Europe has a nearly identical lineup for the Ryder Cup: Why players confuse twins.

Changes in Team Europe for the Ryder Cup 2025

According to The Sun: It is not surprising when people confuse photos of the European team – even the players sometimes cannot tell each other apart.

There was only one change in Luke Donald's team since Rome 2023: One of the Højgaard twins has replaced the other.

AFPTeam Europe at the Ryder Cup 2023 GettyThe 2025 version is nearly identical

Nikolaj Højgaard, who played two years ago, has given his place to his brother Rasmus, who is now back on the team for Bethpage Black. He will now take one of the spots in the photo next to Donald, while the other 11 players remain in their former positions.

Despite his excellent integration into the team, Rasmus, who was in Rome but did not play, still causes some confusion for Shane Lowry.

“Ras, 24, said: 'Almost everyone calls me Nikolaj half the time.'”

“It happens all the time. Even Shane sometimes just calls me 'Nikolaj,' but then adds: 'Oh, Rasmus is here.'”

“That’s fine. I’ve gotten used to it.”

“I’ve gotten used to it over the last 20 years. So it's not that frustrating. I think the experience in Rome helped me to get to know the guys better.”

“Everything is going well. At the moment, I’m finding it easy to integrate into the team.”

It is not surprising that Lowry is not the only one confusing the twins.

Information about the Ryder Cup 2025

The Ryder Cup returns this week as Team Europe hopes to defend its title on American soil.

Luke Donald’s team has already arrived in New York to prepare for the start on Friday.

Europe dominated this prestigious competition in the 21st century, winning eight of 11 encounters since 2002.

However, of those victories, only two took place in the USA, where Team USA achieved victory in 2021 and 2016.

Overall, Team Europe has only won one of four Ryder Cups contested in the USA – in 2012 – since their last victory in 2004, and Team USA is considered the favorite by bookmakers.

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Højgaard humorously recounted how he and Nikolaj often joked when they grew up together in Denmark.

“We never did anything crazy.”

“But at school, we sometimes swapped classes, and the teacher didn’t notice for an hour and a half. We did that a few times.”

“Everyone in the class knew we had swapped, but the teacher didn’t get it.”

Team lineups for the Ryder Cup

Here are the players who will be participating in the Ryder Cup...

Team Europe

• Luke Donald (C)
• Shane Lowry
• Jon Rahm
• Sepp Straka
• Viktor Hovland
• Ludwig Åberg
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Rory McIlroy
• Robert MacIntyre
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Justin Rose
• Rasmus Højgaard
• Tyrell Hatton

Team USA

• Keegan Bradley (C)
• Justin Thomas
• Collin Morikawa
• Ben Griffin
• Cameron Young
• Patrick Cantlay
• Sam Burns
• Scottie Scheffler
• J.J. Spaun
• Xander Schauffele
• Russell Henley
• Harris English
• Bryson DeChambeau

Shane Lowry constantly calls Rasmus Højgaard by the wrong nameSportsfile Denmark replaced his brother Nikolaj, making the only changeSportsfile GettyThe brothers often joked about teachers when they grew up together.

Thanks to the change in the team, there is even more talk about the Højgaard twins. While the events at Ryder Cup 2025 will be observed, viewers can look forward to exciting games, especially interesting will be to watch the players' interaction on the field. In the competition for the title, it will be seen whether Europe can maintain its dominance or whether Team USA will show strength on home soil.