Europe grabs early momentum as Ryder Cup opens at Bethpage Black
The 2025 Ryder Cup teed off Friday morning at Bethpage Black on Long Island, where Europe seized an early edge in the opening session, putting pressure on the United States before an energized home crowd. The opening day promised to set the tone for what is already shaping up as a tense and closely fought contest between the two golfing giants.
The Americans arrived as slight favorites on home soil, banking on a roster packed with major champions and young stars. Yet it was the European side, led once again by captain Luke Donald, that found composure in the demanding alternate-shot format of the morning foursomes.
In the opening match, the U.S. pairing of Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas went out first against Europe’s Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. DeChambeau’s length off the tee and Thomas’s sharp iron play gave the Americans the early advantage, but Rahm’s steady short game and Hatton’s resilience kept the match within touching distance. By the turn, the tension was evident, with both teams exchanging holes and refusing to give ground.
The second match proved pivotal. Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player, partnered with Russell Henley to face Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick. Europe’s duo, combining Åberg’s poise with Fitzpatrick’s consistency, quickly established control. Their ability to keep the ball in play while applying pressure on the greens pushed them into the lead, silencing the partisan crowd and providing Europe with a valuable point in the making.
Elsewhere, Collin Morikawa and Harris English were paired against Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, a partnership that has been reliable for Europe in past contests. McIlroy, brimming with confidence, struck early with birdies on the front nine. Fleetwood backed him up with solid play around the greens, leaving the Americans scrambling to respond. By mid-morning, the Europeans were firmly on the front foot in that contest.
The final foursomes match saw Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, one of America’s most trusted partnerships, against Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland. Unlike the other matches, this one turned into a dogfight. The Americans relied on their chemistry and tactical patience, while Europe countered with Hovland’s shot-making brilliance. Neither side managed to pull away, setting up a nail-biting finish.
By the conclusion of the morning session, Europe held leads in two of the four matches, with the U.S. ahead in the first and the fourth match still in balance. It was an outcome that underscored Europe’s ability to strike early even in the hostile atmosphere of a New York crowd that had been instructed to make Bethpage as loud and intimidating as possible.
The atmosphere itself was a storyline. The galleries at Bethpage are known for their raw energy, and with President Donald Trump expected to attend part of the tournament, security was tight and the crowd electric. American fans chanted and roared from the opening tee shots, but the Europeans, seasoned in dealing with away hostility, showed few signs of being rattled.
Attention now shifts to the afternoon fourball matches, where the format allows each player to play their own ball, often rewarding hot streaks and individual brilliance. This is typically where the Americans expect to shine, leaning on the firepower of players like DeChambeau, Scheffler, and Morikawa, who can make birdies in bunches. Europe, however, will look to ride its early momentum and continue applying pressure.
Both captains face critical decisions on how to adjust their pairings. For the United States, captain Keegan Bradley must weigh whether to reshuffle partnerships to spark energy, while Donald will consider whether to double down on his successful morning pairings or rest key players for later sessions.
Course conditions at Bethpage Black are proving challenging despite softened greens from overnight rain. The long rough and narrow fairways are demanding accuracy, rewarding those who can keep the ball in play while punishing errant shots. Players who fail to find fairways are being forced to scramble just to save par, making the foursomes format especially punishing.
The stakes are high. Europe enters the competition as defending champions after their triumph in Rome in 2023, while the U.S. is under pressure to reclaim the Cup in front of its home fans. The first day’s momentum can often set the tone for the weekend, and Europe’s strong start has already forced the Americans into catch-up mode.
The Ryder Cup is as much about psychology as it is about golf. Halved matches feel like victories, and a single clutch putt can shift the energy of an entire session. That dynamic was on full display in the morning as Europe drained critical putts to hold off American charges.
For the Americans, the challenge will be responding quickly. Allowing Europe to carry a lead into Saturday could place immense pressure on Sunday’s singles, where every mistake is magnified. For Europe, the goal will be to keep the scoreboard in their favor and frustrate the U.S. with disciplined, steady play.
As play continues into the afternoon, both sides know that every point matters. The Americans are banking on home soil and crowd energy to pull them back into the fight, while Europe is determined to prove that its victory two years ago was no fluke.
By the close of Day 1, the narrative will be clearer: either Europe will cement its advantage with another strong session, or the Americans will rally to even the contest and set the stage for a classic Ryder Cup showdown.
