Sepp Straka is almost in the European team for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Almost. He’s catapulted to fifth in the European Ryder Cup Qualification race after clinching a thrilling two-stroke victory over Shane Lowry at the 2025 Truist Championship, securing one of the coveted automatic qualification spots with 942.73 points. Straka’s win was a nail-biter, with him and Lowry locked in a fierce battle throughout the final round. Straka showed nerves of steel on the 18th hole, hitting a four-iron to 30ft from 216 yards, and sealed the win with two putts from three feet. With this victory, Straka is eyeing his second consecutive Ryder Cup appearance after a victorious debut in 2023, and yet he is not so sure about his team’s chances.
In an Exclusive Interview with EssentiallySports’s Andrew Whitelaw, Sepp Straka spilled the beans on his concerns about the European team’s chances on American soil at the 2025 Ryder Cup. “How do you like Europe’s chances of winning on American soil?” was the question, and the answer that followed was filled with skepticism. “Yeah, it’s going to be hard. Uh, it’s going to be really hard.”
And well, it is going to be hard for the European team, especially with a formidable US lineup featuring Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 golfer who’s back to his dominant form after claiming his third major championship victory at the PGA Championship. Scheffler’s looking for redemption after a dismal Ryder Cup outing in 2023, where he went 0-2-2, including a humiliating 9 & 7 loss to Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland.
Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele‘s also in top form, having captured two major championships last year and bouncing back from a rib injury. And let’s not forget Bryson DeChambeau, the longest hitter in pro golf, who’s been in the mix at majors and will likely bring the energy to the team room at Bethpage Black.
New York sports fans, in particular, are notorious for their passion – a factor Straka knows will make the competition fierce. “You know, New York sports fans are notorious for being really passionate, and it’s always hard to win away.” ‘Really passionate’ doesn’t even cut it – New York golf fans are notorious for their rowdy behavior, and the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black has officials on high alert.
This iconic course has a reputation for being notoriously challenging, but it’s the fans who’ve earned a special kind of fame for their, shall we say, exuberance. With crowd monitors set to be deployed to keep things in check, Team USA captain Keegan Bradley stressed the importance of a fair and respectful atmosphere, noting that “nobody on either team wants this to get uncomfortable or weird out there.”
Straka’s number one goal for the year is to make the Ryder Cup team, and he thinks Europe’s got the talent to make it happen. “I’ve never been a part of an away Ryder Cup. So that’s my number one goal this year is to try to make that team. And I think we’ve got a lot of really good players playing some good golf right now. And hopefully, that form can carry on into September.” And that is exactly what the European captain is also hoping for.
Luke Donald wants the European players to ‘elevate their games’
Ryder Cup qualification process heats up, and boy, are they delivering! With Sepp Straka’s recent win at the Truist Championship, he’s joined Rory McIlroy as the only multiple winners across the Atlantic this year. The depth in European ranks is impressive, with five Europeans finishing in the top ten at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in Pennsylvania. Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, Stephan Jaeger, and McIlroy himself all posted strong finishes, showcasing the talent pool available to Donald.
Donald is thrilled with the momentum, saying, “It’s great. It’s always nice when potential guys on your team are up there each and every week playing against the strongest fields in golf and doing extremely well… The players always seem to elevate their games in Ryder Cup years, and it’s good to see.” The team’s prospects look bright with 11 Europeans in the world’s top 30, including nine with Ryder Cup experience. Donald’s message to his players is simple: “I want them to go out and feel like they go and earn it. Let’s go in and play well.” The stage is set for an exciting Ryder Cup season, with the majors just the beginning. Who do you think will definitely make it to the big game? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
The post Exclusive: ‘Going to Be Really Hard’: Sepp Straka Opens Up About Winning Against Scottie Scheffler & Co. appeared first on EssentiallySports.