Ranking every Ryder Cup player for Team USA, Europe before matches begin

Adam Woodard USA TODAY

Published 11:56 AM EDT Sep 25, 2018

After blowouts in the last two events, the 2018 Ryder Cup is gearing up to be one for the ages.

Eleven of Team USA's 12 players are in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Team Europe features six of the remaining nine. This year's event at Le Golf National in Paris is also the first ever to feature all of the world's top 10 players.

With just a few days left before Friday's morning matches, we ranked both team's players based on past performances and form entering the tournament.

Team USA

1. Patrick Reed: Captain America’s 6-1-2 overall record speaks for itself. Will we get another fiery singles match with Rory McIlroy?

2. Dustin Johnson: No. 1 player in the world. Undefeated in singles matches. Super Smash Brothers pairing with Brooks Koepka should be in full effect.

3. Tiger Woods: Signs point to a pairing with Bryson DeChambeau. Riding high into Le Golf National after his Tour Championship win. His 4-1-2 singles record is no joke.

4 Rickie Fowler: Now healthy after a lingering oblique injury towards the end of the season, Fowler can play with just about anyone. Expect pairings with his buddy Justin Thomas or Phil Mickelson.

5. Jordan Spieth: Rest or rust? Didn’t make Tour Championship but history with Reed (4-1-2) makes Spieth one of Team USA’s most dangerous players.

6. Brooks Koepka: Missed the cut in 2014 at Le Golf National but brings a 2-0-0 Presidents Cup record with Johnson to the Ryder Cup.

7. Justin Thomas: Ryder Cup rookie played well at last year’s Presidents Cup and was one of three Americans to play the French Open at Le Golf National this year (tied for eighth).

8. Bryson DeChambeau: Golf’s “mad scientist” was dominant down the stretch in the FedExCup Playoffs and will learn a lot from the veterans, especially Woods.

9. Tony Finau: Jim Furyk’s final captain’s pick was great all season, finished in second three times and posted 11 top 10’s in 28 tournaments.

10. Webb Simpson: Simpson plays with little to no flash, but can pair with just about anyone on Team USA.

11. Bubba Watson: Has a rough history playing in France, and a combined 0-5-0 Ryder Cup record means it can’t get much worse.

12. Phil Mickelson: Lefty is limping into what may be his final Ryder Cup after his last-place finish at the Tour Championship (13-over).

Team Europe

1. Justin Rose: The $10 million dollar man has zero holes in his game right now and is coming in hot after winning the FedExCup. Rose has been one of the best, most consistent golfers in the world all season.

2. Rory McIlroy: Forget his Sunday collapse at the Tour Championship. He’s won 58% of his 19 Ryder Cup matches. Expect him to play four or five more this weekend.

3. Ian Poulter: 12-4-2 Ryder Cup record. Enough said.

4. Francesco Molinari: Molinari’s big season featured three wins, including his first major. Has two second-place finishes at Le Golf National, in 2010 and 2016.

5. Tommy Fleetwood: “Fairway Jesus” makes his Ryder Cup debut, but don’t expect any first-time jitters. Fifth in birdie average and sixth in scoring average on PGA Tour this season.

6. Alex Noren: European rookie will walk Le Golf National with confidence after winning the French Open held there two months ago.

7. Jon Rahm: Has a history of failing to close out tournaments, and the big stage may be too much for the Ryder Cup rookie. That said, Rahm has both a top-10 and top-five finish at Le Golf National.

8. Thorbjørn Olesen: Rookie has no holes in his game, consistent all over the course. His success will depend on foursome and fourball pairings.

9. Paul Casey: Made team via captain’s pick and rebounded at Tour Championship to end season. Won Valspar in March and finished T2 earlier in the summer.

10. Sergio Garcia: Europe’s most head-scratching captain’s pick, Garcia has lacked consistency since his first major win at the 2017 Masters. His T8 finish at Le Golf National this year is promising, though.

11. Henrik Stenson: Injuries put a damper on Stenson’s season, but when healthy he is one of the best ball strikers in the world.

12. Tyrrell Hatton: Ryder Cup rookies are tough to gauge. Hatton was 11th in overall putting average on the PGA Tour this season and finished T16 at Le Golf National this year.

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