Team USA Ryder Cup Stock Watch: Whose Resume Is Rising and Falling?

With the final Signature Event underway and only a few months until Bethpage Black hosts the 45th Ryder Cup, the pressure on American players has reached a fever pitch. The U.S. Ryder Cup team will be a mix of automatic qualifiers and captain’s picks, but both are driven by momentum, form, and the ability to handle high-stakes golf. As the race to earn one of those twelve coveted spots intensifies, every birdie, top-10 finish, and missed cut is magnified. Some players are solidifying their place with timely results and rising confidence, while others are sliding out of the picture at the worst possible moment. Here’s a look at who’s trending up and who’s facing a crucial few weeks to stop the bleeding.

Risers

J.J. Spaun – From Sleeper to Lock?

J.J. Spaun has authored one of the most unexpected and impactful surges of the 2025 season. His U.S. Open victory at Oakmont sent shockwaves throughout the golf world and vaulted him from longshot status to legitimate Ryder Cup selectee. That win didn’t just come with a trophy; it brought composure, confidence, and a massive FedEx Cup and Ryder Cup points bump. If Spaun can follow up his breakthrough with even one more strong result in another event or even a strong playoff run, it’ll be hard for the U.S. captain to leave him off the roster, if he doesn’t automatically qualify. His all-around game and nerves under pressure suggest he could thrive in match play; he’s not just on the radar anymore; he’s circling the team photo.

Russell Henley – Quietly Steady

Russell Henley isn’t the flashiest name in the mix, but his consistency has been impossible to ignore this season. With a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a top-10 finish at the RBC Heritage, a top-five finish at the Memorial, and a top-10 finish at the U.S. Open at Oakmont, Henley has quietly played his way into serious contention. His iron play ranks among the best on Tour, and he remains one of the steadiest putters under pressure, two traits that translate well in foursomes formats. He’s projected just outside the automatic qualifying line, but if he maintains his current form, Henley may force his way into the conversation regardless. Don’t be surprised if he becomes the “safe pick” that proves invaluable come September.

Ben Griffin – The Bubble Breaker

Ben Griffin has surged in the past two months with timely results that have reshaped his Ryder Cup outlook. In his last four starts, he’s had a top-10 finish at the PGA Championship, the Memorial, and the U.S. Open, and he won the Charles Schwab. His confidence is just growing with every event, and he’s currently just outside the automatic qualifier zone. What Griffin lacks in experience, he makes up for in consistency and adaptability, showing he can hold up on difficult setups and in elite fields. He’s trending toward the conversation for one of the captain’s picks, especially if others continue to fade. One more high-profile finish could put him firmly on Captain Keegan Bradley’s radar.

Fallers

Brian Harman – Slipping from the Spotlight

After his 2023 Open Championship triumph and a solid start to last season, Brian Harman has fallen off the Ryder Cup map in 2025. He’s gone five straight starts without a top-20 and had a frustrating 59th finish at the U.S. Open, where he just never looked comfortable. His short game and accuracy haven’t disappeared, but his edge in pressure situations has dulled, and his match-play resume lacks firepower. Once viewed as a likely veteran presence for the U.S. team, Harman now faces an uphill climb to regain the captain’s trust. He’ll need a top-tier finish soon, or risk fading from consideration altogether.

Wyndham Clark – Major Momentum Gone Cold

After winning the 2023 U.S. Open and a strong start in 2024, Wyndham Clark seemed destined to become a staple on American teams for years, but his 2025 season has taken a turn, with just one top-10 finish in his last nine starts and a missed cut at Oakmont that just underscored his struggles. Clark’s driver remains elite, but his short game has regressed, and the missed opportunities in Signature Events have hurt his point totals. Once safely inside the qualifying bubble, he’s now dropped outside the top 20, and with others surging, that ground is evaporating quickly. Time is running out for Clark to remind everyone why he was a Major Champion.

Akshay Bhatia – Brilliant but Inconsistent

Akshay Bhatia remains one of the most electrifying young players on the PGA Tour, but brilliance alone doesn’t build a Ryder Cup resume. He’s posted impressive finishes this season and has put himself in contention several times, but his inconsistency, especially in high-pressure tournaments, has left his Ryder Cup hopes in limbo. A missed cut at the U.S. Open was another setback, continuing a pattern of volatility in Majors and Signature Events. His talent is undeniable, but the American side already has several established stars, and Captain’s Picks often favor reliability over flair. Bhatia still has time, but he needs to put a stretch of form together, not just flashes of potential.

Final Thoughts

With just a handful of pivotal events remaining, the race for Team USA’s Ryder Cup roster is heating up fast. While stalwarts like Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele appear locked in, the middle and bottom tiers are anything but stable. J.J. Spaun’s Oakmont heroics, Russell Henley’s consistency, and Ben Griffin’s quiet rise have shaken up the selection picture. Meanwhile, fading names like Harman, Clark, and Bhatia face make-or-break performances in the weeks ahead. At this point, resumes matter, but momentum matters more. At Bethpage Black, only the sharpest, steadiest, and most competitive will wear the red, white, and blue.