The 2025 Ryder Cup has been circled on golf fans’ calendars for the last two years. On one of the biggest stages in golf, a former Longhorn will have the opportunity to lead the U.S. to its first victory since 2021.
Having suffered a stinging defeat in the 2023 Ryder Cup, Scottie Scheffler and the Americans will look to reclaim golf’s most desired team trophy. The biennial tournament will be played at Bethpage Black in New York on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Long Island golf course is known for its difficulty and challenging layout.
Scheffler competed for the Longhorns from 2014 to 2018, culminating in multiple All-American team selections while collecting three Big 12 championships. Appearing in his third Ryder Cup, the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world needs no extra motivation for a week like this.
“When it comes to playing for a team and playing for a country, I don’t really have to change much because I think my passion for the game of golf runs so deep,” Scheffler said in a press conference hosted by the Ryder Cup. “My passion for my country runs so deep that when it comes to these team events, it’s just another way to continue to be motivated to work hard, to want to get the most out of myself and to be a good friend and a good teammate to the guys on this team.”
Scheffler’s previous two Ryder Cups have provided a full range of emotions and experiences. In his first Ryder Cup in 2021, without a win on the PGA Tour, the then-25-year-old was unexpectedly selected by Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker. Scheffler did not disappoint, going undefeated while taking down the then-world No. 1 Jon Rahm in the process. Scheffler and the Americans dominated the Europeans 19-9.
The 2023 Ryder Cup was the complete opposite end of the spectrum for Scheffler. The former Longhorn entered the tournament as the world No. 1, yet went winless en route to Europe’s 16.5-11.5 victory. Alongside Brooks Koepka, Scheffler was seen with tears in his eyes after losing 9 & 7 to Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg.
In 2025, the Ryder Cup will look a little different. For the first time in the tournament’s history, American players will receive compensation for competing. Along with a $200,000 stipend, each player will receive a $300,000 fund designated for charity, which Scheffler quickly assigned to an unnamed charity in his hometown, Dallas, Texas.
“I have a deep passion for the city of Dallas,” Scheffler said. “I have a deep passion for the organizations that we support at home, and I’m excited to be able to take this money and be able to do some good in our local community.”
Like many of the competitors, Scheffler has been waiting for this tournament since he hit his last putt in Rome.
“We’re playing in front of a home crowd,” Scheffler said. “There’s nothing better than this type of competition where you’re out there with your partner, you’re playing for your country, you’re playing for your team. When you look back on your career, these are the weeks so far that I remember the most. I have some of my best memories of my whole life playing in these tournaments.”
