Europe 3 USA 1
Morning foursomes:
DeChambeau/Thomas lose 4&3 to Rahm/Hatton
Scheffler/Henley lose 5&3 to Fitzpatrick/Aberg
English/Morikawa lose 5&4 to McIlroy/Fleetwood
Cantlay/Schauffele win 1up against MacIntyre/Hovland
Afternoon fourballs:
5:25pm: Scottie Scheffler/JJ Spaun v Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka
5:41pm: Bryson DeChambeau/Ben Griffin v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose
5:57pm: Cameron Young/Justin Thomas v Ludvig Aberg/Rasmus Hojgaard
6:13pm: Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay v Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry
Philip Reid reports from Bethpage on Rory McIlroy’s foursomes match with Tommy Fleetwood:
“The boo boys in the grandstand had a pretty tame attempt to infiltrate into the headspace of Rory McIlroy and, to a lesser extent, Tommy Fleetwood on their arrival to the first tee for the morning foursomes, although the reaction of the two Europeans – immune to it all – indicated those Virtual Reality headsets spouting vile which had been used as part of their prep probably contained more vindictiveness.
“And, indeed, the way that McIlroy and Fleetwood seamlessly picked up their work from Rome two years ago – when impervious in the foursomes – was the perfect riposte to those brickbats and unsavoury shouts in inflicting a 5 and 4 win over Collin Morikawa and Harris English as Europe’s defence of the trophy got away to a flier."
Donald Trump is on the first tee and gets a big ovation. “We need you out there, Donny,” shouts someone from the crowd. USA, USA, USA is flying around, followed by the American national anthem. Jingoism in full flow now.
A firefighter signs the Star Spangled Banner as planes fly in the air, Trump salutes them.
The fourballs have been announced! McIlroy and Lowry up together.
Afternoon fourballs:
5:25pm: Scottie Scheffler/JJ Spaun v Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka
5:41pm: Bryson DeChambeau/Ben Griffin v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose
5:57pm: Cameron Young/Justin Thomas v Ludvig Aberg/Rasmus Hojgaard
6:13pm: Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay v Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry
Summary of the session:
Star Man: Matt Fitzpatrick. Silencing the critics of his pick by captain Luke Donald for his poor Ryder Cup record, Fitzpatrick was in inspired form in all aspects of his game to lead the charge with Ludvig Aberg against world number one Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
Top flop: Collin Morikawa. Not in the best form going into the event, Morikawa struggled alongside Harris English against the dominant Fleetwood Mac pairing. It would be a surprise if he was picked again until singles.
Captains verdict: Donald’s pairings were spot on, winning three comfortably and just losing to the reliable Schauffele/Cantlay pairing in the final match. Bradley’s pick of English/Morikawa was bizarre - Data Golf had said before the event that they were the worst match data-wise of all 132 possible combinations on both teams.
Schauffele and Cantlay win the match! USA get their first point on the board. It’s 3-1 after the first session.
“Born in the USA” booms out after that as the crowd is well into it now. Could be a tougher evening session for Europe. Very important that America got a win on the board though to stay in it.
“It was a tough match, it was nice to get the fans going a bit, we’re going to come out for the the best ball and get firing,” Cantlay says.
“We need to get some more points on the board here,” Schauffele says.
105 yards for Schauffele from the fairway and it’s a beauty to about 10 feet. The old pals Cantlay and Schauffele could be set for another point on the board together.
Massive cheer from the US fans as MacIntyre can’t hack it out of the rough as far as the green and looking like a win for America unless they hole a bunker shot.
Hello it’s David Gorman taking over from Malachy Clerkin for the evening coverage of the Ryder Cup. Onto the 18th and Cantlay hits the middle of the fairway with his drive, Hovland hits it well into the rough, looks like a bad lie. Tough ask now to rescue anything from this match.
