The Ryder Cup began with fireworks, but not from the home team. On a brisk opening morning at Bethpage Black, Luke Donald’sEurope side produced a masterclass in foursomes, thrashing Team USA 3-1 and leaving the American crowd stunned.
The lone bright spot for the hosts was the dependable pairing of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who salvaged a single point. Everything else, however, belonged to Europe.
For the Americans, the biggest concern wasn’t just the scoreline, it was the manner in which they were dismantled. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley suffered a shocking 5&3 defeat at the hands of Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick.
For Scheffler, still carrying the scars of Rome 2023, it was another humbling Ryder Cup moment for a player many consider to be the best in the world.
Europe set the pace early on
Europe’s dominance set the tone early. Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, tasked with energizing the New York crowd, instead faltered badly.
Facing the formidable duo of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, they never found their rhythm and fell 4&3. DeChambeau’s errant drive into trash bins on the 15th hole summed up the American effort: messy, unfocused, and punished.
Rory McIlroy, the emotional heartbeat of Team Europe, teamed with Tommy Fleetwood to deliver another emphatic point.
Their chemistry in foursomes has been unmatched, and they extended their record to 3-0 as a pairing with a 5&4 rout of Collin Morikawa and Harris English.
Data Golf’s analytics had rated Morikawa and English dead last among 132 possible foursomes combinations. U.S. captain Keegan Bradley rolled the dice anyway, but the gamble backfired spectacularly.
McIlroy and Fleetwood were four up inside six holes, combining precision with aggression. Fleetwood’s deft short game and McIlroy’s booming drives created an irresistible partnership that never gave America a chance.
McIlroy, playing in his ninth Ryder Cup, looked comfortable in the hostile atmosphere, even feeding off the boos that echoed across the first tee. Fleetwood, meanwhile, matched him shot for shot, producing clutch moments like a deft chip-in birdie to seize early momentum.
While Europe surged, the Americans scrambled for positives.
Only Cantlay and Schauffele managed to deliver, edging Viktor Hovland and Bob MacIntyre two up in a contest that stretched to all 18 holes. That narrow victory prevented what would have been a humiliating clean sweep.
For Donald, it was the perfect response to pre-tournament talk that Europe might struggle to replicate their 2023 form. “I’m very proud,” Donald said after the session. “We’ve come out strong. It’s been loud and we’ve thrived in the atmosphere.”
History goes against Team USA
The weight of history may also be against the Americans. In the past five Ryder Cups, the winner of the opening foursomes session has gone on to win the trophy.
Given that this is Europe’s first attempt to win away from home since 2012, their opening salvo couldn’t have been scripted better.
Bradley, trying to stay upbeat, downplayed the defeat. “In a Ryder Cup there are ebbs and flows. I have a lot of faith in the guys,” he said. But with the U.S. already trailing and questions mounting over his pairings, his optimism will be severely tested in the days ahead.
For now, though, the story is simple: Europe arrived in enemy territory and immediately silenced the roars of Bethpage Black. If Team USA doesn’t mount a rapid response, this Ryder Cup could slip away before it truly begins.
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