Former Ryder Cup captain: The U.S. didn't seem to have their best team in 2025

Former Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington has warned Europe not to underestimate the United Sates in 2027 as they didn't have their strongest team last time out. 

Despite an incredible fightback on the final day of the 2025 Ryder Cup, Keegan Bradley's Team USA were defeated 15-13 on home soil by Luke Donald's Europe at Bethpage Black.

The narrow victory gave Europe their first success in hostile territory since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012, while also reinforcing their dominance in the Ryder Cup over the past 25 years.

Next September, former world number one Donald, 48, will once again lead Europe's charge against Jim Furyk's red, white and blue and will attempt to become the first captain to oversee three Ryder Cup victories in a row.

But speaking to Irish Golfer, Harrington has already warned the blue and gold not to get complacent ahead of the showdown at Adare Manor, adding: "There are some ebbs and flows when it comes to teams. 

"They didn't seem to have their best team last time, which usually means they'll be stronger next time around.

"Obviously, the separation in the game of golf hasn’t helped the US Ryder Cup team figure out who their best players are."

Harrington was referring to the split at the top of the men's game after LIV Golf entered the picture in 2022.

Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed are just two who were plying their trade in LIV when Bradley made his selections. 

By his own admission, Koepka had a dreadful season and was relying on reputation alone for a captain's pick but there were some calls for Reed to be included. 

Reed, who has returned to the PGA Tour, has made three Ryder Cup appearances and amassed an impressive 7-3-2 record. 

"In another year's time, they'll have a lot of that figured out, so you certainly wouldn’t be underestimating Jim and his team, that’s for sure," Harrington added. 

Furyk will be getting a second bite of the cherry having overseen the USA's defeat at Le Golf National, Paris, in 2018. 

Harrington believes Furyk is a "tough character" who will have learned from his mistakes.

"Jim's a great guy, for sure," the three-time major champion said. "I think he's very competitive. He’s quite hard. 

"The whole US team wants revenge, and they’re definitely going to leave no stone unturned, I would think."

Harrington also believes it is not out of the realms of possibility that some of the LIV defectors could return to leadership roles within Ryder Cup Europe. 

Graeme McDowell has made no secret of his desire to be included in any capacity and harboured slim hopes he would be handed the reins if Donald decided against continuing. 

"Lee Westwood was lined up to take the captaincy after me," said Harrington. 

"You’ve got Poulter, and you’ve got Graeme. There would have been a lot of competition there. Time heals a lot, so maybe we’ll see those guys as captains down the road."

Furyk pinpoints USA's weakness

Jim Furyk spoke to the media about his plan of action in a news conference before last month's PGA Championship. 

Furyk, 55, rejected the notion that U.S. players don't care as much as the Europeans, explaining that he has "seen the tears" in the locker room. 

The American stressed, though, that the Ryder Cup needs to be made more of a priority. 

He believes more continuity is needed between captains, including the Presidents Cup. 

And the glaring problem?

Foursomes. 

"We're like 6-20 in foursomes the last three matches," said Furyk.

"Right now, that's first and foremost on my mind. We cannot continue to dig the holes we are on Friday and Saturday.

"I think a lot of that happens behind the scenes. 

"That happens in a number of different ways, but I'll go, first and foremost, I don't think we're preparing for that session very well. The Euros made a key move.

"We've liked the foursomes first in the past. The Euros made a key move in Rome and actually put that session first, for the first time in a long time. 

"They realised that they thought they had an advantage, and it showed glaringly."