As the morning session faded into a dismal series for Team USA, the ever-enthusiastic captain, Keegan Bradley, said Air Force One had just flown over and so he was hopeful that things might turn around. He will need to do more than clutch at straws and contrails to turn the tide after Europe had their finest Friday on American soil for 21 years. Early days, but a heady one. “Incredible,” the captain Luke Donald said.
• Rick Broadbent: Rahm and Fleetwood set tone as Europe take control
Luke Donald: “An incredible day. To win this morning was huge for us. We all know how important it is to get off to a good start and we knew how strong the US were in foursomes.
“3-1 was a great start. To win those top two [matches] gave us such good momentum and inspiration for our boys. The guys grinded to win the session again this afternoon. That’s another tick in our box and I’m very happy where we are.”
Lowry misses, Burns misses, McIlroy misses. The match is halved. Europe led two up with seven holes to play but consecutive birdies from Cantlay got it back to all square and the match stayed that way until the end. It required some wonderful putting and shots from tee to green from McIlroy as Cantlay and Burns came at him with all they had, but the Northern Irishman showed exactly why he won the career grand-slam this year and he came so close to winning a full point alongside Lowry. Europe lead 5½-2½ after a wonderful opening day of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Cantlay is in the bunker, Lowry has 21ft, Burns and McIlroy both have about 12ft.
All in the approach shots…
Lowry and Burns just miss the fairway. McIlroy and Cantlay bomb it straight down the middle. This is like Rome all over again.
Burns and McIlroy exchange birdies
What nerve from McIlroy. Burns is far closer to the hole but the Northern Irishman pours in a brilliant birdie putt to keep it all square and the final match goes down the 18th hole. This has been a phenomenal contest.
It truly is extraordinary how a player of Cantlay’s ability can perform so poorly in majors yet be so brilliant in the Ryder Cup. The American failed to make the cut in three of the four majors this year but makes a stunning birdie putt at the 16th to pile the pressure on McIlroy and Lowry. McIlroy answers with a birdie of his own — of course he does. Burns then plays a beautiful approach into the par-three 17th. He has 7ft, McIlroy has 13ft.
The match hung in the balance for so long after the unusual sight of Donald Trump fist-pumping DeChambeau and Griffin on the 1st tee, but a brilliant late surge of energy from Fleetwood — and then a show of resilience on the 18th — gives Europe a 5-2 lead. DeChambeau’s clutch birdie at the 17th took the match down the last but the big-hitting American was off his game this afternoon and Fleetwood capitalised with those late birdies. All eyes turn to Cantlay and McIlroy.
Fleetwood celebrates his birdie putt at the 16th, which gave he and Rose a two-up lead
PA
Fleetwood and Rose scent victory
Brilliant from Fleetwood and Rose. They have 5ft and 9ft respectively for birdie. You’d imagine they’ve wrapped this up. They need one of those to take it to 5-2.
Two matches in the blance
Brilliant from DeChambeau, who follows up an exquisite approach into the par-three 17th with a clutch birdie putt. He cuts the European lead from two to one with only the 18th to play. Can the Americans salvage a half? Rose, Fleetwood and Griffin all hit good tee shots with DeChambeau marginally off line. This is seriously tense stuff.
Behind them, where it is all square, Lowry finally repays McIlroy’s brilliance with a wonderful iron shot of his own, leaving 9ft for birdie at the 16th. McIlroy follows suit. He has 10ft.
Fleetwood was a little off in the first half of this round having been so brilliant alongside McIlroy this morning, but the Englishman has rediscovered his groove with both the irons and putter and Europe now have breathing space in match two. The FedEx Cup champion has a big swinging putt for birdie at the 15th but judges the break perfectly, DeChambeau misses his attempt for a half, and Europe are two up with two to play.
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Some astonishing statistics here that summarise just how much Scheffler struggles in the Ryder Cup. He is now winless in his past six matches and the first world No1 to lose both Friday Ryder Cup matches since Tiger Woods in 2002. And this courtesy of Jamie Kennedy…
• Since September 2021, Scheffler has won 22 per cent of Tour events he’s played (19 of 116)
• Since September 2021, Scheffler has won 22 per cent of Ryder Cup matches he’s played (two of nine)
How many sessions will the world No1 play in tomorrow?
In the defence of Scheffler and Spaun, they have done their best to get back into this first match, with both players finding some consistency with their irons and holing lengthy putts, but the European pair have been relentless. The latest example comes as Donald’s side secure their fourth point: Spaun and Scheffler play beautiful approaches into the 16th but Straka gets his to draw then spin inside both of their balls and he holes the putt. He and Rahm secure a 3&2 win and Europe lead 4-2. Astonishingly, Rahm has not lost a pairs Ryder Cup match since 2018.
