{"id":377648,"date":"2025-08-27T12:53:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T12:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/377648\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T12:53:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T12:53:19","slug":"the-best-and-worst-ryder-cup-captains-picks-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/377648\/","title":{"rendered":"The best (and worst) Ryder Cup captain’s picks of all time"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ian<\/p>\n

\t\t\tThere\u2019s an awful lot of fuss made about who will get that 12th and final wildcard slot on each Ryder Cup team. But when it comes to the tournament itself, does it really make much difference? Here\u2019s what the numbers say\u2026<\/p>\n

Every time the Ryder Cup rolls around, debate around the captain\u2019s picks is fierce. Most are pretty obvious by the time they are announced, but the final one or two spots are always hotly contested.<\/p>\n

It is often a case of two players vying for one spot, with huge emphasis placed on the importance of the decision. But is it all blown a little out of proportion? How valuable has the 12th man actually been in this contest?<\/p>\n

With the 12 automatic qualifiers confirmed<\/a>, attention now turns to Keegan Bradley\u2019s choices coming on Wednesday and Luke Donald\u2019s a few days later. So we decided to dive into the numbers to see how much it actually matters.<\/p>\n

Before we do, though, let\u2019s have a look at what recent history tells us with a quick rundown of the last five Ryder Cups\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Luke2023<\/p>\n

European captain Luke Donald opted to put his faith in Ludvig Aberg at Marco Simone Country Club, after the Swede hit the ground running in the professional ranks. Although yet to play in a major, Aberg was handed a Ryder Cup debut at the expense of Adrian Meronk, despite being well down the order in the two qualification points lists.<\/p>\n

Aberg combined with Viktor Hovland to devastating effect, building on an opening-day win with an incredible 9&7 victory over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in the Friday morning foursomes.<\/p>\n

Although he lost his next two matches to finish with a 2-2-0 record, it was all worth it as Europe wrestled the cup back.<\/p>\n

It was slightly more controversial from the visiting captain, Zach Johnson, who picked two players outside of the top 12 in the qualification standings. Rickie Fowler (13th) and Justin Thomas (15th) got the call over Cameron Young (9th) and Keegan Bradley (11th). It didn\u2019t work out, with Fowler going 0-2-0 and JT finishing with a 1-2-1 record.<\/p>\n

2021<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, there was a time when Scottie Scheffler was the last name on the US team sheet. At Whistling Straits, the Americans completed a rampant 19-9 win on the banks of Lake Michigan and Scheffler \u2013 who, at this point, had only won on the Korn Ferry Tour \u2013 justified his selection by going 2-1-0 over the three days.<\/p>\n

Ian Poulter was well outside the automatic qualification spots for Team Europe but was picked by Padraig Harrington, who was hoping The Postman\u2019s experience and Ryder Cup nous would help inspire a momentous victory.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t to be. Poulter was unable to recapture his previous Ryder Cup heroics and went 1-2-0.<\/p>\n

\"Scottie2018<\/p>\n

Henrik Stenson was the most contentious of Thomas Bjorn\u2019s European picks ahead of the matches at Le Golf National. However, the Swede proved his doubters wrong by going 3-0-0 in the French capital.<\/p>\n

In fact, Bjorn\u2019s four picks \u2013 Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, and Sergio Garcia were the others \u2013 combined for 9.5 points from the 14 available to them.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Jim Furyk\u2019s picks backfired. Bryson DeChambeau (0-3-0), Phil Mickelson (0-2-0), and Tiger Woods (0-4-0) were the next three players in the qualification standings, but contributed nothing.<\/p>\n

The lowest-ranked pick, though, was Tony Finau. Despite finishing 15th in qualifying, he got the nod over Xander Schauffele, Matt Kuchar, and Kevin Kisner and went 2-1-0 to add a couple of points to his team\u2019s cause in the 17.5-10.5 drubbing.<\/p>\n

2016<\/p>\n

At Hazeltine, Davis Love III was out for revenge after overseeing the US team that slipped to defeat in the Miracle at Medinah four years prior.<\/p>\n

