DP World Tour veteran Pablo Larrazabal has publicly criticized European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for his selection of the 2025 Ryder Cup team, accusing him of overlooking players who primarily compete on the DP World Tour.
Larrazabal, a nine-time DP World Tour winner, expressed frustration on X after Donald announced his six captain’s picks for the showdown at Bethpage Black: Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, and Matt Fitzpatrick.
“Again. @RyderCupEurope team will go with what captain Luke thinks is the best team. 0’0 players that play European Tour schedule so what’s the point?” Larrazabal posted, highlighting the absence of full-time DP World Tour players.
The Spaniard specifically pointed to Marco Penge and Matt Wallace as deserving candidates who were snubbed, adding sarcastically that if Donald prioritized experience, he should have picked 61-year-old Miguel Angel Jiménez, a four-time Ryder Cup veteran.
Donald’s selections, which include automatic qualifiers Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton, and Rasmus Hojgaard, heavily favor players with PGA Tour or LIV Golf schedules who have residency in the United States.
Larrazabal’s comments echo a broader sentiment among some DP World Tour players, who feel the selection process increasingly marginalizes Europe’s flagship circuit in favor of PGA Tour stars.
While Donald defended his picks, citing “experience and proven partnerships” for the challenging away match, Larrazabal’s critique underscores tensions about the DP World Tour’s diminishing role in Ryder Cup representation.