Straka celebrates his long birdie putt at the par-three 14th
GETTY
Immediately after USA drag it back to 3-2, Scheffler finally makes a putt, canning for birdie from 23ft to send the American fans wild at the 15th. Well, their delight doesn’t last long because Rahm then holes from 20ft to stay at three up with three to play. Dormie. The Spaniard has been incredible on the greens today.
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Behind them, Fleetwood birdies the par-three 14th, meaning that Europe will lead 6-2 at the end of day one if it stays this way.
This afternoon’s four-balls have been largely nip and tuck, but that is absolutely not the case in match three, where the Scandinavian duo of Aberg and Hojgaard have been demolished 6&5 by Thomas and the outstanding Young. The Europeans did not hole enough putts but Young was phenomenal in his first Ryder Cup round and it feels fitting that the match should be won by him making a birdie after a 293-yard approach to only 15ft at the par-five 13th. It is the second largest US victory in a four-ball match and it would be extraordinary if we do not see Young in the foursomes tomorrow morning.
McIlroy and Lowry’s lead cut
Young and Thomas have all but wrapped up a battering of the Scandinavian duo Aberg and Hojgaard, so eyes are now on the second and fourth matches in particular. Fleetwood and Rose remain all square after a birdie at the 13th but Burns and Cantlay have now got themselves back to one down with six to play. This first day could end with any number of scorelines.
Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell has provided an insight of what it’s like to play with McIlroy in the Ryder Cup…
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Just when you think the Americans are fighting back, Europe drop yet another dagger. This time it’s Straka at the par-three 14th. A delightful Spaun approach sets up a 9ft birdie putt – and seemingly the chance to get back to two down with Rahm in the rough and Straka some 31ft away. The Austrian has other ideas. He rolls in the putt and unleashes the most passionate of fist-pumps. He and Rahm remain three up and have just five holes to play.
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McIlroy has largely been on his own as the dominant force in the final match but Lowry now comes to the party and just when Europe needed him too. A Cantlay birdie from 14ft had got USA back to one down at the 10th but the Irishman fizzes a beautiful iron shot way long of the flag at the 11th, which rips back and nestles up close to the flag. He taps in from 3ft and Europe are two up again.
Lowry celebrates getting back to two up
SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL
Up ahead, Young and Thomas are now four up and could get to five after the former plays yet another delightful approach. He has been outstanding in his first Ryder Cup round.
European big guns firing amid grim abuse
Rick Broadbent, Bethpage Black
Donald’s big guns are firing here. Some of the abuse has been grim after a subdued start to proceedings — MacIntyre, Clare Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick have all been targets — but McIlroy and Rahm have set the right tone here. After they both won their respective morning matches, they are on course to be the only two players to win twice on the opening day. Playing with Straka, Rahm has won three holes in his four-balls match against the hopelessly out-of-sorts Scheffler and Spaun. As much as Donald will be delighted with his team so far, the form of Scheffler will be another, more unexpected boost.
Rahm is four under in 12 holes
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Fleetwood and Rose all square
For all the dominance of Rahm and McIlroy, Europe are yet to win a hole this afternoon in match two or three. That is until Fleetwood holes from just off the green at the 11th to take him and Rose back to all square against Griffin and DeChambeau. There is now only one blob of red on the leaderboard.
Fleetwood celebrates with Donald, left, after getting back to all square
SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL
You wonder whether Scheffler will be in the ear of Phil Kenyon tonight, the putting guru from Yorkshire who is employed by three players on both sides. The world No1 has found some better ball-striking from tee to green but the putts are staying up, while Rahm is making his. You can really see why Rahm is valued so highly in this European team and his seventh successful putt from between 8ft and 20ft today (he has missed only two from that far) takes him and Straka three up.
Europe are looking solid again, but the player who continues to be a thorn in their side is Young. He played more ice hockey and baseball before the age of 13, but after a rain-lashed trip to Scotland with his father — during which the pair played St Andrews Old and New courses, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and Gullane — the New Yorker’s focus shifted and he is now playing in his first Ryder Cup. He is an enormous hitter, with that distinctive pause at the top of his backswing, and is three up alongside Thomas after another missed putt from Aberg.
Young is one of the longest hitters in the tournament
ALAMY
And another from McIlroy! The Northern Irishman holes from 25ft for birdie and he and Lowry are now two up against Burns and Cantlay. It felt like momentum was swinging towards USA but that is being stifled by the Masters champion, who is doing things on his own in that final match.
