x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
How are Ryder Cup captains decided? Inside the selection process
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
News

How are Ryder Cup captains decided? Inside the selection process

By: James Colgan
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
September 26, 2021
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
steve stricker padraig harrington

Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington are the 2021 Ryder Cup captains, but how did they get here?

Getty Images

Belichick and Brady, Jordan and Jackson … Love III and Woods?

Of all the differences between golf and other major professional sports, perhaps the most glaring is the absence of coaching. No, not swing coaching — there’s an extraordinary amount of that in the world of pro golf, enough for GOLF to create its own list of the Top 100 Teachers. Rather, golfers rarely find themselves receiving the sort of strategic and emotional guidance provided by a great coach.

One of the sole exceptions to this rule comes at the Ryder Cup, in which professional golfers break out of their individualist shells and begin competing as part of the collective once again. Ryder Cup teams even have head coaches (called “captains”) and assistants (called “vice captains”) whose sole jobs are aiding in the strategy and emotional turbulence of tournament week.

This year the captains are Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington for the Americans and Europeans, respectively. The two elder PGA Tour stars serve as both Ryder Cup veterans and sounding boards for their players, helping to craft and shape the overall look and feel of the tournament (right down to to course setup).

But how are these people selected for their posts, and what makes a good Ryder Cup captain anyway?

Features
Steve Stricker
Why Steve Stricker is the perfect Ryder Cup captain for these unsettled times
By: Michael Bamberger

How is the European Ryder Cup captain selected?

While the European side of the Ryder Cup is organized by the R&A, the European Ryder Cup captain comes via a vote of the European Tour’s tournament committee, whose selection must later be ratified by the European Ryder Cup players and stakeholders board.

How is the U.S. Ryder Cup captain selected?

The U.S. Ryder Cup captain is also selected via board vote. The eventual selection comes via the PGA of America’s 21-person executive committee, which consists of golf stakeholders from around the country. The board’s job is to discuss various candidates, their worthiness and overall resume before settling upon a final selection.

What makes a good captain?

It depends! Most captains are selected on the basis of their own professional and Ryder Cup experience, and all are former players. They are also usually vice captains before they get the big job later on. Some captains adopt more emotional leadership styles (See Azinger, Paul and Olazábal, José María), while others prefer analytical approaches (which seems to be the preferred stategy of current U.S. captain Steve Stricker). In either case, what matters is the ultimate result — not the means of getting there.

Latest In News

15 minutes ago

At PGA Champions Dinner, a hilarious roast and a 'relaxed' Rory McIlroy

2 hours ago

1 Bryson DeChambeau practice round told us how the PGA should unfold

2 hours ago

Why this PGA Championship at Quail Hollow is lacking 'major' vibes

2 hours ago

PGA Championship Subpar picks: Favorite bets for Quail Hollow

James Colgan

Golf.com Editor

James Colgan is a news and features editor at GOLF, writing stories for the website and magazine. He manages the Hot Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and utilizes his on-camera experience across the brand’s platforms. Prior to joining GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse University, during which time he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Long Island, where he is from. He can be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
LIV pro Jon Rahm speaks to the media prior to the 2025 PGA Championship.

'It's not up to me': Jon Rahm's strange Ryder Cup silence raises questions

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
Billy Horschel watches a tee shot.

Billy Horschel to miss summer months, diminishing Ryder Cup chances

By: Josh Berhow
News
Keegan Bradley gives a thumbs up after making a birdie at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Who captains U.S. Ryder Cup team if Keegan Bradley plays? Brandt Snedeker offers insight

By: Josh Schrock
News
keegan bradley swings wedge in blue shirt at the arnold palmer invitational

Tour Confidential: Players Championship preview, Keegan Bradley’s dilemma

By: James Colgan
News
keegan bradley in a blue shirt and white hat with black pants at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Keegan Bradley's Ryder Cup conundrum is getting more complicated

By: James Colgan
News
keegan bradley smiles in red shirt and blue hat at the presidents cup in montreal

Keegan Bradley 'surprised' Netflix aired his Ryder Cup locker room jab

By: James Colgan
News
Keegan Bradley won the 2023 Travelers Championship.

With Ryder Cup pledge, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley gives the Europeans extra motivation

By: Josh Sens
News
Keegan Bradley and Ludvig Aberg react to a shot during TGL.

Yes, European Ryder Cuppers saw Keegan Bradley's viral Bethpage speech

By: Josh Schrock
News
Derek Sprague chat during the final day of the PGA Cup at Barton Creek on September 29, 2019

Q&A: New PGA of America chief on what he most wants for the game

By: Art Stricklin
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version