Luke Donald's Ryder Cup captain's picks: Live updates as Englishman reveals six wildcards

We're going to pause our coverage for now. 

Luke Donald is scheduled to speak to the media, including GolfMagic, in a virtual news conference at 15.15 BST. 

We'll be back with more reaction then. 

Luke Donald is talking to Sky Sports' Nick Dougherty about his team. 

He says the continuity in the team is 'a bit unusual' but 'shows how good they are'. 

"But while there is continuity this is a different animal to play away in America," he said. 

"We know how difficult it is. I have looked at lots of different angles to try and prepare us for the challenge ahead.

"It is about implementing new techniques. I am very aware we have lost three of the last four away Ryder Cups by significant margins. I have tried everything I can to give my team the best opportunity."

Luke Donald's captain's picks weren't in the least bit surprising, were they?

His choices mean 11 out of the 12 players from Rome will tee it up at Bethpage Black. 

Rasmus Hojgaard, who qualified automatically, replaces his twin brother Nicolai in the 12-man team. 

There was no room for Matt Wallace, Marco Penge, Aaron Rai, Harry Hall or Alex Noren. 

Sergio Garcia, Europe's record points scorer, was also overlooked. 

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So no surprises then. Luke Donald resisted the temptation to pick himself (I'm joking) and has retained the core of the team that completed the Italian job two years ago. 

The six captain's picks are:

• Shane Lowry
• Sepp Straka
• Viktor Hovland
• Ludvig Aberg
• Jon Rahm
• Matthew Fitzpatrick

Matthew Fitzpatrick will be making his fourth Ryder Cup appearance. 

He got off to a terrible start to the 2025 PGA Tour season and it even led to the Yorkshireman from splitting with his legendary caddie Billy Foster. 

"He turned it around," says Donald. "Really impressive seeing how much his game has come along."

"Statistically no-one has been as good as he has the last three or four months.

"He is playing tremendous golf and it is really impressive to see his game come along trying to make this team."

Says Fitzpatrick: "There's a lot of belief [I have] after the last few weeks. I felt like I turned my game around. Obviously, it would be lovely to continue that in Bethpage."

Sixth pick goes to Matthew Fitzpatrick, who is celebrating his birthday today. 

"So we have two reasons to celebrate," says Donald. 

Aberg was only three months into his professional career when Donald named him as one of his six captain's picks two years ago. 

Donald says Aberg has already 'proved that he can hang' by almost winning the last two Masters.

Aberg says he often thinks about his stunning 9&7 victory over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. 

"I definitely feel more experienced this time," says Aberg. "I felt like I had the most amazing week in Rome, I was really proud to be a part of that team and I knew I wanted to be there again."

Ludvig Aberg was a surprise pick in 2023, but he has since showed us why he is one of the best players in the world. 

The Swede is Donald's fifth pick. 

Viktor Hovland will make his third Ryder Cup appearance at Bethpage Black. 

Hovland finished 10th in the standings and was a key part of Donald's team in 2023. 

He enjoyed a superb foursomes partnership with Ludvig Aberg, dismantling Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9&7. 

Donald says Hovland is one of his 'favourite humans' in the world.

"He was a lion in Rome," says Donald.

Hovland says he was 'too timid' on his debut in 2021 at Whistling Straits.

"I think we're all going to be ready when standing on that first tee," he says. 

Norway's Viktor Hovland is Donald's fourth pick. 

Sepp Straka's inclusion was thrown into doubt in recent weeks owing to a 'personal family matter' that forced him to withdraw from the BMW Championship before the first round. 

But the 32-year-old will make his second appearance for Team Europe. 

"Really thrilled to be part of this time," says Straka. 

Donald says Straka is a 'quiet and reserved character' but has 'so much fire' in the team room. 

Austria's Sepp Straka gets the third pick. 

Rahm has played in three Ryder Cups for Europe, amassing 7.5 points. 

The 30-year-old says: "It's a different feeling. I did not think I was going to be as emotional as I am right now. It's going to be special. It's going to be difficult for us but I'm looking forward to a better showing than the last time in the U.S."

Donald says Rahm understands the history of the Ryder Cup and what it represents. 

"Jon takes that history under heart and plays like it because of that," says Donald. 

No surprises again, as LIV Golf recruit Jon Rahm gets the second pick. 

On representing Team Europe again, Lowry says: "It's unbelievable. It's been a stressful few weeks trying to make the team.

"Hopefully I can repay them [Donald and his vice-captains] by producing the goods."

Donald says Lowry is 'one hell of a player' with an 'infectious attitude' towards the Ryder Cup. 

As expected, Shane Lowry gets the nod to make his third Ryder Cup appearance.

Luke Donald will announce his six captain's picks in 15 minutes. 

Donald will do so live on Sky Sports. 

Luke Donald told reporters before the British Masters he was extremely excited about the five players that qualified automatically. 

Rasmus Hojgaard then grabbed the final spot. 

Donald then sent a message to the likes of Harry Hall and Marco Penge. 

"It always happens in Ryder Cups," Donald said. "People make a push at the end and want to be part of the team.

"Even though it's a headache for me in terms of how many players are giving themselves a chance it's really a good headache."

The captaincy for the 2025 US Ryder Cup team was Tiger Woods' if he wanted it. 

But the 15-time major champion turned down the opportunity, citing his role on the PGA Tour's policy board amid the LIV Golf schism and his ongoing commitments to TGL. 

According to GOLF, captain Keegan Bradley asked Woods for advice as he wrestled with the decision over whether to take on a playing role. 

Woods was a playing captain at the Presidents Cup in 2019, although that is a completely different animal. 

Bradley reportedly picked Woods' brain at the uber-exclusive Seminole Pro-Member earlier in the year. 

GOLF further claim Woods is 'being consulted' by the US team in the build-up to this month's contest.

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Viktor Hovland is widely viewed as a shoo-in to retain his spot in the European team. 

The 27-year-old is currently enjoying a break at home in Norway before heading to England for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. 

Hovland played golf with his pals yesterday - and even managed a hole-in-one. 

Apparently, it was his seventh ace.

Just look at his face:

The U.S. are currently even money to lift the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

You can get odds of 6/4 for an away victory. 

Let us know your thoughts. 

Send us a message directly on X, Facebook or Instagram. 

Is the result a foregone conclusion or do Europe stand any chance?

Europe secured a 16½-11½ victory over the U.S. at the 2023 Ryder Cup held at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy. 

Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy delivered an inspired performance, likely fuelled by his abject showing at Whistling Straits two years prior. 

McIlroy played in five matches for Europe and secured four points. 

Donald will be relying heavily on McIlroy if Europe are to have any chance of winning in hostile territory for the first time since 2012. 

Once Luke Donald names his captain's picks it will inevitably lead to weeks of speculation about potential pairings and match-ups. 

Bryson DeChambeau taking on Rory McIlroy in the Sunday singles? 

That would be box office. 

What about Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton squaring off against Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele?

The drama would be guaranteed. 

Our Andy Roberts has already taken a look at what US skipper Keegan Bradley will be thinking. 

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