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There is a Scandinavian putting problem at the moment. The third match could easily be all square but Aberg and Hojgaard have both missed multiple putts inside 15ft over the past few holes and find themselves two down. Young and Thomas are giving opportunities and they need to take them.
There are no such issues for McIlroy, who lets out a guttural roar after a birdie putt that puts him one up with Lowry over Burns and his Ryder Cup nemesis Cantlay. Europe are up in two, down in two.
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Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceScheffler still struggling
Bradley is on the tee of the par-three 8th trying to motivate Scheffler and Spaun as the European fans sing “shoulda picked yourself”. After another terrible foursomes session for Scheffler — he is 14 down in his past 26 holes in the format in the Ryder Cup — the world No1 needs to get on a run here in the four-balls. The American will hope that a beautiful iron to 8ft is a sign of things to come, but he misses the putt, Rahm holes for birdie, and Europe are now two up.
The last time a world No1 lost both of his Friday Ryder Cup matches? Tiger Woods in 2002.
The world No1 is out of sorts
SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL
Rose and Griffin trade blows
“Whatever you can do…”
We haven’t heard much from Ben Griffin, the rookie who once stepped away from golf to work as a loan officer, but he pours in the longest putt of the day from 56ft.
Griffin celebrates holing the longest putt of the tournament so far
REUTERS
It looks like the USA are going two up but up steps Justin Rose, who drains a dagger from 41ft for a half. It’s heating up out there.
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Brilliant from Thomas, bizarre from DeChambeau. The former plays an exquisite approach into the par-four 5th then taps in for a birdie that takes him and Young two up. DeChambeau then has a short putt to do the same alongside Griffin but a tentative jab slides by the right edge of the cup. Europe need to be careful — USA are gathering momentum.
DeChambeau birdies and Spaun dangerous
Spaun looks a player who could be dangerous this week. Long a PGA Tour journeyman, he dropped out of the world’s top 500 and lost his card in 2021 after his diabetes was misdiagnosed, but the Californian is now the reigning US Open champion after a stunning 64ft putt at the final hole in June. He may be one down with Scheffler against Rahm and Straka but his ball-striking looks dialled in and he is dangerous with the putter.
He will have also heard the roar behind him just now as DeChambeau pours in a birdie putt to take a one-up lead over Fleetwood and Rose after five holes. USA and up in two, Europe up in one — but it’s tight.
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Lowry had an excellent start to the season but his form has tailed off as the year’s gone on and Europe will be hoping that he rediscovers that beautiful ball-striking that brought him the 2019 Open. It’s not quite crisp iron play yet for the Irishman but the putter gets hot at the 2nd. There is more red on the board than at any point today after his partner, McIlroy, fails to get up and down from that booming drive at the 1st, but Lowry holes a beautiful birdie putt from 21ft and the match is all square again.
McIlroy then hits a sumptuous iron shot at the par-three 4th to less than four feet, but he hits a poor putt for the second time in three holes and the match remains all square.
An update from a friend — and European supporter — who is at the Ryder Cup fan zone under the Rockefeller Center in New York. “Very subdued here,” he reports. “Mainly Europeans here now.” The ripple effect of Europe’s dominance is clearly being felt well beyond the confines of Bethpage.
The “subdued” fan zone under New York’s Rockefeller Center
SPENCER KING
Hojgaard’s perfect start
Of all the PGA Tour players in the Ryder Cup, only McIlroy has a longer average driving distance than Rasmus Hojgaard, Europe’s sole rookie this week after he replaced his identical twin Nicolai from the team in Rome. How are his nerves? Seemingly non-existent as the Dane crushes the best drive at the 1st hole so far, 336 yards and just short of the green. It’s an easy up and down. What a start to your Ryder Cup career.
Up ahead, Rahm and Straka get back on level terms after the Austrian chips in from the fringe of the green, then Rahm cans for birdie to go one up. Europe continuing the momentum into the afternoon.
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The course is soft, shorter than usual, the rough is down and there’s barely a drop of wind. This should be a birdie fest this afternoon and Spaun gets the first of the session to give USA an early lead. After a fist-pump from Trump, DeChambeau drives just short of the 1st green but Fleetwood makes a birdie of his own with the most confident of putts from the front edge and the hole is halved. How his putting has improved since Phil Kenyon switched him to a mallet putter at the RBC Heritage in April.