Incredible bunker shot from Hovland! That was the full fried egg lie in the bunker and there seemed to be no way he could get any control. But he found a way and MacIntyre will have 10 feet for par if Cantlay doesn’t hole this 25-footer down the hill. Oh, it was on line! All it needed was another three inches.
Can MacIntyre halve the hole? He can’t. America win a hole for the first time in an hour and a half and they go down the last one up.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
Cantlay/Schauffele 1up v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (17)
Europe 3 USA 0
MacIntyre is up first on the par-three 17th. It’s 168 yards with the wind cutting across from left to right. MacIntyre backs off, to the glee of the crowd. Oof, that’s not a good one, short and in the bunker. Possibly even with a plugged lie. He got put off by the crowd there. Schauffele is up next and he pings it into the heart of the green. Advantage USA.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
AS Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (16)
Europe 3 USA 0
Hovland is putting first, as it happens. And it’s not a great one - he seemed to get the line all wrong and it slid across the front of the hole. Good chance for Cantlay now - 10 feet across the green. But he misses! That’s sloppy from both teams. All square going to the 17th.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
AS Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (16)
Europe 3 USA 0
A very half-hearted USA-USA-USA chat starts at the back of the 16th green but dies out in an instant. The much ballyhooed New York crowd haven’t been a factor here whatsoever.
Cantlay has whistled a terrific drive down the 16th fairway, leaving Schauffele with 172 yards downwind. And Schauffele plays a lovely appraoch pin high 13 feet to the left. MacIntyre has 157 from the left of the fairway - can he match it? Yes he can! He fizzes one into 10 feet. Europe will be putting second.
Team USA have not won a single hole in the past hour. Shocking stuff. At least they’re getting paid though
Schauffele has played a lovely chip there, lofting it past the hole and letting the slope bring it back. Cantlay will have eight feet for the par. MacIntyre has a much shorter shot and will have to be delicate with it... And that’s nicely done. Hovland has about six feet down the hill. Let’s see who can hold their nerve here.
Cantlay misses! It slides by on the left! Hovland can square the match here... And he does! Europe have won three out of the last four holes. This is dreadful stuff from the US team.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
AS Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (15)
Europe 3 USA 0
This really is a start the European team could only have dreamed of. In almost a century of Ryder Cups, they’ve never won the first three matches on American soil. Unprecedented.
Hovland to hit first. He has 172 yards from the first cut of rough. Tough shot this - and it comes up just short in the rough in front of the green. Won’t be difficult for MacIntyre from there. The US ball bounced out of the grandstand actually and Cantlay has a decent enough lie in the rough - but he’s left it short as well. Pretty even steven there.
Yikes. That’s an ABYSMAL tee shot from Schauffele on 15. He almost takes out a table of diners in the corporate hospitality grandstand 60 yards left of the fairway. He’ll probably get a handy drop out of there so the damage night not be too great. But it shows where American heads are at.
“We’ve just had the president fly overhead so I think things are going to turn,” says Keegan Bradley. Yeah, goodluck with that Keegan. When Trump sees the score, he might get back on the plane.
Schauffele lags it up to gimme range on 14. MacIntyre can make it three holes in a row here - but it just slips by. It’s not dead either, Hovland has to finish out from three feet or so. No problem. USA stay one up with four to play.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (14)
Europe 3 USA 0
On the short 14th, Hovland has hit a decent shot into about 15 feet right of the pin. It’s much closer than Cantlay’s effort, which spins back to around 30 feet. If MacIntyre could brush this in, it would be a huge body blow for the US team.
A few victory interviews for the Europeans. First up, Rahm and Hatton (RahmHatton?)
Now FitzBerg...
And finally Fleetwod Mac...
Hovland with a huge chance here - and he holes it!! This match was over two holes ago and now it’s very much back on.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (13)
Europe 3 USA 0
It would be pretty funny if Europe could get something out of the bottom match. They’ve got one back on the 12 and have a chance on the 13th too, thanks to a brilliant shot from MacIntyre. He’s left Hovland with nine feet, while Cantlay sits 35 feet away thanks to a very sloppy pitch by Schauffele. Could Europe nick another one?