With four picks, Love III added JB Holmes, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and Ryan Moore, who was the surprise inclusion.<\/p>\n

America romped to a 17-11 victory to reclaim the cup and Moore justified his selection with a 2-1-0 record.<\/p>\n

European captain Darren Clarke had three picks and used them on Thomas Pieters, Martin Kaymer, and Lee Westwood. The likes of Soren Kjeldsen and Tyrrell Hatton could count themselves unlucky to miss out to Westwood, but the veteran Englishman got the nod once again.<\/p>\n

Safe to say the 12th man didn\u2019t deliver this time around, as Westwood went 0-3-0 \u2013 including a Sunday singles defeat to Moore \u2013 in a disastrous all-round performance for Team Europe.<\/p>\n

\"Lee2014<\/p>\n

Paul McGinley was meticulous in his planning ahead of the Gleneagles showdown as Europe headed to Scotland looking to make it three wins in a row.<\/p>\n

The Irishman picked Ian Poulter, Stephen Gallacher, and Lee Westwood, all three of whom had question marks over their selection due to either a lack of form or experience.<\/p>\n

And the question marks were, it turned out, justified. Europe won the Samuel Ryder trophy back fairly comfortably, but Gallacher (0-2-0), Poulter (0-1-2), and Westwood (2-2-0) combined for just three points from nine matches.<\/p>\n

On the American side, captain Tom Watson selected Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan, and Webb Simpson \u2013 who, somewhat controversially, phoned his skipper to successfully argue his case.<\/p>\n

In a losing cause, the choice of Simpson backfired. The 2012 US Open champion played just twice and added only a half point to his team\u2019s tally.<\/p>\n

So how has the 12th man performed at each Ryder Cup?<\/p>\n

Right, let\u2019s take a look at the numbers, then. We\u2019ve gone back to 1989 for this experiment, as that\u2019s when both teams started utilizing the captain\u2019s pick option.<\/p>\n

Team Europe<\/p>\n

Here is how the lowest-ranked player in each Ryder Cup qualification process has performed from 1989 to the present day.<\/p>\n

From 2006, separate World and European points lists were introduced. In these instances, we have added the ranking positions together and the highest number is the 12th man.<\/p>\n\nRYDER CUP<\/strong><\/td>\n12TH MAN<\/strong><\/td>\nQUALIFYING RANKING<\/strong><\/td>\nW-L-H<\/strong><\/td>\nPOINTS<\/strong><\/td>\nPERCENTAGE OF POINTS EARNED<\/strong><\/td>\nFINAL TEAM SCORE<\/strong><\/td>\nPERCENTAGE OF TEAM SCORE<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1989<\/td>\nHoward Clark<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n2-2-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1991<\/td>\nMark James<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n2-3-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n40%<\/td>\n13.5<\/td>\n15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1993<\/td>\nSeve Ballesteros<\/td>\n38<\/td>\n2-2-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1995<\/td>\nIan Woosnam<\/td>\n13<\/td>\n1-1-1<\/td>\n1.5<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n14.5<\/td>\n10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1997<\/td>\nJesper Parnevik<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n1-1-2<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n14.5<\/td>\n14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1999<\/td>\nJesper Parnevik<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n3-1-1<\/td>\n3.5<\/td>\n70%<\/td>\n13.5<\/td>\n26%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2002<\/td>\nJesper Parnevik<\/td>\n31<\/td>\n0-1-1<\/td>\n0.5<\/td>\n25%<\/td>\n15.5<\/td>\n3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2004<\/td>\nColin Montgomerie<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n3-1-0<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n75%<\/td>\n18.5<\/td>\n16%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2006<\/td>\nDarren Clarke<\/td>\n13 (WPL)
30 (EPL)<\/td>\n3-0-0<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n18.5<\/td>\n16%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2008<\/td>\nPaul Casey<\/td>\n16 (WPL)
18 (EPL)<\/td>\n0-1-2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n33%<\/td>\n11.5<\/td>\n9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2010<\/td>\nLuke Donald<\/td>\n6 (WPL)
16 (EPL)<\/td>\n3-1-0<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n75%<\/td>\n14.5<\/td>\n21%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2012<\/td>\nIan Poulter<\/td>\n11 (WPL)
17 (EPL)<\/td>\n4-0-0<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n14.5<\/td>\n28%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2014<\/td>\nLee Westwood<\/td>\n16 (WPL)
19 (EPL)<\/td>\n2-2-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n16.5<\/td>\n12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2016<\/td>\nLee Westwood<\/td>\n14 (WPL)
15 (EPL)<\/td>\n0-3-0<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n0%<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2018<\/td>\nHenrik Stenson<\/td>\n17 (WPL)
16 (EPL)<\/td>\n3-0-0<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n17.5<\/td>\n17%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2021<\/td>\nIan Poulter<\/td>\n14 (WPL)
23 (EPL)<\/td>\n1-2-0<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n33%<\/td>\n9<\/td>\n11%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2023<\/td>\nLudvig Aberg<\/td>\n58 (WPL)
60 (EPL)<\/td>\n2-2-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n16.5<\/td>\n12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Team USA<\/p>\n

