By Harshit | September 26, 2025 | Farmingdale, New York | 10:15 AM EDT
The 2025 Ryder Cup began Friday morning with Team Europe making a statement on American soil, racing to a 2-0 advantage after the opening foursome matches at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. The European side, captained by Luke Donald, quickly seized momentum against Team USA in golf’s most prestigious team event.
Europe Strikes First in Foursomes
The morning session featured four alternate-shot matches, where two teammates share one ball and alternate strokes. Europe wasted no time asserting dominance.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton delivered the first blow, defeating Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3. Despite the Americans taking the opening hole, Rahm and Hatton controlled the match from the fourth onward, never allowing their opponents to recover. Thomas’s missed par putt on the 15th green sealed the loss, setting the tone for a difficult start for the U.S. side.
Almost simultaneously, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood completed a commanding 5&4 victory over Collin Morikawa and Harris English. The European duo looked in sync from the beginning, going four up through the first six holes and never looking back. Questions will now be raised about the decision by U.S. captain Keegan Bradley to pair Morikawa and English, as statistical models had rated them among the least compatible pairings available.
Aberg and Fitzpatrick Dominate Scheffler and Henley
One of the morning’s most surprising developments came in Match 2, where Europe’s Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick overpowered Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. By the 13th hole, the Europeans were five up, leaving little chance for the top-ranked Scheffler to mount a comeback.
Åberg, making his Ryder Cup debut, displayed composure well beyond his years, consistently delivering pressure shots and converting key putts alongside Fitzpatrick. Their performance highlighted the depth of Europe’s lineup and offered a glimpse of the next generation of European stars.
Cantlay and Schauffele Offer U.S. Resistance
The only bright spot for Team USA in the morning session came from the pairing of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Facing Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland, the American duo established a lead on the eighth hole after Schauffele drained a birdie putt. By the 11th, they extended the margin to three up, giving the United States its only advantage of the morning.
Their steady play provided a glimmer of hope for the hosts, who were otherwise under pressure in front of a home crowd that had expected a fast start.
History and Expectations at Bethpage
The Ryder Cup, contested every two years, has been dominated by the host nation in recent memory. The last five editions have been won by the home side, with Team USA’s most recent victory coming in 2021 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
Europe reclaimed the Cup in 2023 with a decisive 16.5-11.5 triumph in Italy, and the Americans entered this year’s competition eager to respond on home soil. Bethpage Black, a par-71 course renowned for its difficulty, was chosen more than a decade ago as the 2025 venue. Known for its warning sign at the first tee — cautioning only “highly skilled golfers” to play — the course provides a fitting stage for the intensity of Ryder Cup competition.
Pressure on Team USA
The early setbacks will heighten scrutiny on Keegan Bradley’s captaincy decisions. The pairing of Morikawa and English, despite its poor statistical outlook, was expected to provide stability but instead faltered against McIlroy and Fleetwood. Likewise, DeChambeau and Thomas, seen as an emotional spark, failed to deliver under pressure.
With the afternoon four-ball matches still to come, Team USA will need to regroup quickly. The presence of a passionate New York crowd offers both support and pressure as the Americans look to avoid falling into a deeper deficit on Day 1.
European Confidence Growing
For Europe, the morning session reinforced their confidence in both veterans and newcomers. McIlroy and Fleetwood continued their reputation as a formidable partnership, while Rahm and Hatton’s victory showcased their ability to thrive in high-pressure moments. The emergence of Åberg as a reliable contributor only strengthens Europe’s chances.
European captain Luke Donald has emphasized balance and chemistry in his pairings, and the results from the opening matches suggest his strategy is paying off.
What’s Next
The competition continues Friday afternoon with four four-ball matches, where each golfer plays his own ball and the team’s best score is taken on each hole. Team USA will hope its power players can turn the tide and avoid entering the weekend with a significant deficit.
With 28 total points available, the first team to reach 14.5 will lift the Cup. A tie would allow Europe, the defending champions, to retain the trophy.
As Day 1 unfolds, all eyes remain on Bethpage Black, where Europe has already made its intentions clear — they are here not just to compete, but to win on U.S. soil.