Schefffler misses on the right and that should be that. Europe have two putts from 12 feet to win the match. And what do you know? Fitzpatrick only needs one! That’s a 5&3 hammering of the best player in the world. Stunning.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
2Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (12)
Europe 3 USA 0
Looks like there’s probably not a lot left in the second game either. Henley and Scheffler are making a mess on the 15th - they’re 25 feet away in three on a hole they need to win to extend the match. Europe are in the bunker in two - but Aberg splashes out to 12 feet. Scheffler needs to hole this.
And there could be another one coming almost immedaitely on the 14th. English skittles his putt past the hole and Morikawa makes it. But Fleetwood has three feet to win the match - and he does! They’ve absolutely rinsed Morikawa and English 5&4.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
3Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (11)
Europe 2 USA 0
That’s a fine putt from Bryson, leaving Thomas with a five-footer. Rahm has this to win the match - 15 feet on a slight downhill. Can he close it out? No! Just short. Thomas needs this to keep the match going though. And he misses! That’s a win for Europe! First bit of blue on the board.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (13)
3Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (11)
Europe 1 USA 0
Europe will want to start closing these matches out now. On the 15th green, DeChambeau has 65 feet for his birdie while Rahm has 15. Could be the first point on the board coming up.
Bryson has sprayed his drive on 15 miles into the galleries. Thomas needs a drop from there and has afive-iron to the green. He does well to find the dancefloor but that’s not how they’re going to overturn a three-hole deficit. Hatton has a much easier shot with a seven-iron from 164 yards. He whips one into 14 feet. Advantage Europe.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (14)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (13)
3Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (11)
Huge putt from Henley! He finally gets one to drop, a 35-footer across the green on 14. But Aberg is having none of it and he slides home a comfy 10-footer to tie the hole. Europe are dormie four in that one.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (14)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (14)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (12)
3Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (11)
Scruffy stuff in the bottom match from Europe. MacIntyre overhit his birdie putt and left Hovland a tricky right-to-lefter which he couldn’t hole. It means Cantlay can put the US 3Up with this three-footer - and he does! The morning session looks like it will end 3-1 to Europe, unless there some huge drama in the next hour.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (14)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (13)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (12)
3Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (11)
One back for the US on 13, courtesy of a brilliant approach by Henley to gimme range. They need plenty more of that though.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (14)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (13)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (12)
2Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (10)
Big boy golf on the short 14th. DeChambeau holes his nine-footer to give the Americans a sniff. But Rahm isn’t having any of it and he nails his putt to keep the European lead at three. Only four holes to go.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (14)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (13)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (12)
2Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (10)
Fleetwood Mac - as we apparently must call them - are in a beautiful rhythm now. They’re beign helped by the American pair having a total stinker, in all fairness. Morikawa and English makes a mess of the 12th and McIlroy holes out for a par to push Europe five up with six to play. These middle two games are going to be done very soon.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (13)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 5Up (12)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (12)
2Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (10)
On the short 14th, Hatton fires a dart into eight feet! Thomas backs off hsi shot and gets the bird from the American crowd for it. But he steadies himself and plays a lovely shot into nine feet. That’s fair going from Thomas. Badly needed.
