Europe raced out to a three-and-a-half point lead on the opening day of the 45th Ryder Cup with major problems emerging for the US team.
Superstars Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau lost both their matches across the morning foursomes and afternoon four balls, leaving US captain Keegan Bradley searching for answers.
DeChambeau was deployed as the hosts’ ultimate hype man, but after almost driving the first green with the opening tee shot of the event, things quickly spiralled out of the LIV Golf star’s control.
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Meanwhile, Scheffler’s Ryder Cup record is quickly becoming a concerning blight on the world No.1’s decorated resume.
On the other side of the ledger, things could hardly have gone for Europe as they seek to become the first away team to win the Cup since they pulled off ‘The Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
Here are all the biggest talking points from the first day of the Ryder Cup!
McIlroy flips the bird at the Ryder Cup! | 00:26
‘BLACK SHEEP’ BRYSON’S ‘BIG GAMBLE’ FAILS
US captain Keegan Bradley might have felt like he was dreaming one shot into the Ryder Cup.
Having chosen Bryson DeChambeau as his lead off man, Bradley would have felt vindicated as the two-time major champion launched a trademark bomb drive over the corner on the dogleg first hole, which landed just short of the green, having sailed almost 315 metres in total.
Justin Thomas then hit a lovely chip to four and a half metres from the pin, and DeChambeau sunk the birdie putt.
The home crowd was ecstatic, and the Americans had an early lead.
But that was just about where the joy ended.
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Captain Keegan Bradley and Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States look on while at the 18th hole 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. Carl Recine/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Carl Recine / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
DeChambeau and Thomas failed to win another hole, as Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton romped to a 4&3 foursomes win, setting the tone for a dominant European first session, which the visitors claimed 3-1.
As DeChambeau struggled, the life was sucked out of the pro-American crowd that followed the opening match as Bradley’s decision backfired.
“Bryson DeChambeau going out first, I thought, was a big gamble,” Brandel Chamblee said on Live from the Ryder Cup.
“Maybe it would pay off, gambles sometimes do pay off.
“But if he gets beat from igniting the crowd, you silence the crowd.
“And this was in the morning, about as quiet as I could have ever imagined a Ryder Cup in New York.
“Because they started going the wrong way at about six, seven and eight, and eventually lost this match 4&3.”
Former professional turned analyst Chamblee made headlines in the days leading up to the tournament, by labelling DeChambeau a “captain’s nightmare”.
Victorious European Ryder Cup captain in 2014 and current team strategic adviser Paul McGinley felt like his panellists was unfairly criticised for his comments earlier in the week.
While DeChambeau is undeniably a fan favourite, his uniqueness presents challenges for the US team.
For instance, the 32-year-old is an innovator and uses his own specially designed golf ball.
That makes it tough to fit in with a teammates with paired together in alternate shot and they must use the same ball.
“There’s no doubt he’s a fantastic player and there’s no doubt he brings a lot of energy to the team,” McGinley said of DeChambeau.
“But he is a black sheep. He is different.
“And when you have somebody like that, as creative and brilliant as he is, no matter who the team is, you’ve got to work so hard.
“It’s not an easy fit into partnerships.
“And also his personality, you’ve got to make sure he doesn’t say something in the media or say something that gets attention and divert the focus of the team.”
How on EARTH did Rahm salvage this shot? | 00:27
‘THE ULTIMATE MARATHON RUNNER’: SCOTTIE STRUGGLES IN ‘SPRINT’
America’s best player did not pull his weight on the opening day.
Now, Scottie Scheffler has proven time and again to never be written off, or discounted.
But the world No.1’s all time Ryder Cup record is incredibly underwhelming.
Following he and Russell Henley’s 5&3 foursomes thrashing at the hands of Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, and he and J.J. Spaun’s 3&2 four-ball thumping by Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka, Scheffler’s career record against Europe slipped to two wins, four losses and three ties.
They are hardly the numbers expected of the reigning PGA, Open and Olympic champion, who also boasts two green jackets.
Scheffler’s pairings won just three holes across his two matches to start the event as he struggled on the greens in a throwback to the earlier days of his career.
