Insists LIV Golfers In The Frame For Ryder Cup Selection
The US Ryder Cup captain insists that whether a potential Ryder Cup pick is with LIV Golf or the PGA Tour won't have a bearing on his selection process
-
New York Golf Fans To Be Surprised With 3,000 Free Ryder Cup Tickets
The PGA of America has announced a 'People's Park' giveaway that will see local golf fans given free tickets to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
-
Report: Bryson DeChambeau And Brooks Koepka Among Players Present At Ryder Cup Dinner
US captain Keegan Bradley hosted a dinner on Tuesday evening that included several stars from the PGA Tour, as well as, reportedly, LIV Golf's DeChambeau and Koepka
-
Captaincy By Committee? USA Vice-Captain Reveals Ryder Cup Plan B If Skipper Keegan Bradley Makes The Team
USA Ryder Cup vice-captain Brandt Snedeker has opened up on how the team will be led if Keegan Bradley qualifies for the team - after admitting he couldn't do both jobs
-
Why Billy Horschel's TGL Performance Has Convinced Me He Should Be At The Ryder Cup
The eight-time PGA Tour winner has only ever been present in a Presidents Cup team but, following his performance in the final of the TGL, I believe Horschel must be on the US side for Bethpage Black
-
LIV Golf’s Adrian Meronk Reveals Luke Donald Text After Strong Start To 2025
Adrian Meronk hopes to make up for his agonising near miss in 2023 by making this year's Ryder Cup team after revealing positive contact with European captain Luke Donald