The only bright spot to the US is in the final match. Schauffele has a chance to move them two clear on the 10th green - and he takes it! They’re clinging on. Keegan Bradley cannot afford for them to lose that match.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (13)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 5Up (12)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (11)
2Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (10)
The top match is huge now. Europe are going to win the middle two unless something ridioculous happens. If Rahm and Hatton can see it out against DeChambeau and Thomas, it’s an enormous win. They’re up on the 13th green and Rahm has left Hatton with around 14 feet for birdie while Thomas has more like 25 feet for his. JT misses - can Hatton press home the advantage? He can!! This pair have putted fantastically over the past six holes. Europe go three up with five to play.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 3UP (13)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 5Up (12)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (11)
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (9)
Fitzpatrick and Aberg win another hole! Scheffler’s chip on 12 was so difficult and he didn’t make it to the green. Henley tried his luck from the fringe and his putt lipped out. They didn’t even make Fitzpatrick putt. Europe five up with six to play.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 2UP (12)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 5Up (12)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (11)
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (9)
McIlroy and Fleetwood haven’t put a foot wrong all day but that’s a bit careless from Rory on the 11th. He’s left Fleetwood with five feet for par. Harris English has done the same for Morikawa with an equally errant effort. Morikawa holes, Tommy holes, they walk off with a tie. Europe four up.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 2UP (12)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (11)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (11)
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (9)
The Scheffler/Henley pairing has been atrocious for the US. Henley has airmailed the green on 12 and only the crowd behind the green stopped it bouncing further away from the putting surface. Aberg is unmoved - he wires one into 10 feet. Big chance for Europe to go five up here.
In the top match, DeChambeau has left Thomas with a tricky pitch from the back the 12th green - but that’s a lovely touch from JT and it’s a kick-in par. Hatton still has a reasonable chance to win the hole though - it’s 20 feet uphill. Can he do it? He can!! Europe go two up with six to play.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 2UP (12)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (11)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (10)
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (9)
Ahem. They won’t be doing it like that - Aberg leaves a terrible putt out to the right and Fitzpatrick will have a little bit of work to do to square it away. Scheffler holes out for a par for the US - and Fitzpatrick is steady as rent with the comebacker. Hole tied.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (11)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (11)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (9)
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (8)
Which match is going to finish first? Fitzpatrick has played another beautiful iron into 11, leaving Aberg around 15 feet for birdie. It’s a much better shot than Scheffler, who has left Henley a good 35 feet away. If Europe walk off that green with a win, they’ll be five up with seven to play.
On the short 8th, Schauffele has a chance to put the US bacdk in the lead, with a 15-footer downhill. Well that’s a very confident putt - he was walking it in from about three feet out. That puts red back on the board.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (11)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (10)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (9)
1Up Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (8)
And they have a chance to get another big roar on 11 - DeChambeau has 15 feet for the win. But he races it past! Thomas is going to have to hole five-footer here. That’s a bad mistake from Bryson. But Thomas tidies up, leaving Hatton with four feet to tie the hole. And he does! Europe stay one up with seven holes to play.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (11)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (10)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (9)
AS Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (7)
Good news for America on 9 though - McIlroy’s putt stays above ground and that’s a hole back for Morikawa and English.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (10)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (9)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (9)
AS Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (7)
Stunning shot by Morikawa on the 9th! He looked to be in trouble with trees overhanging in front of him but he draws a boomerang around the branches and stops it two feet from the hole. Fleetwood has an easier shot but there’s a big premium on it after that - and he flights one in to eight feet. Rory will have to hole it or it’s one back for the US.
Europe have a chance to draw level in the bottom match here. MacIntyre will have a putt from 20 feet for his birdie, while Schauffele is in the bunker and splashes out to seven feet. Cantlay needs to hole that... but he misses! That means there’s no red on the board! Europe are up in three and all square in the other.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (10)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (9)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (8)
AS Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (7)
The top match walk off the difficult 10th with a half, both teams getting down in two from around 45 feet.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (10)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (9)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (8)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (6)
Boom boom for Europe! Aberg holes out on nine and that means he and Fotzpatrick hit the turn four up on Scheffler and Henley. Back on the eighth, McIlroy polishes off Fleetwood’s brilliant tee shot and th puts them five up. This couldn’t be going much better for Luke Donald’s side.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (9)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 4Up (9)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5Up (8)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (6)
That’s another great chance lost for USA in the bottom match. Cantlay had a putt to go 2Up and it hit maybe the worst stroke we’ve seen all day from anyone. He left it short from 12 feet and Europe sprint off the green knowing they got away with one there. The course is so quiet you can hear the grass grow.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (9)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (8)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (7)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (6)
Fleetwood and McIlroy are relentless. On the short 8th, Tommy has speared one into four feet. Morikawa’s shot isn’t bad but it’s 18 feet away on the fringe. Advantage Europe again.
