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who is playing in the ryder cup

 

From the 23rd to the 28th of September 2025, the Bethpage Black Course in New York will be home to the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is held biannually and features the talents of 24 brilliant golfers from the USA and Europe.

But who will those golfers be this year? Figuring out who will be playing at the Ryder Cup in 2025 is a bit more complicated than you might think. In this article, we’ll explain how players are chosen for the Ryder Cup, and who you can expect to see on the green this year.

 

How are players chosen for the Ryder Cup?

Players for the Ryder Cup are split into two teams, and selection for each team works slightly differently.

For the European Ryder Cup team in 2025, qualification uses points earned from a brand-new tournament banding structure. Essentially, significant tournaments each reward points, and players in those tournaments will earn points that go towards their overall qualifying score for the Ryder Cup.

As an example, Rory McIlroy currently has 3220.78 points, which he has earned from various championships he’s succeeded in. He secured these points through victories like the DP World Tour Championship and The Players Championship on the PGA Tour.

The US team uses a similar points system, with a point or more awarded per $1000 won at certain championships. For example, 1.5 points were earned per $1000 dollars won at the recent Open Championship.

6 players for each team will qualify this way. However, the points system isn’t the only way to play in the Ryder Cup. The team captains for Europe and the USA each get to pick 6 golfers to bring with them. This means that half of the team will earn their place through points, and half will be selected based on their skills.

 

How are Ryder Cup captains picked?

For the European team, captains are selected by vote through the European Tour’s tournament committee, and then confirmed by the European Ryder Cup players and stakeholder’s board. The US team captain is voted in by the PGA of America’s executive committee.

Ryder Cup captains don’t usually play but they are there to support the team. Generally, a captain is a golfer with a lot of skill and a history of success who can act as a sort of coach throughout the tournament.

 

2025 Ryder Cup captains and vice captains

So who will be leading and coaching the teams at Bethpage? All captains and vice captains for this historic game have already been decided and are listed below.

 

UK Team Captain: Luke Donald

The 2025 captain, Luke Donald, led his team to victory once before as captain in the 2023 Rome Ryder Cup. He’s the first repeat captain for the European team that we’ve seen since Bernard Gallacher in 1995.

 

US Team Captain: Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley will be the captain for Team USA this time around. He's a well-known golfer with plenty of experience under his belt. There was speculation that he may even play in the Ryder Cup, but he eventually made the decision to dedicate himself to being team captain instead.

 

UK Vice Captains:

  • Edoardo Molinari
  • Thomas Bjørn
  • José MaríaOlazábal
  • Francesco Molinari

 

US Vice Captains:

  • Jim Furyk
  • Kevin Kisner
  • Webb Simpson
  • Brandt Snedeker
  • Gary Woodland

 

Who will be playing in the Ryder Cup 2025?

 

European Ryder Cup Team 2025

  • Ludvig Åberg
  • Matt Fitzpatrick
  • Tommy Fleetwood
  • Tyrrell Hatton
  • Rasmus Højgaard
  • Viktor Hovland
  • Shane Lowry
  • Robert MacIntyre
  • Rory McIlroy
  • Jon Rahm
  • Justin Rose
  • Sepp Straka

 

USA Ryder Cup Team 2025

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

 

Get practising!

Are you hoping to qualify for the Ryder Cup someday? Or maybe you just want to win your local golf tournament? Either way, you’d better get practising with some of the best golf balls that the pros are using. We offer plenty of golf balls used by the players who will be in this year’s Ryder Cup. Check them out below, then try them for yourself.

Shop Ryder Cup Golf Balls

Bridgestone e12 Golf Balls

Bridgestone are leading the pack when it comes to golf ball fitting, having matched over 4 million golfers to the right golf ball for their game. When carrying out research and development for their golf balls, Bridgestone discovered that more than 85% of players could benefit from having a golf ball that is optimised to their launch conditions – and thus, the Bridgestone e12 golf ball series was born!

In the e12 series, there are three distinct golf balls: the e12 Straight, Speed and HiLaunch. Keep reading this blog to find out the differences between these 3 balls so that you can choose a golf ball that is perfect for your game.

 

Bridgestone e12 Straight Golf Ball

The e12 Straight is ideal for players who need help straightening their shots and reducing spin off the tee. Thanks to its super low compression score and side spin reducing mantle layer, this ball is engineered for forgiveness and reducing hooks and slices.

