Team Europe will have history on their side after opening up a three-point lead heading into day two of the Ryder Cup.
The last time the Europeans led after day one on U.S. soil was in 2004 when they went on to claim a record 18½-9½ win and the last five Ryder Cups have been won by the team that led after day one.
After taking a 3-1 lead in the foursomes, they were always the favourites to lead into Saturday but at times in the four-balls, it looked like the tables could turn.
Here, let’s take a look at a thrilling afternoon session.
Day 1 Afternoon Four-balls
Match 1: Jon Rahm & Sepp Straka bt Scottie Scheffler & J.J. Spaun 3&2
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Teammates Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka of Team Europe walk the 15th hole during the Friday afternoon four-ball matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The United States needed a lift and the first tee was in a fervour after the appearance of President Donald Trump and a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Spaun certainly appeared inspired as he hit a beautiful pitch to just beyond concession range and holed for a birdie but the match soon turned on its head as Straka chipped in from the fringe on the second and Rahm holed from 16 feet on the third. Scheffler put the pressure on at the eighth with a stunning tee shot to eight feet at the par three but Rahm holed from twice that distance and Europe were 2 UP as the World Number One missed his chance. Rahm then put the Europeans 3 UP from nine feet at the 11th and while Spaun and Scheffler found some form to birdie the 13th, 14th and 15th, Straka and Rahm matched everything thrown at them.
“It was a lot of fun, a lot of fun,” said Straka. “To have Jon today was great because I did not have my game and especially for the first little bit. But he kept reminding me that it’s there. Just keep pushing and he told me to just put a confident swing on the last hole and I did.
Rahm added: The morning, although it was great, it was just one part of a long race. We started great and we have to keep it going. That’s what we did.
“I think he’s selling himself short. He played good but maybe not as good as he would have liked but he did what he needed to do. That chip-in on two was key. There were certain moments out there that were key and he came up big when we needed him to. That putt on 14 was unbelievably huge. He can’t sell himself short because he did the important stuff.”
Match 2: Tommy Fleetwood & Justin Rose bt Ben Griffin & Bryson DeChambeau 1 UP
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Tommy Fleetwood of Europe celebrates with Justin Rose on the 18th green during the Friday afternoon four-ball matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
DeChambeau birdied the first after a booming drive for the second time of the day but Fleetwood matched him with a birdie to keep things level. The United States did hit the front when DeChambeau holed from 13 feet at the fifth and after he missed another good chance at the sixth, there was a piece of pure match play theatre at the seventh. Griffin holed a 56-footer from the fringe for birdie to prompt a chest-bumping celebration with DeChambeau only to see Rose follow him in for 40 feet and thump the European badge in a move reminiscent of his great friend Ian Poulter. Fleetwood birdied the 11th but the hole was a gift as DeChambeau and Griffin both made a mess of it and he then hit a wonderful tee-shot into the 14th to move up in the match. The momentum was now with Europe and Fleetwood ensured a half on the 16th with a beautiful right-to-lefter from 18 feet. DeChambeau hit a wonderful tee shot on the 17th to birdie and take it up the last but Rose made his birdie from nine feet – with Fleetwood even closer – to close out the win.
“I felt like I put the ball in play nicely off the tee but Tommy made some huge putts in the right moments and you know, that was a huge turnaround match,” said Rose.
Fleetwood added: “I think just our team as a collective, I think we obviously feel very prepared and we’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time now. So to have got off to a good start feels great.
“Their team is stacked with amazing players. So whoever it is, the match going to be difficult, and the points mean so much.”
Match 3: Cameron Young & Justin Thomas bt Ludvig Åberg & Rasmus Højgaard 6&5
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Justin Thomas of Team United States high-fives teammate Cameron Young after winning the fifth hole during the Friday afternoon four-ball matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The United States had yet to dominate a match on day one but with a fervent crowd behind them and local hero Young inside the ropes, the time had come. The New York State native holed from 21 feet at the second and soon it was the turn of Thomas to put on a show as he hit a stunner into the fifth. Åberg missed an excellent chance at the sixth and when he missed another at the ninth, with Young taking advantage of a beautiful approach, the United States were 3 UP. That soon became five as Thomas birdied from seven feet at the 11th and Young put an approach to five feet at the 12th, with the European making an almighty mess of the 13th to concede a thumping defeat. The 6&5 victory matched the second largest four-ball win by an American team in an 18-hole match.
“It’s pretty special,” said Young. “I love this place and this is a team we worked really hard to make. We’re just super grateful. To have the opportunity to play today alongside him in front of these fans is pretty special.”
Thomas added: “I really just kind of sat back and watched the show. I tried to help when I could, but I’m just so happy for Cam but I’m proud of him. Playing in your first Ryder Cup is really hard, but playing in front of your home fans I would imagine is even harder, but he definitely played like the veteran today. It’s been fun watching his game progress and I’m glad I got to sit alongside the show today.”
Match 4: Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay tie with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe reacts after making an eagle putt to win the seventh hole during the Friday afternoon four-ball matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
It had long been suspected that McIlroy would be the European to most face the ire of the New York fans and so it proved in the final match of the day. The Masters champion hit a picture perfect drive on the first but when his pitch was poor he was punished, not only by the heckling spectators but by Burns, who birdied from five feet. Lowry responded from 21 feet on the next and while McIlroy missed a good chance on the third, he holed from 12 feet on the sixth and twice as far on the seventh, celebrating with vigour as Europe went 2 UP. Cantlay then birdied from 14 feet at the tenth but Europe re-established their cushion on the next as Lowry put an approach to three feet, only for Cantlay to hit back from five feet at the next. The 33-year-old’s hot streak continued and when his birdie on the 13th was followed by a full horseshoe from McIlroy, we were back to tied. He then looked certain to make it four birdies in five holes but missed a short putt of his own and the match remained tied heading into the bear pit of finishing holes. It was advantage U.S. on the 17th where this time it was Burns’ turn put a tee-shot tight but McIlroy holed from 13 feet and the Texan’s seven-footer took the match up the last tied. Burns missed a decent birdie chance to leave the door open for McIlroy but he could not walk through and the match was halved.
“It’s a great day for Europe,” said McIlroy. “We would have absolutely taken this last night if you had told us we would be 5½- ½ up.
“Obviously in the moment right now, I’m disappointed I didn’t hole that for a full point but the guys have done so well today, and right now, it’s just about recovering and resting up and getting ready for tomorrow.”
Lowry added: “Obviously we are going to be very happy but we had this the first day in Rome. And Luke is a great captain. He’s going to be going in and he’s not going to be too excited.
“We’ve got a job to do, and we’ve got two tough days ahead of us. As you’ve seen, it was pretty rowdy out there this afternoon and you know, it it’s going to get like that over the next two days. I feel like we did a great job today.
“We would have loved to have won that point but like Rory said, an amazing day for Europe, and yeah, we’ll take it.”