Where is the American comeback going to come from? Scheffler is the obvious hope for them. He takes charge on the ninth holes, whizzing a fantastic shot into 10 feet. But Fitzpatrick isn’t one bit cowed by playing against the best payer in the world and he leaves his 12 feet from the holes. Nothing between them.
In the top match, Justin Thomas is stinking the place out. From the middle of the fairway on 9, he leaves his approach short and right in the rough. Hatton meanwhile stitches his in to 12 feet. The European pair are fizzing here and have a chance to go 2Up. DeChambeau chips it up to two feet but Rahm’s put slides inches by. That’s a let-off for the USA.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (9)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (8)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (7)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (5)
In the top match, Justin Thomas is stinking the place out. From the middle of the fairway on 9, he leaves his approach short and right in the rough. Hatton meanwhile stitches his in to 12 feet. The European pair are fizzing here and have a chance to go 2Up. DeChambeau chips it up to two feet but Rahm’s put slides inches by. That’s a let-off for the USA.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (9)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (8)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (6)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (5)
Says it all...
The American team need to get something back here quickly. But everything is going Europe’s way. MacIntyre hits the pin on the 5th, leaving Hovland just three feet to tie the hole. And the Norwegian takes care of it. That was a great chance for USA to go 2Up in the bottom match but there was nothing doing.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (8)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (8)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (6)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (5)
And a thoroughly unlikely turnaround comes on the 8th, where DeChambeau misses and Hatton makes. Rahm and Hatton haven’t played well AT ALL and yet they go to the 9th a hole up. So much silence out on the course now. Gotta love the Ryder Cup.
DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 1UP (8)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (7)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (6)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (4)
RORY! An absolute pearler from McIlroy on the 6th, leaves Fleetwood no more than a couple of feet from the hole. He will surely be given that. Europe could go four up here. English needs to hole from 18 feet - and he slides by. Brilliant start from Fleetwood Mac.
AS DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton AS (7)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (7)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 4Up (6)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (4)
Europe are riding a wave here. McIlroy drains another one on the fifth and that puts him and Fleetwood 3Up against English and Morikawa.
AS DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton AS (7)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (6)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 3Up (5)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (4)
Well now! Bryson splashed out to five feet but Thomas missed the putt! Europe got down in two and it’s all square. Sky reporter Wayne Riley reports from the course that the referee sasy the ball oscillated but didn’t move from its spot - meaning that Europe don’t get a penalty. They’ve won the hole!
AS DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton AS (7)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (6)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 2Up (4)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (3)
On the seveth, there could be a bit of controversy bubbling. Rahm’s tee shot went a mile right and came to rest near a stick, which he or Hatton may or may not have moved a dimple when inspecting it. Hatton has played a brilliant second shot to 30 feet, while the Yanks are in the bunker. Will there be a row over this?
McIlroy has a chance to put Europe 2Up in the third match and he nails it from seven feet! Harris English misses from a similar distance and that’s phenomenal stuff from Europe.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (6)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (6)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 2Up (4)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (3)
Another brilliant intervention from Fitzpatrick. He holes out from 15 feet on the sitxh, meaning Scheffler has to follow him in to tie the hole. And he doesn’t! Europe go 3Up against the world number one.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (6)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 3Up (6)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 2Up (4)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (3)
The drama continues in the top match. Thomas missed his putt by a little and it was conceded. Hatton missed his by a little more than a little and it was not. Rahm finishes off from two feet and the hole is tied. It’s getting a teensy bit niggly between these two.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (6)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 2Up (5)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (4)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (3)
Matt Fitzpatrick is the star of the show for Europe this morning. He’s playing as if it’s not Scottie Scheffler on the other side and that’s another hole won for Europe. Fitzpatrick whipped a stunning approach to two feet to set up a simple birdie for Aberg. Scheffler’s wasn’t quite as good but it was still only six feet away. Sadly for the US, Henley isn’t having a good morning and that’s a bad miss. Europe have the first 2Up lead of the 2025 Ryder Cup.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 2Up (5)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (3)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (2)
What a shot from Jon Rahm! That’s incredible strength from the hay on the left and he’s closer that Bryson was with his. Who makes and who misses?
