Walker Cup Recap and Team Europe Finalized Ahead of Ryder Cup

Welcome to Duffer’s Digest, your premier source for golf news!

This week, we’re recapping the electrifying 50th Walker Cup at the iconic Cypress Point Club and breaking down Team Europe’s finalized roster for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

The top highlights?

• Walker Cup 2025: Cypress Point’s Timeless Challenge Steals the Show

• Ryder Cup 2025: Team Europe Banks on Continuity with One New Face (kind of)

Tournament Recap 🏌️

Walker Cup 2025: Cypress Point’s Timeless Challenge Steals the Show

The 50th Walker Cup, held September 6-7, 2025, at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California, was a match-play spectacle that reminded us why this Alister MacKenzie masterpiece is a bucket-list course. At just 6,620 yards and par 70, Cypress Point might seem short by modern standards, but don’t let the scorecard fool you—this course is a beast for match play, and it delivered drama in spades.

Cypress Point’s magic lies in its blend of stunning beauty and strategic brilliance. From the cliffside par-3 16th, where Pacific waves crash below, to the drivable 9th that tempts bold plays, every hole demands precision and nerve.

The course’s compact layout, with its tight fairways, wind-swept dunes, and slick greens, tested the top amateurs from the USA and Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I).

The minimalist setup, with only minor tweaks like converting two par-5s to long par-4s, ensured the course’s timeless challenge shone through. Captain Nathan Smith called holes 5-9 “some of the most fun holes you’ll ever play,” and they sparked momentum-shifting moments throughout the weekend.

Day 1 saw GB&I take a surprising 3-1 lead in morning foursomes, but the USA roared back in singles, with Jackson Koivun’s 4&3 win and Preston Stout’s 6&5 rout leading to a tight 6.5-5.5 score.

Day 2’s foursomes and singles were a seesaw battle, with the USA ultimately retaining the Cup 14-12, thanks to clutch performances from Stewart Hagestad and Jase Summy. Cypress Point’s layout rewarded aggressive play but punished mistakes, making every match a rollercoaster.

For match-play fans, this venue proved why it’s ranked No. 2 in the world—short on yards, big on heart.

Noteworthy Stories ✍🏻

Ryder Cup 2025: Team Europe Banks on Continuity with One New Face (kind of)

Team Europe has locked in its 12-man roster for the 2025 Ryder Cup, opting for continuity over chasing recent form. The only change from 2023’s victorious squad is Rasmus Højgaard, who replaces his twin brother Nicolai Højgaard as the sole new face on the team.

Captain Luke Donald is sticking with proven performers like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Shane Lowry, even if some, like Lowry, haven’t been at their peak lately.

Rising star Harry Hall, despite his stellar recent form on the PGA Tour, was left off in favor of the team’s established chemistry.

Donald’s strategy is clear: trust the veterans who delivered a 16.5-11.5 thrashing in Rome to reclaim the Cup at Bethpage.

Team Europe Roster:

• Rory McIlroy

• Jon Rahm

• Viktor Hovland

• Tommy Fleetwood

• Tyrrell Hatton

• Matt Fitzpatrick

• Shane Lowry

• Justin Rose

• Sepp Straka

• Rasmus Højgaard

• Ludvig Åberg

• Robert MacIntyre

Ryder Cup Details 📝

Dates: September 26-28, 2025
Venue: Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York (7,468 yards, par 71)

Schedule:

• Friday, September 26: Four morning foursomes (alternate shot) matches, four afternoon four-ball (best ball) matches

• Saturday, September 27: Four morning foursomes matches, four afternoon four-ball matches

• Sunday, September 28: 12 singles matches

• Format: The Ryder Cup is a match-play event with 28 total points available (8 foursomes, 8 four-balls, 12 singles). Each match won earns 1 point, with ties awarding 0.5 points to each team.

  • The first team to 14.5 points wins; Europe, as defending champions, retains the Cup in a 14-14 tie.

Bethpage Black’s daunting length, stretching to 7,468 yards, will test Europe’s precision and stamina against a U.S. squad hungry to reclaim the Cup on home soil.

Donald’s gamble on continuity, with Rasmus Højgaard as the only fresh addition, could pay off if his stars gel, but overlooking in-form players like Hall has raised eyebrows.

Can Europe’s near-identical lineup repeat their Rome heroics?

We’ll find out in New York!

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What’s Next?

Cypress Point proved once again why it’s a match-play paradise, turning the Walker Cup into a showcase of guts and glory.

Meanwhile, Team Europe’s Ryder Cup roster, with Rasmus Højgaard as the lone new face, is a bold bet on experience—can they conquer Bethpage’s beastly length?

Let us know your thoughts on X, and stay tuned for more golf goodness in the next Duffer’s Digest!

Fairways and greens, friends!

— The Duffer’s Crew