Paul McGinley believes it was emblematic of Scheffler’s game not being built for the different format.
“Eighteen hole matches are sprints, and he is the ultimate marathon runner of four rounds,” McGinley said.
“Look at how he won the Procore (Championship) a few weeks ago. He came out of the blocks slow the first round and a half, and he slowly got himself into contention and then he went on to win.
“His matches, he came out of the blocks slow today. He birdied three of his last four holes, remember, so he did get a kick at the end, but the match was out of sight at that point against quality opposition.”
Scheffler’s issues in match play when donning the red, white and blue extend beyond the Ryder Cup too.
His record in two Presidents Cup appearances is three wins, five losses and a tie.
McGinley likened Scheffler’s struggles in the Ryder Cup to Rory McIlroy’s early years in the European team, saying it can be very difficult to find the right partner for the best player on the team.
United States’ Scottie Scheffler reacts after missing a putt on the 10th hole at Bethpage Black golf course during the Ryder Cup golf tournament, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Farmingdale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Source: AP
“We struggled for his first few Ryder Cups with Rory McIlroy for a similar reason,” McGinley said.
“When you have a player, let’s go back to the conversation we had about Bryson, calling him a black sheep.
“I don’t mean that as a derogatory term. He’s amazing, he’s eccentric, he’s a great player.
“I would put in that box as well the best player on the team.
“Certainly the best player of the generation, and over the years, Rory has been that guy.
“And it’s taken us a while, and a few captains, to get the wheels turning on a partner for Rory, in particular.
“Also for Rory to mould into being a team player.
“I think we’ve hit that sweet spot at the moment, and Tommy Fleetwood has been a big answer for that in terms of pairings.
“I don’t think America has sorted out yet, who Scottie’s best partner is.
“I think they will, but as of yet, I don’t think they know the answer to that.
“And it’s not an easy fix, you think ‘oh, he’s the best player, he’ll play with anybody’, far from it.
“Sometimes it’s quite the opposite.”
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Scottie Scheffler of Team United States reacts while playing the sixth 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 Carl Recine/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
‘UNBELIEVABLE’ EUROPE SHOWS TREMENDOUS ‘CHARACTER’
Besides Rory McIlroy showing the middle finger on the 11th green, the Europeans were relatively unflustered by the American crowd on the opening day.
With the presence of US President Donald Trump, the hyper nationalism was unavoidable, but the visitors remained focused on the task at hand.
The home fans appeared more interested in jeering and heckling the Europeans than rallying their own players, and with every hole won by Luke Donald’s men, the grandstands and galleries only got quieter.
Paul McGinley was absolutely chuffed with what he saw from the European team.
“Away from home you’re looking for character, and time after time, match after match, when moments came in matches, we were ready for it and we stood up to it,” McGinley said.
“I thought our body language was phenomenal. I thought Jon Rahm led out in both sessions unbelievable.
“I thought, all going to plan, so much work has gone into this team.
“The guys are talking about it in their interviews, and they’re right to talk about it.
“You know, Luke has been phenomenal, in terms of everybody who’s contributing behind the scenes to what is, we know, a huge challenge to try to win a Ryder Cup, particularly away from home and even more so in New York, and even more so against the second best American team ever put out.”
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Jon Rahm of Team Europe reacts after teammate Sepp Straka made a birdie on the 16th hole to defeat J.J. Spaun and Scottie Scheffler of Team United States, 3&2, 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. Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Andrew Redington / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
McGinley stressed that the home team should be afforded some leniency, however.
The Irishman claimed that it was the brilliance of the Europeans that prompted them to put five-and-a-half points on the board, rather than a poor showing by the Americans.
“Everything is driven here towards playing better away from home, in a very difficult environment,” McGinley said.
“That’s what pleased me most today about Europe, they really performed in a very difficult environment.
“They played golf at an unbelievably high standard, and America and Keegan might get some criticism today, and if they do I believe that’s unfair.
“Europe were absolutely sensational. The way they played the golf course, never mind playing against America, was just unbelievable. The scoring in the foursomes, the alternate shot, this morning was unbelievable.”
