Four Golfers Bolstering Their Ryder Cup Qualification Chances at the 2025 US Open Tournament

Gear up for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, a beast of a course - poll diamonds Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley are about to face some significant decisions as they trim down their teams.

The 2025 U.S. Open was a tough nut to crack, with only five players managing to stay level par or under after the second round at Oakmont Country Club. A few players teetering around that mark have undoubtedly caught the captains' eyes.

Oakmont Country Club? Not for the faint-hearted. But if you can thrive there, Bethpage Black won't seem so intimidating. Par 70 courses with thick, punishing rough - both share the same DNA.

So, who's turning heads at the 2025 U.S. Open, hoping to secure a spot on the Ryder Cup?

USA Posse

Surefire picks for Team USA in September include Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. But there's room for some fresh blood.

One guy giving the contenders a run for their money? None other than JJ Spaun. He's had a rollercoaster ride on the PGA Tour since bagging his card in 2017, but this year, the 34-year-old's found his groove.

He came a close second at The Players, losing to Rory McIlroy in a three-hole playoff, and clocks four top-10s under his belt for the season. He's also ranked 16th in Strokes Gained: Total and 5th in SG: Approach on the PGA Tour this year.

Spaun stormed to the lead on the first day at the U.S. Open, only to slip back slightly to second by the halfway stage. If he keeps this form up until the end of the year and delivers a strong finish at the Major, Bradley would be a total sprinkle to ignore him.

Another impressive performer at Oakmont is Ben Griffin. Currently 15th in the Official World Golf Ranking, the North Carolina native has already nabbed two wins on tour this season.

His victories at the Charles Schwab Challenge and Zurich Classic of New Orleans indicate the incredible game he's been playing this year.

Griffin only joined the PGA Tour tourney in 2023 and was one of the five players level par or under ahead of Saturday at the 2025 U.S. Open.

Other Prospects for Team USA

Maverick McNealy
Andrew Novak
Akshay Bhatia

Europe Ensemble

It's an exciting time to be a Team Europe supporter. Since their triumph at Marco Simeone Golf and Country Club in 2023, the pool of talent for Donald to pick from has exploded.

The influx of European talent is astonishing, and one name that's impressed this year is Thomas Detry.

A professional since 2016, Detry secured his PGA Tour card just two years ago and has quickly become a force to be reckoned with, bagging a win at the WM Phoenix Open this year.

Born in Belgium, Detry can bomb a golf ball, ranking tenth in longest drives on tour this year. He sat T8th after the second round at Oakmont, so he's absolutely one to keep an eye on.

Another player making a splash at the U.S. Open is Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. A regular on the DP World Tour, the Dane is yet to register his maiden victory, but he's won three times on the Challenge Tour.

Despite struggling to seal the deal this year, he's displayed exceptional form. He's recorded five top-10s in 2025, with his best showing coming at the Puerto Rico Open on his debut PGA Tour start, where he finished second.

After missing the cut at the PGA Championship last month, Neergaard-Petersen found himself in a strong T12th position following the cut at the U.S. Open, six shots off the leader.

If he manages to maintain this consistent form and possibly notch up a win or two between now and September, he may surprise a few folks and worm his way onto the 12-man roster for the Ryder Cup.

Four Golfers Bolstering Their Ryder Cup Qualification Chances at the 2025 US Open Tournament