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 1Up (4)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (2)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (2)
In the final match, Cantlay holes out tidily from Schauffele’s brilliant approach. That’s a win for the US and now they’re up in two and Europe are up in two. Finely poised.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 1Up (4)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (2)
1UP Cantlay/Schauffele v MacIntyre/Hovland (2)
Big trouble for Europe in the top match. Hatton has sprayed his drive a mile to the left and has found the only deep rough we’ve seen on any hole so far. Rahm will be a miracle worker to get anything good out of this. DeChambeau has a much easier task from the (very light) right rough.
Rahm and DeChambeau are staring each other down here, wondering who is going first. Bryson is getting a big annoyed at the confusion. But he hits a stunner into 10 feet and walks away chuntering.
In the final match, Schauffele has nailed his second shot to the second. He leaves Cantlay with six feet for birdie. MacIntyre’s shot would have looked good in the air but it grabbed a huge amount of spin and Hovland will have closer to 25 feet from the fringe for his birdie.
Things aren’t going well for them on the 3rd though - McIlroy pulled his tee shot on the par three and Fleetwood’s chip scuttle through. Rory need to hole a 10-footer to get away with it - and he does! Big save for Europe there.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 1Up (4)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (3)
Cantlay/Schauffele AS v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (1)
Oh, that’s a bit of a shocker from Henley on the fourth. He ahd 10 feet for birdie but he made a mess of it. Aberg was left with a handy five-footer to win the hole and duly did so. Europe up in two matches now.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 1Up (4)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (2)
Cantlay/Schauffele AS v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (1)
Big chance for USA in the top match - DeChambeau has 20 feet to win the hole. But it just slides by. Europe aren’t out of the woods yet though - Hatton needs to hole from six feet to tie the hole. But he’s rock steady. Never in doubt.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (5)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (3)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (2)
Cantlay/Schauffele AS v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (1)
MacIntyre hits a decent lag putt on the first and that’sa four. Let’s see what Schauffele can do... he misses it! Big let-off for Europe in the final match.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (4)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (3)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (2)
Cantlay/Schauffele AS v MacIntyre/Hovland AS (1)
Fleetwood and Morikawa both missed on the second and that’s a tie.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (4)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (3)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (2)
The final match is on the course now. Bob MacIntyre whipped a decent drive down the left for Europe, which Viktor Hovland has lasered into the middle of the green. His partner will have about 30 feet for birdie there. For the Yanks, Xander Schauffele went straight at the green and left it 60 yards short in the rough, down around where Fleetwood was. Cantlay stitches it to seven feet. Advantage USA.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (4)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (3)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (2)
On the second, McIlroy has spun a lovely approach pin high to 15 feet. English’s spun back a little further and he’s left Morikawa around 18 feet. Putting contest ahoy.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (4)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (3)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (1)
One thing that is clear so far is that the rough by nowhere near as penalising as we’ve been used to over the years at Bethpage. Matt Fitzpatrick just hit the most gorgeous chip from what looked like pretty deep stuff to the left fo the third - it wasn’t a bother to him. Hole tied.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (4)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (3)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (1)
In the top match, Europe are definitely closer to the hole but it might not count for much. Thomas has played a lovely third for the US, dribbling up to foot away and that will be a four. Hatton has a 30-footer to win the hole. He just misses and that’s a tie.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (4)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (3)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (1)
On the first, Morikawa is out by no more than three feet, skittering through into the greenside fringe. It’s stilla good chance for the US team. But what a shot from Tommy Fleetwood! Buried in the rough short of the green, he chunked out a stunning bump and run.
