Luke Donald plays it safe with 11 Rome veterans, but is America’s depth too much to handle?

Luke Donald wasn’t messing around with his formula. The European captain essentially brought back the same team that demolished the Americans 16½-11½ in Rome two years ago, making just one change – swapping one Hojgaard twin for another. It’s the ultimate “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach, but heading to hostile Bethpage Black might demand more than just memories of Italian glory.

Europe’s Complete Roster

• Automatic Qualifiers: Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tyrrell Hatton
• Captain’s Picks: Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick

America’s Firepower

• Automatic Qualifiers: Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau
• Captain’s Picks: Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns

Team Europe’s Strengths

The Europeans have the experience edge with only one rookie (Rasmus Hojgaard) compared to America’s four. Their core of McIlroy, Rose, and Hatton brings veteran leadership, while the Åberg-Hovland partnership that destroyed Scheffler and Koepka 9&7 in Rome remains intact. Rahm’s unbeaten record in away Ryder Cups and his status as the individual LIV champion adds serious firepower.

Europe’s Potential Pitfalls

Matt Fitzpatrick’s inclusion raises eyebrows with his brutal 1-7-0 career Ryder Cup record. While Donald defended the pick citing Fitzpatrick’s recent form, that’s a lot of scar tissue for match play pressure. The team also lacks the raw distance that could be crucial on Bethpage Black’s widened fairways, especially compared to America’s bomber brigade.

Team USA’s Assets

Keegan Bradley built a team for Bethpage Black specifically. The Americans have serious length with DeChambeau, Young (a New York native), and English capable of overpowering the course. Scheffler remains the world’s best player, while the Thomas-Cantlay-Burns trio brings proven clutch gene in team formats. Four rookies could be energizing rather than intimidating on home soil.

America’s Question Marks

The decision to leave captain Bradley off the team – despite being 11th in the world rankings – shows either incredible depth or questionable judgment. Can rookies Spaun, Henley, Griffin, and Young handle the Bethpage crowd’s intensity? Burns’ putting stroke could be crucial, but his 1-2 Ryder Cup record in Rome leaves doubts about his match play temperament.

The Verdict

Europe’s continuity strategy worked brilliantly in Rome’s controlled environment, but Bethpage Black is a different beast entirely. The Americans have built a team specifically for their home course advantage – longer, younger, and hungrier. While Europe has the experience and chemistry, America’s raw talent and home crowd energy might be too much to overcome.