• Meet putting guru Phil Kenyon with three players in each camp (who’s rooting for Europe)
Trump puts his arm around DeChambeau before the afternoon four-balls
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Analysis: Bradley’s odd pairing
Tom Kershaw, Bethpage Black
Luke Donald couldn’t help but smile when a fan shouted, “You’re the best Donald”, as Rahm and Hatton wrested control of the opening match against DeChambeau and Thomas. Even with all the European backroom team’s meticulous preparation, such an electric start in the opening session must have surpassed expectations.
The triumph of Aberg and Fitzpatrick in particular will have brought joy given it was something of a gamble to split the former from Hovland. That statistical calculation by vice-captain Edoardo Molinari was in stark contrast to Bradley’s decision to select Morikawa and English in the foursomes. According to Data Golf, that pair were ranked 132nd out of 132 possible optimal foursome pairings for Team USA. They lost 5&4 against McIlroy and Fleetwood, but, then again, few could have matched their five birdies in the opening seven holes.
Trump watches Spaun tee off at the 1st, where he made a birdie to put USA one up in the first four-balls match
SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL
Schauffele and Cantlay did earn the Americans some momentum heading into the afternoon, but Bradley was more focused on Donald Trump’s presence inspiring a fightback. The president arrived on the first tee, sparking chants of “USA, USA”, but Europe’s Donald is the one really smiling.
My Bethpage scouting mission… sort of
Angus Oliver
How does one prepare for providing live coverage of the Ryder Cup? Stock up on coffee and biscuits, of course, but I went one further by doing my very own Bethpage Black scouting mission this week — just not quite the type that you might expect. As loyal readers, you need course intel, so I went down to my local simulator to take on the 7,468-yard beast off the back tees. And it was luxurious. There was no wind, I walked only a few yards, I didn’t lose a single ball, and I finished with a pleasing four-over round of 75, including a birdie at the 1st. I imagine nobody in the Ryder Cup will be getting a mulligan off the tee at the 15th, as the simulator’s settings allowed me, though.
My card… but with a mulligan at the 15th
The US crowd need ramping up and Donald Trump walking out into the stands behind the 1st tee has done exactly that. There is a rousing rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner then Scheffler — who was out of sorts in his 5&3 this morning — and JJ Spaun march onto the tee to face Rahm and Sepp Straka. All four players miss the fairway.
Trump arrives at the 1st tee
AFP
Analysis: Stellar start for Europe
Rick Broadbent, Bethpage Black
Quite a morning here. I walked much of the match between Aberg-Fitzpatrick and Scheffler-Henley, and it is remarkable what the Ryder Cup can do. Indeed, but for a great approach on the 13th and a saving par on the next, this would have been done and dusted earlier. The body language of the Americans was x-rated, whereas uber-cool Aberg was smiling and even winking at Swedes in ice hockey garb by the ropes.
Make no mistake, 5&3 is an awful result for Scheffler, the USA’s biggest gun. It was not necessarily a huge shock, though. Two years ago he started off losing 4&3 in a match against Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. And then there was the 9&7 loss against Aberg and Hovland. From this we might judge that foursomes is just not his bag.
A humbling of the opposition’s leading player is always an extra boost for the team. Keegan Bradley was also clearly hoping Bryson DeChambeau would be the team’s emotional leader and he started brilliantly, a monster drive over the trees to the right of the first fairway leading to a birdie putt. He could not see it out.
This was a stellar start for Europe. Fitzpatrick buried a few Ryder Cup ghosts and the key duo of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood delivered, but quite what possessed Keegan Bradley to pair Collin Morikawa and Harris English, ranked as the worst available partnership from 132 options by Data Golf, is anyone’s guess.
McIlroy, pictured, and Fleetwood have never lost in foursomes together
PA
Foursomes are usually a happy hunting ground for Europe, so nobody should get ahead of themselves, but when you listened to Bradley’s remarks after losing the three opening matches, you had to cringe. “We just had the President fly over in Air Force One, so I’ve got a feeling things are going to turn here,” he said. They will need a lot more than that this afternoon.
This afternoon’s four-ball pairings are out, with McIlroy — alongside Lowry — up against Cantlay again. Remember in Rome that McIlroy had to be held back by Lowry when clashing with Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava in the Marco Simone car park. LaCava was accused of overly celebrating as McIlroy lined up a putt for a half after Cantlay made a long birdie attempt on the 18th green during the Saturday four-balls. All eyes will be on that match.
