Key events
A fine up-and-down from sand for Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay at the (relatively) short par-five 4th. The birdie ensures a half, but only because Viktor Hovland’s 17-foot eagle putt shaved the hole but stubbornly refused to drop. And there’s another near miss for Europe, on 7, as Ludvig Åberg’s 25-foot birdie putt horseshoes out. But no mistake by Jon Rahm on the par-three 8th, as he trundles in a 15-footer to hit the lead in the lead match!
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (8)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 3UP (7)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 3UP (5)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (4)
… and in the third match, Fleetwood Mac continue to go their own way. They’re now 3UP after their third birdie of the round, this time at 5! Europe are 3UP in two matches, and as former captain Paul McGinley notes on Sky, “the stats will tell you that there’s a 90 percent chance that you can’t lose from there … although we know what golf is like!”
DeChambeau/Thomas A/S Rahm/Hatton (7)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 3UP (6)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 3UP (5)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (3)
The official ruling: Hatton’s ball oscillated, but didn’t move off its spot. So there’s no problem there, and once the referee has made their call, there’s no chance to change it retrospectively. Europe fine to continue without censure. And what a break, because while Rahm can’t make the long birdie putt that Hatton’s somehow left him, Justin Thomas pulls a short par putt, and what a turnaround there for the European duo! All square in the lead game …
The players in this lead match are taking their sweet time this morning. Jon Rahm sends his drive into the woods down the right of 7. Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton then spend ages contemplating the removal of a stick that the ball has nestled beside. Eventually Hatton decides to leave be, and powers through the problem, sending the ball onto the green. Wonderful shot, though did the ball move accidentally when Hatton was prowling around it, wondering what to do? Hmm. The initial footage is inconclusive, but we might not have heard the last of this. Meanwhile back on the tee, match two wait patiently.
Bob MacIntyre walks in a 20-footer on 3 to snatch a half from under the nose of Xander Schauffele, who was surely thinking about winning the hole from a couple of feet. Then another long European putt drops, courtesy of Matt Fitzpatrick on 6, and this time it’s enough to win the hole. Scottie Scheffler misses a birdie chance from nine feet, and the world number one isn’t enjoying himself at all this morning.
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (6)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 3UP (6)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 2UP (4)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (3)
Rory McIlroy’s second into 4 plugs in the face of a greenside bunker. But Tommy Fleetwood punches out to seven feet. Harris English fails to make a birdie putt of similar distance, and so when McIlroy rolls in his putt, Europe go a couple up!
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (6)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 2UP (5)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 2UP (4)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (2)
Justin Thomas splits the fairway at 6. Tyrrell Hatton hooks wildly into some waist-high rubbish. You’d think it’s advantage USA, especially when Bryson DeChambeau wedges the approach from 90 yards to 13 feet. But Jon Rahm muscles an outrageous wedge out of the oomska over the flag to 12 feet, and when JT misses the putt, the door’s open for Europe. Tyrrell Hatton however rolls the opportunity to snatch the hole a couple of feet past … and it’s not conceded. Fair enough. Gloves off! Game on! Rahm stays cool to tidy up for a half. Given those tee shots, that’s a big escape for Europe, though both teams will harbour a little disappointment at missing the chance to land a sore blow on the opposition.
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (6)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 2UP (5)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1UP (3)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (2)
Scottie Scheffler isn’t used to hitting his approaches from such a long way out, today following the drives of the considerably shorter Russell Henley. But no matter! He still fires a dart at the 5th, from 187 yards to six feet. However anything Scheffler can do, so can Matt Fitzpatrick, who fires from 162 yards to two-and-a-half feet. Henley can’t make the birdie, and Europe go 2UP. Meanwhile on 2, Xander Schauffele wedges the USA’s second to four feet, and that’s enough to win the hole. The hosts lead in this morning’s anchor match.
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 2UP (5)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1UP (3)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (2)
Russell Henley misses a short birdie putt on the short par-five 4th. Ludvig Åberg doesn’t make the same mistake, and Europe hit the front again in the second match. And they somehow scramble a half in match three: Tommy Fleetwood gets overly aggressive with a greenside chip on 3, bundling it six feet past, but when Collin Morikawa misses an inviting 15-footer for birdie, Rory McIlroy tidies up and Europe remain 1UP.
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 1UP (4)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1UP (3)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S MacIntyre/Hovland (1)
“I can’t see the fackin’ pin!” And so the first apology of the week is issued by a broadcaster for the audio capture of effing and jeffing on the telecast. No prizes for guessing that Tyrrell Hatton is the man involved, leaving his approach from the centre of the 5th fairway well short of the pin. Jon Rahm leaves the long birdie putt well short, and Bryson DeChambeau the chance to win the hole from ten feet. But he misreads the putt. Hatton makes up for his earlier error by tidying up for the half.
