In golf, while signature events and major championships carry immense prestige, the Ryder Cup stands apart as one of the sport’s most coveted honors. For many players, it’s a career-defining moment that goes beyond personal glory. And with the event held only every two years, the lead-up to team selection is often a grueling stretch marked by quiet hopes, internal doubt, and relentless pressure. The wait can bring anxiety and uncertainty, especially when nothing is guaranteed, but sometimes the support of fellow players makes the journey bearable.
On a recent episode of The Smylie Show podcast, Harris English opened up about a similar experience that he faced during the pressure-filled lead-up to the 2021 Ryder Cup. Smylie Kaufman, the host of the podcast, asked him, “What was it like leading up to those picks that Steve Stricker made?” referencing the 2021 Team USA Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker. English had started that season strong, with two wins at the 2021 Sentry & the Travelers Championship. But it wasn’t enough to earn him a direct spot in the 2021 Ryder Cup team, and English had to rely on being a captain’s pick. Despite his form, English admitted he wasn’t certain about his place on the team. “Yeah, you always question that. You always question that,” he said when asked whether he thought he had done enough to earn a spot.
English described the internal turmoil, even with a close connection to Steve Stricker. “I remember kind of unsure, like I had a really good relationship with Steve Stricker… he was kind of always like the guy, like, we looked up to him, just so cool, and he was always super nice to me, kind of a mentor to me in my early years on the Tour. And I felt like I had a pretty good chance,” he confessed. But doubt lingered until a quiet moment of reassurance came from an unexpected place.
While paired with Bryson DeChambeau and Jordan Spieth during the 2021 BMW Championship at Caves Valley, he was in the thick of Ryder Cup speculation. That’s when Spieth, who had already cemented his legacy as a Ryder Cup stalwart, stepped in with a simple but impactful remark. “He was kind of asking me like ‘hey, like who do you think you want to play with and all that in the Ryder Cup,’” English recalled. “And I was like, man, like I don’t even know if I’m on the team. And he kind of gave me some assurance, like ‘I think you’re going to be on the team.‘ So that kind of made me feel pretty good.”
Spieth’s moment of encouragement revealed a level of awareness and empathy, and it showed his true character, not just as a competitor but as a teammate and well-wisher. For Harris English, the 2021 Ryder Cup marked his debut at the prestigious event, and it was a milestone that validated his perseverance and form during the 2021 season. English had been in contention throughout the year, but with a few ups & downs, his spot wasn’t secured. But when Captain Steve Stricker made the call, it confirmed what Jordan Spieth had quietly believed and voiced that English deserved to be there. Representing the United States for the first time, English went 1–2–0 in his matches, contributing to a record-setting 19–9 victory for Team USA.
Scheffler leads the way & Harris English moves into the Top-6 of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team Rankings following @TheOpen
Full Rankings https://t.co/2jXIaRlJOH#GoUSA pic.twitter.com/MNqVfRVQGr
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) July 21, 2025
While English skipped playing the 2023 Ryder Cup due to his performances, the 2025 season has been strong for him, and he’s earned himself a spot without being a captain’s pick.
Harris English earned his spot at the 2025 Ryder Cup
Harris English may have officially punched his ticket to Bethpage Black with a sensational run of form that has vaulted him into the Ryder Cup conversation, and potentially onto Team USA. Entering the summer stretch outside the automatic qualifying positions, English has strung together one of the most impressive runs of his career. It began with a win at the Farmers Insurance Open, then a tied 2nd finish at the PGA Championship, and followed it with a solid T-12 at the Memorial. Another strong finish at the Travelers Championship (tied 4th) boosted him in the Ryder Cup rankings, but he capped it all off with a solo second-place finish at Royal Portrush, despite not having his long-time caddie, finishing just four shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
That runner-up finish at the Open was a game-changer. It vaulted English four spots up the Ryder Cup standings, moving him to sixth place with 10,385 points—just enough to claim the final automatic qualifying spot for Team USA. With the Ryder Cup now less than two months away, English has likely secured his place through sheer performance, not needing a captain’s pick this time around. His consistency in high-stakes events has been undeniable, and his current form suggests he could be a key asset when the Americans face off against Europe at the notoriously demanding Bethpage Black.
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