17:25 Scottie Scheffler & JJ Spaun v Jon Rahm & Sepp Straka
17:41 Bryson DeChambeau & Ben Griffin v Tommy Fleetwood & Justin Rose
17:57 Justin Thomas & Cameron Young v Ludvig Aberg & Rasmus Hojgaard
18:13 Patrick Cantlay & Sam Burns v Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry
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The American fans find their voice again. It’s been pretty subdued at Bethpage, but it’s hardly surprising such has been Europe’s dominance this morning. Hovland slices his drive way right at the 18th, MacIntyre can only hack out the fescue into a bunker, and Schauffele’s approach finishes 9ft from the hole. USA take the final match 2up and the score is 3-1 to Europe after the first session. The four-ball pairings will be revealed shortly.
USA one up with one to play
Hovland’s bunker shot goes long, Cantlay’s putt is left short in the jaws of the hole, so MacIntyre has 8ft for par and a half. The Scot pushes it. The Americans are one up with one to play. Can the European duo salvage half a point?
All square with two holes to play, MacIntyre goes pin seeing, but that’s no good — his ball doesn’t draw enough and leaves Hovland a tricky shot out the bunker for a much-needed up and down. Cantlay has a 21ft putt for birdie.
All square in final match
“It’s not exactly what we wanted,” Bradley says as Schauffele misses way left with his tee shot at the 15th en route to an American bogey. Hovland meanwhile makes a clutch par putt and the red is once again extinguished from the scoreboard. The final match is all square with three holes to play. “We just had the president fly over in Air Force One so I’ve got a feeling things are about to turn,” Bradley says. He better hope so.
Hovland celebrates getting back to all square alongside MacIntyre
REUTERS
Hovland and MacIntyre fight back
Brilliant from Hovland and MacIntyre, who get back from three to one down after consecutive birdies. They have five holes to go, so another Friday foursomes clean sweep is suddenly back on the cards. No team has ever done so in back-to-back Ryder Cups.
Rahm and Hatton thrive in ‘intense atmosphere’
Some reaction from Rahm and Hatton after they beat DeChambeau and Thomas 4&3.
“Against two crowd favourites, we knew it would be loud and need our best,” Rahm said. “We battled in those first seven holes, then found some great vibes. He’s a joy to partner with. He can be very dependable. I have full confidence in him.”
Hatton meanwhile said: “The second shot into seven [when there was a branch resting on his ball] was a bit of hit and hope. Thankfully it went straight. We knew it would be a difficult start. It was a pretty intense atmosphere out there.”
Scheffler and Henley played three times together at the Presidents Cup last year and seemed the perfect pairing going into this second match, but the American duo have been annihilated 5&3 after an incredible performance from Aberg and Fitzpatrick.
How much of that is to do with Bradley picking Henley to tee off on the odd-numbered — and longer — holes? He is the shortest player in the tournament and there is no doubt that Scheffler was shackled — but there is also a trend emerging with American world No1s. They have now lost six straight foursomes matches dating back to 2010.
American world No1s in Ryder Cup foursomes2010 – Tiger Woods (with Steve Stricker) – lost 2018 – Dustin Johnson (with Rickie Fowler) – lost2018 – Johnson (with Brooks Koepka) – lost2023 – Scottie Scheffler (with Burns) – lost2023 – Scheffler (with Koepka) – lost2025 – Scheffler (with Russell Henley) – lost
Just like Rahm and Hatton, McIlroy and Fleetwood — “Fleetwood Mac” — have also won three out of three foursomes matches when paired together. The British duo cruise to a 5&4 hammering of Morikawa and English and Europe are now 2-0 up. The perfect start.
There it is, the first point on the board goes to Europe as Thomas misses from 6ft, giving a 4&3 win to Rahm and Hatton. This opening match had all the makings of a classic but DeChambeau and Thomas have been dominated ever since that extraordinary recovery shot out the rough from Rahm at the 6th. They were five under in 15 holes and have now won three out of three foursomes matches when paired together in Ryder Cups.
Donald celebrates with Rahm and Hatton
REUTERS
Daylight for Cantlay and Schauffele, who go three up after Hovland misses a short par putt, but there’s no respite for the other Americans. Henley makes a huge birdie putt at the 14th but Aberg answers with one of his own — the Swede and Fitzpatrick are an astonishing seven under — then Thomas is forced to take a free drop after DeChambeau’s tee shot at the 15th goes way off line and into the stands. Europe look set to take a 3-1 lead.
Trump headed for Bethpage
The US president has left the White House… in his golf shoes.
Schauffele and Cantlay dig in
Rahm and Hatton go three up with five to play so this final match is now vital for USA and Keegan Bradley. They have almost certainly lost the first three matches and it’s absolutely pivotal that they avoid being on the wrong side of another clean sweep. Schauffele and Cantlay are doing all they can to make that happen and have just gone two up after a bogey from MacIntyre and Hovland.
