The race to form the European team for the 2027 Ryder Cup will begin this August at the Husqvarna British Masters and will stretch over almost a year. Six players will qualify automatically via the points list and Luke Donald will complete the team with six further captain’s picks. The European team is repeating the same system used at Bethpage. If it works, don’t change it.
Ryder Cup Europe announced on Tuesday the qualification system that will determine the composition of the European team at Adare Manor. The process will start at the Husqvarna British Masters Hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, which will be played at The Belfry from 27 to 30 August, and will conclude on Sunday 22 August 2027.
The top six players on the Ryder Cup Points List at the close of the qualifying period will earn direct selection. Donald will then choose the remaining six members of his team during the week commencing Monday 30 August 2027.
In the event of a tie on points, the place will go to the player who occupies the higher position in the Official World Ranking published on Monday 16 August 2027.
The final week of qualification will include both a DP World Tour event and a PGA TOUR event. The two specific tournaments will be confirmed when both tours publish their 2027 schedules.
“The start of qualifying is always a significant moment on the road to the Ryder Cup, so I am delighted to be able to confirm the details of the process to form the European team for 2027,” said Donald.
The European captain highlighted the huge competition expected over the next twelve months.
“Right now we have many talented European players. Some have Ryder Cup experience and others will try to qualify for the first time. I’m very much looking forward to seeing them compete to make the European team,” he added.
Donald also emphasised the special significance of the next edition: “Next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor promises to be very special for many reasons. It will mark the centenary of the Ryder Cup and we will have the support of the Irish fans, who are among the best in the world. These factors will further motivate our players to be part of the team.”
How points can be earned
The Ryder Cup Points List will include all points earned by eligible players in tournaments that count towards the Ranking Race to Dubai — including the four Majors — played from the 2026 British Masters through to Sunday 22 August 2027.
Points earned in PGA TOUR events that award FedExCup points between 1 January and 22 August 2027 will also be counted.
However, PGA TOUR events that take place in the same week as a Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour will not award Ryder Cup points.
The only exception relates to the PGA TOUR event that is played simultaneously with the Genesis Scottish Open. That event is also part of the Ranking Race to Dubai and, therefore, will award points for European qualification.
The tournaments will be divided into five categories according to their importance:
· Majors: 5,000 points.
· PGA TOUR Signature events, The Players and FedExCup Playoffs events: 3,000 points.
· DP World Tour Rolex Series and regular FedExCup events: 2,000 points.
· DP World Tour Back 9 tournaments: 1,500 points.
· DP World Tour Global Series and PGA TOUR opposite-field events: 1,000 points.
These figures represent the total points available at each tournament. They will be allocated according to the final standings and following the rules applied to the distribution of Ranking Race to Dubai points.
Eligibility requirements
To earn points it will be necessary to be a European member of the DP World Tour, either with full category or as an affiliate member. European members ranked on the HotelPlanner Tour and past champions or other distinguished European players who have obtained DP World Tour affiliate membership or the corresponding HotelPlanner Tour membership will also be eligible to participate in the process.
As a general rule, a player will only be able to earn points while a member of the DP World Tour. There is, however, an exception: if a non-member wins an event that counts towards the Ranking Race to Dubai and subsequently accepts membership within the stipulated time, they will receive the points earned from that victory retrospectively.
Ranked members must fulfil their DP World Tour playing obligations in each season. In 2027, if a player has not completed those obligations by the time the team is announced, they must have committed to playing the required tournaments and there must be sufficient events remaining on the calendar for them to meet those commitments.
Additionally, a player who acquires membership during the qualifying period will only be able to earn points from the first event of the corresponding official season or from the first event in which they are already listed as a member, whichever date is later.
Any decision or dispute relating to a player’s eligibility, nationality, citizenship, domicile or residence will be resolved in accordance with the International Golf Federation’s Nationality Policy and must be ratified by the Ryder Cup Policy Board.
The International Golf Federation’s rules relating to players and support staff with Russian or Belarusian passports will also apply.
The Zurich Classic exception
The Zurich Classic, the PGA TOUR’s pairs event, will have a specific treatment. It will only award points to teams formed by two eligible European players. The points corresponding to each pair’s final position will be split 50/50 between the two partners.
Europe will face the United States at Adare Manor, in Limerick, during the week of 13 to 19 September 2027. Luke Donald’s team will be aiming for a third consecutive victory following wins at Marco Simone in 2023 and Bethpage Black in 2025, in an edition that will commemorate the Ryder Cup centenary
