The 2025 Ryder Cup is set to get underway this week at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, with Team Europe looking to defend their title on US soil
Abbie Meehan Sports Writer U-35s
13:00, 25 Sep 2025
The Ryder Cup will kick off this week(Image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The 2025 Ryder Cup is poised to get underway this week at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York.
Team Europe hold the title but haven’t won on American territory since 2012. Play is due to commence at 12:10pm BST (7:10am local) on Friday and Saturday, featuring eight different pairings across both days.
The fourballs and foursomes will unfold over the opening two days, whilst 12 singles matches will take place on Sunday for the concluding day at 5:02pm BST (12:02pm local). Team Europe head to New York as title holders following a superb 16.5-11.5 triumph in Rome two years ago.
Rory McIlroy was the leading points scorer for the winners that campaign with four points from five outings, whilst Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton also delivered outstanding performances.
This time around, the Europeans must shut out the hostile home support if they want to retain their crown. Betfair has Team USA edging out the Europeans at 4/6 odds, whilst an away triumph is priced at 7/4.
A draw appears less probable at 11/1, with a 9/1 possibility of the Americans claiming the Ryder Cup by a single point. Here, Wales Online has gathered predictions from some of golf’s greatest legends – plus one surprise selection – for the forthcoming Ryder Cup, which begins on September 26 for a three-day showcase of exceptional golf.
Sir Nick Faldo – Team Europe
Sir Nick Faldo believes Team Europe can do the business in New York(Image: Steven Garcia/Getty Images)
“Luke got 95% right in the first one in Rome and he will improve on that with a little fine tuning. He has created the whole Ted Lasso attitude in the team room.
“I am a big fan of the show – and I felt the Rome locker room was set up very much like the Ted Lasso locker room, a square, meeting space. All it needed was a believe sign over the door. It felt like a chapel and very serene. It was fantastic. I believe the players are motivated to go and do something special. Why not?”
Paul McGinley – Team USA
“There’s a myth out there that Europe are great at the Ryder Cup and America are rubbish. That myth is wrong.
“The reality is both teams are brilliant playing at home and terrible on the road. And we are particularly bad. We’re worse than America. Even though we won at Medinah, which was a miracle, the other three losses in recent times have been by an average of seven points. In football terms that’s 5-0. That’s not even a contest.”
Andrew Coltart – Team Europe
Andrew Coltart feels that the Americans will be feeling the pressure at home(Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
“The US team are feeling the pressure already because it is a home match. And I think New York will be something that they have never encountered before. It is an absolute coliseum of fire that they are going to be walking into so that could be quite intimidating.
“I go back to that press conference where Keegan Bradley announced his picks. They were all sitting there on Facetime all looking fairly miserable. Even scared. They were like: ‘Oh God, he’s picked us!’ That to me was slightly telling – I picked up on that. I know the Europeans were told: ‘Just make sure you are smiling’. They looked they were about to enter the lions’ den. There is now an increased pressure playing at home.
“I think there is a potential that if they don’t get off to a fast start, it could feel like an away game for them.”
Bernard Gallacher – Team Europe
“For Luke, everything has fallen into place. As far as the Americans are concerned, I am sure Luke is watching and seeing four rookies. They are untested. The supporters are expecting all 12 of their players to play great. We know [Scottie] Scheffler is a great player, [Xander] Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Bryson [DeChambeau], [Collin] Morikawa.
“But do we know about Cam Young, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley? No, we don’t. They may have even never attended a Ryder Cup. Keegan Bradley has got work to do and that is work that Luke does not have. Europe has got a really good chance of breaking the dominance of the home side. It is a very experienced team, and everyone is playing well.
“It will be very close, even a drawn match, but I think Europe has too much experience for this American side. The only advantage the Americans have is the crowd, but I think our team is the better team to be honest.”
Gareth Bale – Team Europe
Gareth Bale is backing Team Europe to retain their crown(Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“Yeah I think everyone says it’s probably one of the hardest things to do in golf is to win an away Ryder Cup. So yeah, I fully believe in the team that we’re going to win but yeah, it’s going to be a tough, a tough task on a tough course against a tough team.
“I’m sure Luke and all of the boys are doing all their preparation like they always do and I’m looking forward to being able to watch it and enjoy the spectacle.”