Hatton and Rahm led Europe out in Rome as Luke Donald’s side won all four Friday foursomes matches and they now have breathing space over DeChambeau and Thomas in the first match at Bethpage Black. It comes after a brilliant 19ft putt from Hatton and Europe can now sense a 3-1 lead. We’re not quite at this stage, but it is worth noting that no away team has swept a session since Europe in the 1987 Friday four-balls at Muirfield Village.
Rahm and Hatton made three straight birdies at the 12th, 13th and 14th
GETTY
Extraordinary. All red has now been extinguished from the leaderboard as Cantlay misses from 9ft and MacIntyre and Hovland get back to all square. Morikawa and English drag one back in the third match but it’s a five-under front nine for McIlroy and Fleetwood, who are four up. DeChambeau then smashes a birdie putt through the break at the 11th, forcing Thomas to make a gutsy par putt to salvage a par and stay only one down. All the momentum is with Europe.
Hatton looks at a ball obstructed by a twig at the 7th — the European pair still won the hole
AP
It seemed an odd decision when Henley took the first tee shot instead of Scheffler, meaning the shortest player in the tournament would be teeing off on all the odd-numbered — and therefore longer — holes. It means at the 9th, Fitzpatrick has almost 30 yards less than Scheffler for his approach after a booming Aberg drive, the Englishman hits it to 14ft, and the birdie putt is holed. Europe are now four-up over Henley and the world No1, who is 13 down in his past 18 Ryder Cup foursomes holes.
The away team has won just 1 of the past 12 foursomes sessions at the Ryder Cup but Europe are now turning the screw. Rahm makes birdie from 11ft to give Europe the lead over DeChambeau and Thomas for the first time, then McIlroy stiffs it from 100 yards to take a four-up lead with Fleetwood. That truly is a star foursomes pairing for Europe. Donald will be delighted.
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Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceUSA need Trump to stoke fire
Rick Broadbent, Bethpage Black
Early days of course and the 1st tee was curiously subdued other than the emcee pleading “let’s f***ing go”, but the golf is warming up. McIlroy’s putting has been rock solid, DeChambeau started with a stroke of pure adrenaline over the trees, the likes of Fitzpatrick and Aberg have started well, and Rahm and Hatton have just got back on level terms. It’s still fairly quiet out on the course and it might take lunchtime drinking and the arrival of Trump to really stoke the fire.
DeChambeau almost drove the 1st green in the first foursomes match of the tournament
GETTY
Putts dropping for Europe
Now the putts are dropping for Europe. First it’s McIlroy to take a two-up lead with Tommy Fleetwood, then it’s Fitzpatrick to go three-up with Aberg, and finally MacIntyre from 14ft to salvage an unlikely half alongside Hovland.
Chris Solomon of the No Laying Up podcast has just made the observation that it is so soft at Bethpage Black that it is almost worth being in the rough — which is so short anyway — to make it easier to control one’s spin. Every player is ripping the ball backwards an absolute mile.
McIlroy’s putting has been exemplary alongside Fleetwood
GETTY
Brilliant from Fitzpatrick and Rahm
Stunning from Fitzpatrick, who responds to an exquisite approach from Scheffler at the 5th by fizzing an iron to less than 3ft from out the rough, but it’s bad news for Europe as Cantlay and Schauffele go 1up over MacIntyre and Hovland at the 2nd.
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Rahm has a revolting lie at the 6th after that Hatton drive but hits the shot of the day so far over the rough, bunkers and to only 12ft from the flag. They remain one down.
Rahm played to only 12ft from the hole from this lie
Aberg and Fitzpatrick lead
Solid start for Europe at Bethpage with Aberg tapping in a birdie putt at the par-five 4th after a beautiful approach to go one up alongside Fitzpatrick. That will please Donald because the Swede had looked a little out of sorts over the first three holes. McIlroy then holes a lengthy par putt to stay 1up with Fleetwood over Morikawa and English, but Hatton’s tee shot at the 6th goes way left into a rancid wasteland. A birdie for Thomas and DeChambeau will likely make it 2up USA in the first match.
Hovland and MacIntyre under way
The final foursomes match pits Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, villain of the 2023 Ryder Cup after he was accused of not wearing a cap in protest against a lack of pay to play in the tournament. Well, the US players are now receiving an additional $200,000, the cap is back on, and his caddie Joe LaCava is still on the bag after clashing with McIlroy in the Marco Simone car park.