Great chance for McIlroy from three feet. And he makes it! Europe go one up.
1Up DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton (3)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (2)
English/Morikawa v McIlroy/Fleetwood 1Up (1)
In the second match, Henley has redeemed himself with a stylish approach to 10 feet. Aberg has left his partner a good bit further away, finding the middle of the green around 30 feet from the hole. Fitzpatrick cosies it up to a foot but now Scheffler has this to draw level... And he does!
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up v Rahm/Hatton (3)
Scheffler/Henley AS v Fitzpatrick/Aberg AS (2)
Up on the third, DeChambeau tidies up from eight feet to halve the hole after Hatton left his second stone dead.
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up v Rahm/Hatton (3)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 1Up (1)
Rory time. He stands up to the first tee, with boos raining down from the stands. And his drive is pretty good - in the rough just short of the green. If Tommy Fleetwood has good lie, that should be no problem. Harris English steps up and doesn’t try to cut the corner, leaving Collin Morikawa a straightforward iron shot for his second.
In the top match, both Rahm and DeChambeau have pulled their teee shots into the bunker on the left of the green. Down to Hatton and JT to fight it out from the sand. Thomas splashes out to eight feet.
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up v Rahm/Hatton (2)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 1Up (1)
This is the face of a man who was up at 3am...
Henley leaves his attempt three feet short on the first and so now Aberg can put Europe ahead if he holes his five-footer. And he does! Perfect start for Europe there.
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up v Rahm/Hatton (2)
Scheffler/Henley v Fitzpatrick/Aberg 1Up (1)
On the second, Justin Thomas doesn’t capitalise on Bryson’s brilliant approach, his 10-footer sliding by. Hatton got his putt to gimme range for Europe and the hole is tied.
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up on Rahm/Hatton (2)
USA up in 1
Scheffler has 148 yards to the pin out of the left rough - and he finds the middle of the green, a good 40 yards away. Matt Fitzpatrick has a much easier shot from the middle of the fairway and stitches it to four feet. Big chance for Europe in the second match.
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up on Rahm/Hatton (1)
USA up in 1
Up on the second, DeChambeau has is playing beautifully. He’s hit a gorgeous second shot to 10 feet, whereas Rahm’s appraoch has spun back to 27 feet. Europe with work to do.
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up on Rahm/Hatton (1)
USA up in 1
Perfect start for Team USA. They’ve made a slightly weird choice with the second match though, leaving Russell Henley to take the tee shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler. He pulls one left into the rough. For Europe, Ludvig Aberg has hit a brilliant drive down to the area where Bryson his his. Possible dvantage Europe here.
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up on Rahm/Hatton (1)
USA up in 1
Rahm leaves his a foot short. Chance for DeChambeau. If he holes this, the place will go ballistic. It’s around 18 feet, more or less on the line that Rahm just hit his... And he drains it!
DeChambeau/Thomas 1Up on Rahm/Hatton (1)
USA up in 1
Hatton will actually have a decent line to the pin from over on the right, it just depends on what the lie is like. If the ball sits up for him, he can get this close.
He caught it a bit thick so it landed on the fringe of the green and didn’t really roll out. Leaves Rahm with a 20-footer for birdie.
Thomas has a much easier shot but he makes a bit of a mess of it, leaving it a good 15 feet short of the hole. It’s a putting competition now to see who takes the hole - Rahm v Bryson.
Jon Rahm will hit the opening tee shot. And it’s a nervy one, carved away into the right hand rough. Greeted by a huge roar from the crowd.
Now DeChambeau - and he hits a stunner! Finds the fairway about 30 yards shot of the green. Advantage USA.
Bryson and JT walk out of the tunnel draped in the stars and stripes. Eyeroll, eyeroll, eyeroll...