Plus, all of the balls in the e12 series feature the new award-winning mindset technology – a breakthrough mental approach that helps golfers separate analytic thought from athletic performance. This mindset technology helps you visualise your shots more clearly before hitting the ball and is particularly useful for recreational and high-handicap golfers!

 

Bridgestone e12 HiLaunch Golf Ball

The e12 HiLaunch Is for golfers who need to carry the ball further for more distance. Featuring an extremely low compression core and new optimal flight system, the e12 HiLaunch stays on the driver face longer, allowing it to launch higher and carry further than other golf balls.

So, if you’re a high-handicap golfer looking to make some longer distance shots, check out the Bridgestone e12 HiLaunch today!

 

Bridgestone e12 Speed Golf Ball

For players who need a piercing, penetrating ball flight, the Bridgestone e12 Speed could be perfect for you! The firmer construction of this ball allows it to launch fast off the driver face and stay relatively low – ideal if you’re a player who finds yourself “ballooning” the ball often.

Plus, the firm feel of this ball makes it ideal for play in windy conditions!

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So, whether you’re looking for a ball that will reduce your spin off the tee, boost your distance shots or produce penetrating ball flight, the Bridgestone e12 series has all bases covered!

If you have any questions about which Bridgestone e12 you should choose, get in touch with us today at gimmeballs and a member of our team will be happy to help!

 

Shop Bridgestone Golf Balls

history of the ryder cup

The 2025 Ryder Cup is just around the corner – but where did it all start? Our team at gimmeballs have done the research and put together a complete guide to the Ryder Cup’s history. This event has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1927, to become the huge celebration we know today.

Read on to learn the fascinating history of the Ryder Cup, as well as what we know about this year’s edition of the tournament.

 

What is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is one of the world’s biggest golfing events. It is played every other year, and features 24 of the best golfers from Europe and the United States.

Unlike many other big golfing events, the Ryder Cup is played in teams – so instead of a single individual claiming victory, each tournament is won by either Team Europe or Team USA.

 

What is the history of the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup was started by Samuel Ryder, an English businessman with a passion for golf. He first held a golf tournament between Great Britain and America in 1926. However, this isn’t considered an official Ryder Cup game, as no cup was awarded. The Ryder Cup officially began in 1927 at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, where the USA won by a score of 9.5 to 2.5.

The Ryder Cup continued like this, with a tournament every other year for a decade. Unfortunately, this tradition was halted by World War II, and with the death of Samuel Ryder it seemed unlikely to return. This could have been the end of one of the world’s most celebrated golfing traditions.

In an unexpected twist of fate, though, the game was revived by Rober A. Hudson – an Oregon fruit grower who decided to follow in Samuel Ryder’s footsteps. With the spark reignited, the Ryder Cup continued as it was always meant to. There were a handful of format changes over the years, with the most significant arriving in 1979. This was the year that the British team expanded to become a European team. This allowed more top golfers to participate and allowed the USA’s rivals to draw from a larger talent pool – which was becoming necessary as America hadn’t lost for well over a decade by this point.

DID YOU KNOW? From the tournament’s inception until the end of the 20th century, the Ryder Cup was only played in odd-numbered years. Then the 2001 tournament was delayed until 2002 due to the 9/11 attacks, and for a while after that, the Ryder Cup took place only in even-numbered years. But then the coronavirus pandemic struck and the 2020 edition had to be postponed until 2021, so now the Ryder Cup is back to happening in odd-numbered years again.

That brings us to today! After several changes, and two unlikely benefactors, the Ryder Cup is still going strong. Two teams of twelve, from America and Europe, go up against each other every other year to demonstrate the very best of their golfing talents.

 

Why is it called the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is named after the event’s original founder, Samuel Ryder. He made his fortune by selling seeds much more cheaply than his competitors at the time, at only a penny per packet. When his friend suggested he take up golf for his health, he couldn’t have known that it would eventually lead to one of the world’s biggest golfing events.

 

Do Ryder Cup players get paid?

Generally, Ryder Cup players are not paid, though this has varied somewhat over the years. In 1999, when Tiger Woods began to question where all the profits of the event were going, Team USA players were given some say over which charities the profits were donated to.

For the 2025 Ryder Cup, the American PGA has announced that each American player will receive $500,000 (with $300,000 of that going to a charity selected by the player). The remaining money is a stipend, though some players have reportedly said that this will also be donated to charity.

As for Team Europe, there are no plans for them to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup.

 

Who won the Ryder Cup in 2023?

The last Ryder Cup, held in Italy in 2023, was won by the European team. Captain Luke Donald (who will be returning this year) led the team to a decisive victory with a score of 16.5 to 11.5. The team included Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and several other well-known golfers.