MacIntyre’s tee shot is pushed into the left rough but the lie is good for Hovland, whose approach play is excellent, before Schauffele just misses the fairway on a more aggressive line.
Rahm hits a beautiful second into the par-five 4th but a delicate chip from Thomas salvages a half for USA in the first match. A decent McIlroy approach at the 2nd has given Fleetwood a good luck at birdie.
McIlroy and Fleetwood 1up
World class from Fleetwood, whose chip out the rough at the 1st just evades the hole, leaving Europe an easy birdie putt for McIlroy. English misses his putt so Europe go 1up.
Henley goes close with his approach at the 2nd but Aberg’s is pulled, Fitzpatrick misses the long birdie putt, and Scheffler gets USA back on level terms from 8ft.
McIlroy tees off in front of a packed-out gallery at the 1st hole
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McIlroy close to 1st green
It’s time for Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion and Europe’s best player, and Tommy Fleetwood, who recently won his first PGA Tour event at the Tour Championship. The pair won both of their foursomes matches when paired together in Rome and have made significant improvements to their game this year — McIlroy with his approach play since shortening his backswing, and Fleetwood with his putting since moving from a blade to mallet putter.
Shane Lowry applauds as the European fans sing “is this a library?” to the American fans at the 1st tee. Little of that hostile reception so far. McIlroy then comes close to driving the green before Harris English, paired with Collin Morikawa, takes a safer line down the middle of the fairway.
Up ahead, DeChambeau finds the bunker at the par-three 3rd but makes amends with a clutch par putt to stay one up alongside Thomas.
Aberg and Fitzpatrick 1up
Scheffler can’t get close from the rough to the left of the 1st and Fitzpatrick then exposes Henley’s error off the tee by playing a beautiful wedge to just a few feet. Aberg comfortably knocks the putt in and Europe go one up. Up ahead, Thomas and Hatton both miss their birdie putts so USA remain ahead.
That was the perfect start for Fitzpatrick, who will be well aware of his dismal Ryder Cup record having won only one point from eight matches. However, the Englishman has had success here int eh past…
Aberg and Fitzpatrick in perfect position
Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick are up next against the world No1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. Aberg, the Swede who was an amateur only three months before the last Ryder Cup, nails his drive over the trees on the perfect line, leaving Fitzpatrick a short distance in.
And then this is bizarre — Henley, the shortest player on either team, hits the opening tee shot instead of Scheffler. That means he will tee off on all of the odd — and therefore longer — holes instead of Scheffler, who ranks first for every tee-to-green metric on the PGA Tour. His tee shot is hooked into the left rough as well, so advantage Europe in match two.
DeChambeau and Thomas 1up
The perfect start for USA. Hatton’s nervy chip out the rough is chunky and leaves Rahm a longer birdie putt than he would have liked, which he leaves short. Nerves. Thomas’s chip was uncharacteristically poor and well short of the hole but DeChambeau got a good read from Rahm’s attempt and the American makes his birdie putt. Keegan Bradley’s side are one up in the first foursomes match.
DeChambeau almost reaches 1st green
DeChambeau and Thomas enter the 1st tee box draped in an American flag before Rahm and Hatton are booed when introduced by the emcee. Rahm is to hit the first tee shot. How are your nerves? He lines up to hit over the trees and directly at the 1st green, some 350 yards away, but flares it out to the right, leaving Hatton a chip out of the rough. The pin is at the back so it shouldn’t bee too tricky but it’s advantage USA after DeChambeau smokes his drive on the perfect line. It leaves Thomas a flick from the front of the green to get up and down for birdie.
Will DeChambeau take on the 1st?
So it’s Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas against Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton first up in a mouthwatering clash between the emotional heartbeats of both sides. Rahm is a powerful fader of the fall off the tee while Hatton’s wedge play is among the best in the game, so it is little wonder that Luke Donald — and Edoardo Molinari’s statistical model — has paired them together once again. They are also team-mates on LIV Golf and won both of their foursomes matches when paired together in Rome in 2023. The big question, though, as we approach this first match, is whether DeChambeau will attempt to drive the green with his opening tee shot? It would be a risky play in foursomes, but stranger things have happened…
Not exactly ‘Welcome to Hell’ at the 1st
Rick Broadbent, Bethpage Black
Interesting times on the 1st tee so far. They played Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” which is always misunderstood and is really about misery in American heartlands after the Vietnam war. The emcee then arrives with the pithy message “Let’s f***ing go”. Nice. The crowd is much quieter than normal and, although the stands are huge, they are set well back and much less intimidating than in Rome or Paris. Anyway John Denver is on the PA now singing about West Virginia. No sign of any of the USA’s many vice-captains trying to whip up the masses. It’s not exactly “Welcome to Hell”. Fifteen minutes to go.