Jon Rah and Tyrrell Hatton walk out to the usual chorus of boos. They don’t seem overly perturbed. Nearly there now.
Rough start to the morning for Philip Reid in New York, who sends us this dispatch...
“Well, the day can only get better. The fire alarm in the hotel went off at 3am which meant there was not fear of missing the 4.30am shuttle out to Bethpage Black – just over an hour away – for the first session of the Ryder Cup.
“The scene is quite surreal in many ways, with the players involved in the opening session of foursomes all preparing under floodlights on the driving range and on the putting green.
“Already, the grandstands beside the 1st and which also overlook the 18th green are packed . . . . and a sea of red – chants of USA, USA already underway – comes as little surprise for what is expected to be a wild, boisterous opening day.
“President Trump is due here after the foursomes get under way. He is scheduled to arrive shortly after 11am and will be by the first tee for the afternoon session of fourballs.
“The USA are favourites but there is a sense within the European team that this is their time to break the duck of home wins. The last European team to win was at Medinah in 2012 and Jon Rahm – in the first foursomes pairing away with Tyrrell Hatton against Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau – for one is convinced there is room for a second miracle, as he put it.
“DeChambeau has proven to a real showman in the build-up and it will come as no surprise that data shows he has hit more balls on the range this week than anyone. Bryson has hit 507 balls with Viktor Hovland – searching for his swing – hitting the next highest, some 356. The lowest amount of balls hit? That would be Justin Rose, just 84.
“So, we’re nearly set to get underway...”
Opening tee shots are just 15 minutes away.
And so here we are. The longest week in golf is almost at an end and the Friday of the Ryder Cup is here.
We’ll be with you all weekend, starting with opening series of foursomes matches. The first balls will be in the air at 12.10 Irish time.
Key Reads
- ‘We are playing for history’: Rory McIlroy says Ryder Cup win would leave lasting legacy
- Irish Times Golf Correspondent Philip Reid previews Friday’s foursomes
- Bethpage Diary: Why UFOs help Viktor Hovland take his mind off Ryder Cup pressure
- Malachy Clerkin: Take bad behaviour out of the Ryder Cup and it won’t be the Ryder Cup
The first tee on the first morning of the Ryder Cup has become a law onto itself over the years. The tension is hilariously off-the-scale at times, with players the most nervous they’ve ever been. This particular first tee shot is one that will tempt players into shots they might not be that comfortable playing - it’s a dog-leg right but if they overcut it, they’ll put their partner in the trees.
Already, you can feel the atmosphere building.
Europe won the opening session 4-0 in Rome last time out. It ended a run of four Ryder Cups in a row where the US took the opening session. Both sides would be happy enough to go 2-2 here, I’d imagine.
Our man on the ground at Bethpage Philip Reid has just been on to say that the word is Donald Trump is going to park himself on the first tee for the afternoon matches later on. They’re due to start at 5.25 Irish time. As if the whole thing wasn’t enough of a circus already.
Okay, so the first tee shots are about an hour away. It looks almost certain that Bryson DeChambeau will hit the first shot of the 2025 Ryder Cup. He’s paired with Justin Thomas and the way Bethpage plays, the odd-numbered holes favour the bombers off the tee. So it will be a huge surprise if Bryson isn’t the first man up - and possibly even a bigger one if he doesn’t try to cut the corner and drive the green. That’s the Ryder Cup - drama from the first time a peg goes in the ground.
Here’s the foursomes line-up for the opening session. All times are Irish.
Match 1 (12.10): Bryson DeChambeau & Justin Thomas (USA) v Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton (Europe)
Match 2 (12.26): Scottie Scheffler & Russell Henley (USA) v Ludvig Aberg & Matt Fitzpatrick (Europe)
Match 3 (12.42): Collin Morikawa & Harris English (USA) v Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood (Europe)
Match 4 (12.58): Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay (USA) v Robert MacIntyre & Viktor Hovland (Europe)
