The 2025 Ryder Cup is underway at the iconic Bethpage Black Course, and Team Europe, the defending champions, wasted no time asserting their dominance in the opening foursomes session.
The biennial showdown, which pits the United States against Europe, has already delivered high drama, passionate crowds, and a stern test from the challenging course, with the U.S. desperate to reclaim the trophy on home soil.
Early European Surge in Foursomes
Captain Luke Donald’s European squad built significant early leads in three of the four morning matches, putting immense pressure on U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley’s team.
The format, which sees two players on a team playing one ball and taking alternate shots, requires precision and partnership, both of which Europe displayed in abundance.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, the formidable European pairing, held a 1-Up lead through 10 holes against Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas. Despite an energized start from DeChambeau’s booming drive, the European duo showcased clutch putting and precise iron play to gain the advantage, proving their formidable reputation from the 2023 victory in Rome.
Ludvig Åberg and Rory McIlroy—paired with different teammates, with Åberg alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and McIlroy with Tommy Fleetwood in the official pairings—appeared to be pulling away in their respective matches, building early advantages that signaled Europe’s strategic depth.
The sole match where Team USA found early momentum was the anchor pairing, where Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark (the article mentions Clark initially, though official pairings later indicated Scottie Scheffler was with Russell Henley and the anchor match was Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay) managed to keep things level or slightly ahead against their European counterparts, providing the only initial “red” on the leaderboard for the home team.
Bethpage Black, hosting its first Ryder Cup, has lived up to its reputation as a “beast of a course” with thick rough and undulating greens demanding the world’s best golfers’ full attention. Favorable weather conditions with clear skies have set the stage for aggressive play.
The Essence of the Ryder Cup Rivalry
More than a collection of individual accolades, the Ryder Cup is a fierce, three-day team competition emphasizing match-play formats, strategy, and national pride. Launched in 1927, it sees 12 players from each side competing in a total of 28 matches (foursomes, fourballs, and singles).
A team needs 14.5 points to claim the trophy, while the defending champion (Europe) needs only 14 points to retain it. This team dynamic and electric atmosphere—often described as a heavy metal concert compared to golf’s typical opera—is what sets it apart, creating unforgettable moments of camaraderie and rivalry.
