It is not just the captain that helps lead a team at the Ryder Cup. The role of the vice captains is also very important.
Both captains, Luke Donald and Keegan Bradley, must recruit those they believe will mentor the players and help prepare their teams the best for the cauldron of Bethpage in September.
They were on opposing sides in 2012 at Medinah, and now they have taken over as captains of the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Ryder Cup vice-captains 2025
Team Europe
Team Europe captain Luke Donald has named five vice-captains to assist him in his second stint as European captain. The Europeans aim to retain the cup after their win at Marco Simone in Rome two years ago.
Victorious 2018 captain Thomas Bjorn was announced as a vice-captain by Henrik Stenson for the 2023 Ryder Cup, prior to the Swede’s removal from the role. He is keeping his role for 2025.
The Dane played in three Ryder Cups and was successful with Team Europe at each one. He made his debut in 1997 and played in the competition again in 2002 and 2014. This will be the fifth time that Bjorn has reprised the role of vice-captain.
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Vice captaincy was a first for Edoardo Molinari in Rome in 2023. ‘Dodo’ played in the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, featuring alongside younger brother Francesco in two sessions. He is back for the 2025 Ryder Cup and his role is largely based around statistics which helps to shape Europe’s pairings.
“Edoardo is someone I have got to know very well over the last couple of years and he’s going to be a great addition again for the 2025 Ryder Cup,” Donald said.
“He plays a very significant role. He’s playing full-time out here on the DP World Tour, he’s a good player, a Ryder Cupper and he knows what it’s all about. He’s around the players a lot and he works with a lot of players on their statistics as well.”
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Jose Maria Olazabal was a vice-captain in Rome in 2023, and he has rejoined the team for 2025. The legendary, two-time Masters winning Spaniard will be a vice-captain for the fifth time. He was the last captain to lead Europe to a win on away soil which was at Medinah in 2012.
“It is wonderful news. When Luke approached me and asked me about the possibility of being a Vice Captain again, I have to be honest, I thought about it for a while because, you know, being in New York, it’s not going to be easy. But the Ryder Cup is very close to my heart. I have wonderful memories about this event so I said yes.”
Francesco Molinari is returning as a vice-captain in 2025 after serving as one in 2023. Molinari made his Ryder Cup debut alongside his brother in 2010 and was part of the last winning away team at Medinah in 2012.
A former Open champion, Molinari became the first European player to win the maximum of five points at the 2018 Ryder Cup as Europe romped to success in France.
“I’m very happy to be part of the team again. I really enjoyed being part of Luke’s backroom team in Rome and trying to help the players,” he said.
“Luke is a very smart, switched on individual. He has been very successful and he is an easy person to work with. It’s been great to see at firsthand how much he is putting into being the Captain. He did the same two years ago and he’s doing it now. He leads by example so that passion trickles down to the players.”
Team USA
Jim Furyk was recruited as a US vice-captain in January 2025. The former US Open champion was a losing captain in 2018 and he will be a vice-captain for the fourth time. He played for America in nine consecutive Ryder Cups between 1997 and 2014.
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“Having Jim as a member of our leadership team is a huge advantage for us moving forward,” Bradley said. “I had the privilege of playing for him in last year’s President’s Cup, and his exceptional leadership, unwavering demeanour and wealth of experience made a huge impression on all of us. He knows what it takes to succeed in Ryder Cups, and I cannot wait to work alongside him as we prepare for Bethpage Black.”
Furyk was the fourth addition to Bradley’s backroom staff. He also has Brandt Snedeker who is serving as a vice-captain for the first time. He played in the 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cups which both ended in defeat for the USA.
First in the door for Bradley was 2012 US Open champion Webb Simpson. Like Snedeker, this is the first time that Simpson has held the role. He made three playing appearances for the USA at the Ryder Cup, building a 4-4-1 overall record.
It isn’t often a vice-captain has never played in the Ryder Cup, but Kevin Kisner’s selection speaks to his friendship with many of the players and his personality. He was a vice-captain at the 2024 Presidents Cup where America beat the Internationals once again and Kisner has also played for his country twice in that tournament.
2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland was named as Bradley’s fifth Ryder Cup vice-captain, someone who has also never played in a Ryder Cup. He played in the Presidents Cup for America in 2019 when they won at Royal Melbourne.
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“I am extremely excited and grateful to Keegan for the opportunity to support the U.S. Team at the 2025 Ryder Cup,” said Woodland. “Keegan’s passion for this event is contagious and I am thrilled to be a part of it. With just over two months to go until we arrive at Bethpage, I am fully committed to doing everything I can to help Keegan as well as our team of vice captains and players.”
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Can Team Europe win the Ryder Cup again in 2025? Will Team USA win on American soil and keep up the home trend? Let us know your thoughts on X, formerly Twitter!
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