While the European captain had the option to make his own selections from 1979 onwards, when the Ryder Cup was opened up to the rest of the continent, the USA did not take advantage of this until 1989, when 39-year-old World No.28 Lanny Wadkins was given the nod \u2013 almost certainly due to his 13.5 points from 21 record in the competition.<\/p>\n\nRYDER CUP<\/strong><\/td>\nPLAYER<\/strong><\/td>\nQUALIFYING RANKING<\/strong><\/td>\nW-L-H<\/strong><\/td>\nPOINTS<\/strong><\/td>\nPERCENTAGE OF POINTS EARNED<\/strong><\/td>\nFINAL TEAM SCORE<\/strong><\/td>\nPERCENTAGE<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1989<\/td>\nLanny Wadkins<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n2-2-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1991<\/td>\nRaymond Floyd<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n2-2-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n14.5<\/td>\n14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1993<\/td>\nLanny Wadkins<\/td>\n74<\/td>\n2-2-1<\/td>\n2.5<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n17%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1995<\/td>\nFred Couples<\/td>\n34<\/td>\n2-1-1<\/td>\n2.5<\/td>\n63%<\/td>\n13.5<\/td>\n19%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1997<\/td>\nFred Couples<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n2-2-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n50%<\/td>\n13.5<\/td>\n15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n1999<\/td>\nSteve Pate<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n2-1-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n67%<\/td>\n14.5<\/td>\n14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2002<\/td>\nPaul Azinger<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n0-1-1<\/td>\n0.5<\/td>\n25%<\/td>\n12.5<\/td>\n4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2004<\/td>\nStewart Cink<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n1-2-1<\/td>\n1.5<\/td>\n38%<\/td>\n9.5<\/td>\n16%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2006<\/td>\nScott Verplank<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n2-0-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n9.5<\/td>\n21%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2008<\/td>\nChad Campbell<\/td>\n21<\/td>\n2-1-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n67%<\/td>\n16.5<\/td>\n12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2010<\/td>\nRickie Fowler<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n0-1-2<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n33%<\/td>\n13.5<\/td>\n7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2012<\/td>\nDustin Johnson<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n3-0-0<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n100%<\/td>\n13.5<\/td>\n22%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2014<\/td>\nWebb Simpson<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n0-1-1<\/td>\n0.5<\/td>\n25%<\/td>\n11.5<\/td>\n4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2016<\/td>\nRyan Moore<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n2-1-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n67%<\/td>\n17<\/td>\n12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2018<\/td>\nTony Finau<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n2-1-0<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n67%<\/td>\n10.5<\/td>\n19%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2021<\/td>\nScottie Scheffler<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n2-0-1<\/td>\n2.5<\/td>\n83%<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n13%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2023<\/td>\nJustin Thomas<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n1-2-1<\/td>\n1.5<\/td>\n38%<\/td>\n11.5<\/td>\n13%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Best performing 12th man in terms of points<\/p>\n

Seven final captain\u2019s picks have scored three or more points in the Ryder Cup \u2013 six for Europe and one for the United States.<\/p>\n