 

Can women play in the Ryder Cup?

Unlike The Open, which has allowed women since 2006, the Ryder Cup does not allow women to play. Female golfers play in the Solheim Cup instead, which is held on alternate years with the Ryder Cup. The last Solheim cup was held in Virginia in 2024, and the next will be in the Netherlands in 2026.

 

When is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black Course in New York on 23rd – 28th September 2025. If you’ve had enough of history and are ready to look to the future, you can watch live or follow along with this year’s event at home.

 

Get ready for the Ryder Cup!

The Ryder Cup is fast approaching! If you’re excited about golf, then why not hold your own mini Ryder Cup with our Ryder Cup golf balls? We’ve got a selection of the best golf balls used by the pros who will be playing at Bethpage this September.

Shop Ryder Cup Golf Balls

best gift ideas for golfers

Best Gift Ideas for Golfers 2025

 

The best gift ideas for golfers can be found right here! At gimmeballs, we have all the golfer gifts you could possibly need, from selection boxes to luxury golf sets. If you need Christmas gift ideas for golfers, then you're in the right place.

Take pride in your gift-giving! Focusing on an interest like golf is the perfect way to show you care and bring joy on this special day. All of these are great Christmas gift ideas, but they'll work for other holidays too. Whether you are buying a present for a birthday celebration or just to say thank you, our gift ideas are ideal for passionate golfers. Simply buy any gift from our below golf gift guide and rest assured you've found something they'll love. Easy.

 

 

1. Mix-and-Match Gift Selection Boxes

 

A golfer can never have too many golf balls! If you’re buying gift for a golfer but don't know much about golf gear, you can’t go wrong with one of our golf ball mix-and-match selection boxes. Every selection box has high-quality balls chosen as default, and are ready to gift in birthday boxes, which means no wrapping! As gift ideas go, this is the easiest to execute and yet is still a lovely golf gift to receive.

This is a great Christmas golf gift for the holidays, because we have a Christmas selection box design available!

If you do have an idea of your giftee's favourite brands, no problem! You can pick and choose which balls go into this box. You can even customise the designs of the balls themselves if you like! Our gift set lets you do as much or as little work as you want, and the best part is that the gift will turn out great either way. 

Shop Golf Ball Variety Packs

2. Golf balls!

When it comes to golf gift ideas, it's good to start small- really small. Golf balls are ideal small Christmas gifts because they are small enough to fit in a tiny box or big envelope. They also come at a range of price points, so if you aren't looking to spend too much on your golfing gift, they're a good choice. Plus, all golfers need more balls. We'd recommend golf balls as the best presents for golfers in an office gift exchange, because they are small and affordable.

You might be surprised by how quickly golfers go through golf balls, but balls get lost on the course all the time. This means that golfers always need more of them and will never be upset to get a brand new sleeve of shiny balls as a Christmas gift. Giving golf balls to a golfer is like giving a box of chocolates to most people. You know the gift won't last forever, but it will definitely be enjoyed, and you can always get them another box next year!

If you want to elevate this golf gift for somebody who you are close to, you could always get a fancier brand of golf ball. Golfers will often resist treating themselves to really high-quality golf balls even if they want them, but will be grateful to get a set as a gift. You can treat the golfer in your life just by choosing a more premium ball than they would usually buy. We stock a brilliant range of golf balls from top brands like TaylorMade, Srixon, and Titleist. Our prices are also very competitive, from our budget options to our wide selection of premium balls.

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3. Personalised Golf Balls

 

If you like the idea of giving golf balls but are worried that they don't feel enough like a "gift" then you could always try personalising them. Personalisation shows your giftee how much you care and adds a special touch to what might seem like an overly plain present otherwise. Many of our balls are customisable so you can personalise them with whatever design you like! These can make golf balls easier to see and harder to lose, adding a practical element to these fun golf gifts.

Unique golfing presents like these are the perfect way to show your sporty friends and family members that you care. You probably already knew that though. It isn't rocket science, personalised gifts are just better! They're more unique, more targeted, and show a lot more thought has gone into the present. With our balls, you can add images or text. So, you could make your balls say "Happy Birthday" or you could add a picture of your giftee's pets. These really are some of the best gifts for golfers, and we're not just saying that.

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4. Luxury Golf Sets

If you’ve got a little more cash to splash, we stock a range of luxury golf gift sets that make fantastic golf presents. Here are some of our great golf gift sets:

Some golf gift sets can even be personalised with a photo or message on the balls, making them a totally unique gift idea for golf lovers.

