The story of the 2025 Ryder Cup in 16 photos

After a thrilling comeback attempt by the United States, Team Europe took home the Ryder Cup on Sunday at Bethpage Black outside of New York City.

It is the first road win by either side since 2012, and is another story of the European excellence in this competition — the Europeans have now won two in a row, six of eight, and 11 of 15 dating back to 1995, before Scottie Scheffler was even born.

The Europeans played exceptional golf all week, uniting behind a shared vision and determination to lift the Cup. Captain Luke Donald became the first to win back-to-back Ryder Cups since the 1980s, and lions like Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm drove the squad to a seven-point lead through two days. The Americans did rally on Sunday, winning 8 1/2 out of a possible 12 points to come agonizingly close to what would have been the greatest moment in Ryder Cup history.

Alas, the Europeans will again be the defending champions when the Ryder Cup is again contested, in 2017 at Ireland’s Adare Manor.

But it was also a week full of controversy, as bad actors on the American side subjected McIlroy and others, including his wife Erica, to verbal abuse that drew the strongest possible rebuke from McIlroy on Sunday night.

Here’s the story of the 2025 Ryder Cup, in photos.

Tuesday: A contrast emerges

(Andrew Redington / Getty Images)

The midweek gala and celebration of the Ryder Cup is an opportunity for both sides to come together for a bit of glamour. This year also showed a European side resplendent in classic formal attire, while the Americans did not bother with neck ties and opted for white sneakers. At least they were not Air Jordans, the preferred brand of captain Keegan Bradley?

Wednesday: A storm is on its way

(Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)

Rain, both actual and forecasted, necessitated an 11th-hour change to the Ryder Cup schedule of events. Out of concern that storms would keep both teams off the course on Thursday and prevent fans from entering the sprawling property on Long Island, the opening ceremony was moved to Wednesday afternoon. It meant nine holes of practice for both teams, and then a quick wardrobe change.

Thursday: Red, white and blue

(Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

While heavy storms did affect Bethpage Black — the greens were so soft that Bradley felt like it contributed to the outcome — fans were able to get out on the course and watch the final practice day. Those who stuck around on a dreary afternoon witnessed Bradley walk up to a spectator along the 18th fairway and ask to borrow his American flag. Bradley then trotted up the center of the fairway, waving it to a cheering crowd.

Bradley’s connection to New York — he’s from Woodstock, Vermont, but played college golf at St. John’s and routinely played Bethpage — was a huge part of his story and, therefore, the American story of this Ryder Cup. It was an attempt to galvanize the fans, to make a local connection and establish pride for the Ryder Cup being on Long Island after it had visited the Midwest in 2012, ’16 and ’21.

Friday: Reality sets in

(Carl Recine / Getty Images)

The Ryder Cup is no different than every other elite athletic competition these days, in that analytics play a role in every decision, and the Euros have been ahead of the United States in that regard. But sometimes it’s not that hard.

The Europeans played their best players Friday morning in familiar, comfortable pairs, then took their four best players and had them play fourball matches with the rest of the team. Spoiler: Asking Rahm, Fleetwood and McIlroy to lead from the front is a good idea.

The Americans got too cute, playing only one of their four rookies Friday morning and falling behind immediately. Justin Rose, who delivered a point that afternoon, let Bryson DeChambeau know. It would not be the last time the two would tussle over the weekend.

(Carl Recine / Getty Images)

This is how The Athletic’s Justin Ray described Scottie Scheffler’s Friday: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler lost both of his matches Friday: 5&3 to Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick in foursomes, then 3&2 to Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka in afternoon fourball. Scheffler wasn’t his sharpest at points during the day — he played the first 12 holes in the late session without making a birdie on his own ball — but it was not entirely his fault. Scheffler’s opponents were a combined 15 under par.

It only got worse before it got better.

(Mandel Ngan / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump’s appearance at the 2025 Ryder Cup was the first by a sitting president in the event’s history, with the golfers and a partisan crowd delighted by his presence. But after watching both teams tee off for the afternoon fourball matches, he retreated to the clubhouse for lunch and was on Air Force One before anyone reached the back nine.

Saturday: The crowd turns

(Carl Recine / Getty Images)

On Saturday, the Ryder Cup began to turn, as the Europeans lengthened their lead and a crowd that was subdued on Friday grew angrier. Much of that ire was focused on Rory McIlroy. Personal insults. Obscenities — some of which came from the hired pre-round MC. Comments directed at his wife, Erica, pictured above as she walked along inside the ropes. Shouting as the Europeans got into their preshot routine, against normal golf decorum standards. By the fourth hole, it was clear there was a problem. Extra police began to follow his and Shane Lowry’s match with Justin Thomas and Cameron Young, even after the match was over, the abuse did not stop — a beer was thrown at Erica as she walked with Rory.

“I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing, and the way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that,” Lowry said.

Said Rory: “It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week.”

(Carl Recine / Getty Images)

Amid all of it, the McIlroy and Lowry team earned another point, a wholly satisfying sequence of events for the Europeans as they rolled into Sunday with a seven-point margin. What could go wrong?

Sunday: Don’t call it a comeback

(Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

It was a celebration at noon on Sunday of the Europeans and their impending victory. They needed just two points to retain the Cup after Viktor Hovland’s withdrawal (neck injury), and it seemed just as likely that could happen by mid-afternoon. Songs were sung throughout Bethpage, European voices announcing they were on fire.

(Carl Recine / Getty Images)

Suddenly, things turned. Cameron Young won a full point over Justin Rose on the 18th green. Then Justin Thomas, pictured, did the same against Tommy Fleetwood. Bryson DeChambeau earned a half. Xander Schauffele dominates Jon Rahm. Scottie Scheffler with the full point. J.J. Spaun, too. Could it be? Could the Americans pull off the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history?

(Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)

And then a burly Irishman saw his competition hit the shot of his golfing life, and bettered him. Shane Lowry and Russell Henley’s match went to the 18th hole, with Lowry having to win the hole to earn a half point and get Europe to 14. Henley, from the fairway bunker, landed his shot on top of the green, roughly 10 feet from the pin. Lowry, hitting next, put his to six feet. Henley left his putt short, a mistake Lowry would not make.

The celebration was on. Europe had retained the Ryder Cup and would soon clinch it outright.