European fans behind the 1st tee before the Friday morning foursomes
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Enable cookiesAllow cookies onceIs McIlroy’s skin thick enough for the hostility?
Half a block from the flashing Jumbotrons of Times Square on 44th Street lies Jimmy’s Corner, the iconic boxing-themed dive bar where parts of Raging Bull were filmed (Tom Kershaw writes).
If Rory McIlroy tried to invoke the stoicism of Marcus Aurelius before the last Ryder Cup in Rome, only to be coined “Rocky” after nearly coming to blows with a caddie in a car park, the works of Martin Scorsese may provide more apt preparation in New York.
The Northern Irishman might ordinarily be hugely popular in the United States, and his charm offensive went so far as to hail it “the best country in the world”, but Europe’s talisman will be the public enemy at Bethpage Black. There have already been boos and barbs. Now, the proverbial bottles will be thrown into the ring.
● Read more: Is Rory McIlroy’s skin thick enough for the hostility headed his way?
It’s still dark here in Bethpage but the giant grandstand that wraps around the 1st tee and 18th green is already full with music blaring (Tom Kershaw writes). A 2.50am fire alarm was a good warm-up for the 4.30am departure from the media hotel. However, the doom mongering about delays caused by traffic and airport-style security, owing to President Donald Trump’s arrival this afternoon, was a false dawn. Now, up above the first tee, we are waiting for the real one.
How important is the foursomes?
The unique nature of foursomes — the rarity of a professional golfer not simply playing their own ball from start to finish — means that is where a captain’s choices can have the most influence. It is also the format that kicks off the competition, with foursomes matches taking place on Friday and Saturday mornings, and it goes without saying that a fast start is beneficial.
What’s more, recent history shows that, when it comes to the Ryder Cup, if you get your foursomes pairings right, you will probably win the whole thing:
Europe have quality to end away hoodoo and give Ryder Cup contest it needs
On the wall in the gym of Europe’s team room at Bethpage is a quotation from Seve Ballesteros (Rick Broadbent writes).
“I look into their eyes, shake their hand, pat their back and wish them luck.” Then, highlighted in blue and yellow capitals comes the killer pay-off. “But I am thinking, ‘I am going to bury you.’ ”
The words bristle with the tribalism that elevates the Ryder Cup from golf’s polite routines to a parallel universe where they can flog gold coins signed by Keegan Bradley for £5,000.
● Read more: Europe have quality to end away hoodoo and give Ryder Cup contest it needs
Who will play for USA and Europe
Here are the teams doing battle.
Starting with Keegan Bradley’s stunners in stars and stripes: Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.
As for Europe, captained by Luke Donald, we have: Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg, Vikrot Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm.
The stars are out in New York.
Friday foursomes
12:10pm — Bryson DeChambeau & Justin Thomas (USA) v Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton (Eur)
12:26pm — Scottie Scheffler & Russell Henley (USA) v Ludvig Aberg & Matt Fitzpatrick (Eur)
12:42pm — Collin Morikawa & Harris English (USA) v Tommy Fleetwood & Rory McIlroy (Eur)
12:58pm — Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay (USA) v Robert MacIntyre & Viktor Hovland (Eur)
When is the first tee at the Ryder Cup?
Here is the schedule for the competition. Play gets underway today at 12.10pm UK time with the foursomes, with the fourballs to come at 5.25pm — it’s the same on Saturday too. We begin later on Sunday, with the action getting underway in the singles from 5.02pm.
What does all this mean?
The Ryder Cup has three formats: foursomes, where two team-mates share a single ball, alternating shots, in a match against two players from the other team; four-balls, where four players (two from each side) play their own ball, with the lowest individual score winning the hole for his team; and singles, which is old-fashioned one-v-one matchplay.
Merry Christmas, everyone. Well, not really, but kind of. Why? Well, today is Christmas Day if you’re a fan of golf. Or even, to be honest, just a fan of sport; because the Ryder Cup is finally here. We’ve been kept waiting long enough. There have been 726 days since Europe tasted victory in Rome in the last iteration of the tournament. Winning on home soil is nothing new for Europe, but Luke Donald is hoping that his boys in blue can beat the United States in their own backyard (and it is a yard, we’re in New York) for the first time in 13 years. The Miracle of Medinah. Will we see another miracle? Stay with us for live news and analysis from every hole at Bethpage Black.