Shop Golf Gift Sets

 

 

5. Golf Caps

If you've scrolled this far, then you're probably looking for something bigger than a golf ball and less pricey than a full golf gift set. It's fine - we get it, and our fantastic golf gift guide has got plenty of options for you. First up, our golf caps, which are great golfing presents all year round.

These golf hats are great for keeping cool, reducing glare and looking stylish. Our premium range of golf hats and caps are great as golf-related gifts. We stock caps from top brands like Nike, Srixon, Callaway and Wilson in a wide variety of colourways, so you’re sure to find a cap in our collection that your loved one won’t want to take off!

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6. Warm Golf Hat

Shop Wilson Tour Beanie

 

If you're based in the UK like us, then you might be thinking that it's never sunny enough for a golf cap. Now that winter has hit, 2025 is unlikely to see much more sun. We understand, and we have an answer: the Wilson Tour Beanie. This warm winter hat is going to serve your giftee well in the UK, keeping their head nice and cosy. This lovely golf accessory is the perfect Christmas gift for golf lovers!

We also know that there's a lot of golf fans who can't get out to the green as often as they'd like because golf can be expensive. Golf also requires a lot of mobility, and there's no shame in hanging up your clubs when you need to. However, all Golf Fans deserve to celebrate their love for the sport, no matter what! A golfing gift like this beanie is ideal for these situations, as it's golf-themed both on and off of the course. Your giftee can wear this on winter walks, or to show their golf pride whilst watching the PGA at home!

 

7. Golf Club Head Covers 

 

 

Golf club head covers are a practical and fun gift idea for golfers. They protect golf clubs from damage when being transported in a golf bag from hole to hole. Here at gimmeballs, we stock golf head covers from the top brands, like these Srixon covers, so you can feel like one of the pros when out on the green! We also have a range of bold and exciting golf club covers from Krave, with unique designs that your giftee will love! These are one of the best gifts for golfers, as golfers might not treat themselves to head covers but would certainly get some use out of them.

Quick expert tip: If you do decide that this is the best gift for your golfer, think ahead about how you are going to wrap these. They are a bit of an odd shape, and you'll want to be careful so that the golfer can't guess what you've bought for them.

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8. Alignment Balls 

Okay, we know what you're thinking: more golf balls? Give us a minute though, because these balls fully deserve their own special mention.

Alignment markers make golfing easier, helping golfer to line up their shots. If you needs gift ideas for golfers who haven't been playing very long (or if you know that a golfer is struggling) then alignment markers can help them to elevate their game! Choose a ball from our extensive selection of customisable golf balls then add one of our elegant alignment styles to make the perfect useful golf themed present.

(Quick tip: you can use our personalisation tool to add your own silly alignment markers, too.)

Order Personalised Alignment Balls

 

 

9. Golf Towels

When it comes to golf accessory gifts, golf towels are the best! If you want to give a gift that is practical, but still has a fun design, then a golf towel is a great gift idea. At gimmeballs, our golf towels are crafted from top-of-the-line materials like microfiber and waffle weave, both known for their excellent drying power. Golf towels are the gift that keep on giving for a golf lover, as they are both super portable and great for keeping your clubs and hands dry. Browse our collection today!

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10. Golf Ball Subscription

Does the golf lover in your life have a favourite ball that they would never play without? Get ready for one of the absolute best gifts for golfers that we have available. Order your golfer the gift of a monthly subscription so they never run out! Each month, we’ll deliver their much-loved balls directly to their door. When you subscribe, you’ll save 10% and you can cancel at any time.

Shop Now!

 

Golf Gift Guide - Final Advice

And there we have it, 10 gift ideas for golfers! This festive season, don't disapoint the golfer in your life. Show you care about their interests with personalised golfer gifts tailored to your loved one. You don't need to know everything about golf to choose a cute golf ball design, or a cosy winter hat. 

You can pick from the above ideas, or have a look around at our other products, but we want to leave you with one big piece of golf gifting advice: don't waste your money on novelty items like mugs and golf-themed socks. If you really want to see that face light up, treat them to a practical golfer gift which can be properly used and enjoyed.

If it’s cheap golf gifts you’re after, check out our budget gift options under £20, under £10 and under £5. We also offer a range of excellent golf stocking fillers

 

TaylorMade is one of the biggest brands in golf, endorsed by professional golfers like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. They are constantly developing their excellent selection of golf balls with innovative and unique features such as their 5-layer ball construction and Tri-Fast cores.