Ludvig Åberg leaves Matt Fitzpatrick in an awkward spot to the left of the par-three 3rd. But Fitzpatrick whips up a delicious wedge to a couple of feet. That’s conceded, and a half is scrambled. Meanwhile back on the 1st tee, Bob MacIntyre hits Europe’s opening drive in the final morning foursomes. “Do some cardio!” yells some doofus in the crowd, someone you’d imagine would be given a good physical workout himself had he said that to the professional sports star’s face. The tee shot goes into the rough, while Xander Schauffele finds the fairway. Slight advantage USA, though not to belabour the point, this rough is not particularly penal.
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (4)
Scheffler/Henley A/S Åberg/Fitzpatrick (3)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1UP (1)
Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland
Tommy Fleetwood bumps his first shot of the week to four feet. Rory McIlroy rolls in the birdie putt, and Fleetwood Mac go 1UP on Buckingham/Nicks Morikawa/English. The US counting the cost of Collin Morikawa’s overhit approach there. Wonder what his partner has to say about that?
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (3)
Scheffler/Henley A/S Åberg/Fitzpatrick (2)
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1UP (1)
Turns out Jon Rahm’s tee shot at 3 found the grass to the side of the bunker. That allows Tyrrell Hatton to caress a chip to kick-in distance. That’s conceded, and Bryson DeChambeau is left with a six-footer, the result of Justin Thomas’s splash from the sand. He nails it. That required nerves of steel. Meanwhile Scottie Scheffler rolls in a 12-footer for birdie at 2, and the second match is level again.
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (3)
Scheffler/Henley A/S Åberg/Fitzpatrick 1UP (2)
“Is this a library?! Is this is a library?!” The European fans inject a shot of irony into proceedings on the first tee, during downtime between matches and concomitant bedlam. Shane Lowry, rested this morning, turns round and applauds their humour. Soon after, match three turns up, the volume rises again, and Rory McIlroy and Harris English take turns to lash their opening drives down the track.
Onto the first par-three at Bethpage Black. The 3rd green’s long and narrow … and Bryson tugs his tee shot into a deep bunker on the left. The door’s ajar for Rahm … but he smacks face-first into the frame, following his opponent into the same trap! Both teams need some wedge magic to get out of this one unscathed.
Back on 1, Scheffler can’t get close with his wedge in from the rough, and Henley leaves the long birdie putt three feet short. That won’t be conceded yet. But Matt Fitzpatrick has sent a glorious wedge straight at the flag to five feet, and in goes Åberg’s birdie putt. Europe one up in match two!
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (2)
Scheffler/Henley v Åberg/Fitzpatrick 1UP (1)
Bryson and Rahmbo take turns to land their approaches over the flag at the short par-four 2nd. Both spin back to set up birdie chances. Europe’s is twice the distance of the USA’s chance, and Hatton’s putt is never getting there. Just a par … but Europe get away with the half because JT pulls his ten-footer a tad, and that’s a big chance to go 2UP in short order spurned.
… but while there’s a long way to go, these foursomes will nevertheless be crucial. The last five Ryder Cups have seen the eventual winners come out on top in the opening foursomes. Europe trail 11½-4½ in foursomes on their last two visits Stateside. Anyway, here comes match number two, and while Ludvig Åberg finds the fairway, Russell Henley sends his tee shot into rough down the left. But it’s not particularly thick, and there shouldn’t be too much for Scottie Scheffler to worry about there.
Jon Rahm’s left-to-right slider is dead on line … but the early-morning green is slower than he thinks, and the ball stops one turn short. That’s par, but he’s given DeChambeau a good read, and the Americans are ten feet closer. Bryson walks in the birdie putt, and the gallery goes bananas. First blood to the hosts! A long way to go in this Ryder Cup, to be fair.
1UP DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (1)
Tyrrell Hatton cops some jeering as he takes his time to clean his wedge with a towel. And then underhits his chip out of the rough. His ball only just gets over the bunker guarding the front-right of the green. But it squirts onto the putting surface and that leaves Jon Rahm with a 25-foot look at birdie. Justin Thomas then nervously bumps up to 15 feet, a poor effort. Big putting contest coming up!
Europe captain Luke Donald speaks to USA Network … “It’s not quite the same welcome we had in Rome! … our boys are ready for it … we have a strong four pairings.”
… as does his American counterpart Keegan Bradley. “I’m extremely grateful … I’ve done a lot of amazing things but this is one of the coolest moments of my life … go USA!”
The opening shot of the 2025 Ryder Cup is taken by Jon Rahm. He’s already got four foursomes wins on his resumé. But opening nerves do a number on the big man, who carves his drive into thick stuff down the right. Bryson however absolutely clubs his opening drive, over the trees by the left-to-right dogleg and nearly onto the green! That’s a 344-yarder to begin with, and it’s advantage USA.
Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas emerge from the tunnel together, with the Stars and Stripes draped behind them. USA! USA! USA! Wild scenes! Then Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton arrive, and they’re bombarded by ear-splitting boos. Rahm wears a wry smile. Hatton initially looks stunned, but quickly breaks into a huge smile. A pose for photos. Rahm and Hatton are announced. Boos. Arms around each other. Bryson and JT get their flowers. Arms around each other too. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Ryder Cup, and it is ON!
The air literally bangs and crackles with excitement as three US Air Force fighter jets whizz overhead in formation! The hosts putting on a show. No further encouragement needed for the crowd to turn the volume up another couple of notches. Nigel Tufnel has nothing on this. These go to 12.
BREAKING NEWS … brought to you by legendary US newspaperman Arnold Ziffel …
… is that the atmosphere on the first tee at Bethpage is electric. There are plenty of Europe fans trying their best to make themselves heard … but many more home supporters giving it plenty. Good luck to Europe’s opening partnership of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, because you can bet your last bronze cent that Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, showmen both, will whip ‘em up even further. Not long now!
Now then, New York plus golf equals … yes, we know exactly what springs to mind first …
… or perhaps …
… but Bethpage Black also sits in the overlap between NY and the greatest game on the big Venn diagram of life. It’s hosted two US Opens, a Tiger Woods stroll in 2002 …
… then David Duval’s near miss in 2009 …
… plus there’s also Brooks Koepka going out of his way to make the final day of the 2019 PGA Championship more exciting than it promised to be at the start of it.
Plenty of history there to relive, courtesy of David Davies, Lawrence Donegan and Ewan Murray. Goodness me, the Guardian has been blessed with some wonderful golf writers down the years. Enjoy, enjoy.
The format for golf newbies
For the benefit of folk who fancy getting up on the downswing this weekend but don’t always follow the greatest sport in the world, we usually cut and paste the following explainer. Hey, if it’s worth reading once, it’s worth reading a dozen times. Here we go …
The Ryder Cup is a matchplay event. Each match is worth a point. There are 28 points available over the three days, so the first team to get to 14.5 points will win the Cup. Should the scores be tied at 14 points apiece, Europe will retain the trophy as current holders.
Match-play explained for those dipping their toe into the murky world of golf for the first time: In common-or-garden championship golf, such as the Masters or the Open, tournaments are scored using the stroke-play system. Whoever takes the fewest shots over all four rounds in a championship wins. All shots count and are added up for a cumulative total. So if, say, in next year’s Masters, Jon Rahm shoots 63-63-63-63 and Scottie Scheffler shoots 87-87-87-87, Rahmbo will have taken 252 strokes, and beaten the best player in the world by 96 shots. (Good luck if you bet large on this exact outcome.)
Anyway, in match play, each player or team wins a hole for every hole they better their opponents. So if Scottie takes five shots at the 1st, but Rahm needs only three, Rahm goes 1up. If Rahm wins the next hole too, he’s 2up. If the pair share the same number of shots on the 3rd, the hole is halved, and Rahm remains 2up. It doesn’t matter if Scheffler took 13 shots on her way to losing the 2nd, by the way; a bit like the unwritten rule of visits to wallet-sewer-interface-venue Las Vegas, what happens on each hole stays on each hole. There is no knock-on effect.
So let’s say Rahm wins the first nine holes of our make-believe match. With nine played, and nine remaining, he is 9up. Scottie can only tie at best; Rahm can’t lose. This is known as dormie. (And more specifically, in this slightly ludicrous example, as dormie nine.) If Scheffler wins the next nine, the game will end all square, and each team will get half a point to their overall total. But if Rahm wins the 10th, he’s 10up with eight holes to play. He has won 10&8. If the 10th hole is halved, Rahm would be 9up with eight to play. He’s won 9&8. Similarly Scheffler can be said to have lost 9&8. Europe would add a point to their overall total. I’ve probably made this sound way more complicated than it needs to be, but there it is anyway.
There will be three types of match: foursomes (teams of two players use one ball, taking alternate shots); fourballs (teams of two players play a ball each and take the best score, known as the better ball); and singles (this is when it gets quite wild and everyone across two continents starts with the shallow breathing and chest clutching). And these matches are arranged in a schedule like this:
Today: four matches of morning foursomes; four matches of afternoon fourballs.
Tomorrow: four matches of morning foursomes; four matches of afternoon fourballs.
Sunday: 12 singles matches.
Preamble
U! S!! A!!! U! S!! A!!! It’s not going to get any quieter, is it. And that’s absolutely fair enough. The prerogative of the hosts. So earplug up, baby, buckle in, and enjoy!
Here are the tee times for the first session, the first foursomes, of the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York. All times BST, the prerogative of the host of this website. Good luck America, all the best Europe, may the best team win. It’s on!
12.10pm: Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas v Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton
12.26pm: Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley v Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick
12.42pm: Collin Morikawa and Harris English v Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood
12.58pm: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay v Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland
