Sep 27, 2025, 06:51 PM ET
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Team Europe already had demolished and disheartened the Americans in another Ryder Cup romp Saturday, and it wasn’t finished.
The final match of a long, loud and obnoxious day at Bethpage Black was all square when Matt Fitzpatrick blasted out of a fairway bunker and heard European cheers when his ball spun back to 2 feet away. Next to play was Tyrrell Hatton, whose shot into the 18th hole spun back and nicked his teammate’s ball.
It summed up how the exquisite golf of the European team, which took on every challenge — starting with a gallery so hostile that extra security was required — and entered the Ryder Cup record book for the largest lead in the modern format: Europe 11.5, United States 4.5.
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
“I didn’t really imagine this,” European captain Luke Donald said.
Europe needs to win only three of the 12 singles matches Sunday to take that precious gold trophy back home across the Atlantic Ocean. Donald has turned to 45-year-old Justin Rose to lead off against Cameron Young, followed by Tommy Fleetwood, who can become the first European to go 5-0 on the road and just the fifth player overall to go 5-0.
The main attraction is Rory McIlroy against Scottie Scheffler, the game’s top two players who have three majors and 10 victories this year between them.
The real attraction is Europe. The louder and more vulgar it got, the better they played.
“Things got tougher out there, and it fired them up even more,” Donald said. “They were able to get better through those difficult moments out there. That is what makes me most proud as a captain, just their ability to take the punches and come back even stronger.”
McIlroy caught the brunt of verbal abuse and at one point, turned to the spectators and said, “Shut the f— up!”. And then he stuffed his shot to 5 feet for birdie that closed out the foursomes match on the 16th hole for another blue point.
12:02 p.m.: Cameron Young vs. Justin Rose
12:13 p.m.: Justin Thomas vs. Tommy Fleetwood
12:24 p.m.: Bryson DeChambeau vs. Matt Fitzpatrick
12:35 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy
12:46 p.m.: Patrick Cantlay vs. Ludvig Aberg
12:57 p.m.: Xander Schauffele vs. Jon Rahm
1:08 p.m.: JJ Spaun vs. Sepp Straka
1:19 p.m.: Russell Henley vs. Shane Lowry
1:30 p.m.: Ben Griffin v. Rasmus Hojgaard
1:41 p.m.: Collin Morikawa vs. Tyrrell Hatton
1:52 p.m.: Sam Burns vs Robert MacIntyre
2:03 p.m.: Harris English vs. Viktor Hovland
There was nothing the not-so-mighty U.S. team could do.
“I think it’s one of the best performances of a road team in any sport. They have played incredible. They have played great. They have putted even better,” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said. “They have come into a hostile environment and played great golf.
“You know, sometimes as a competitor, as an athlete, you have to take a step back and again sort of tip your cap to something like that.”
That’s about all he could do.
Europe became the fourth team to win each of the first four sessions of a single Ryder Cup. Each of the previous teams won singles play as well for good measure.
The previous record after the four sessions of team play was 11-5. No team has rallied from more than a four-point deficit on the last day.
Scheffler also made it into the Ryder Cup record book. The world’s No. 1 player is the first to go 0-4 under the current format.
The Americans had a lead in only three of the 70 holes played in four-balls Saturday afternoon. U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun hit it tight on the 17th and 18th for birdies as he and fellow San Diego State alum Xander Schauffele squeezed out one of only two U.S. points on the day.
The other belonged to Bryson DeChambeau and Young in the opening foursomes match.
“The course is set up relatively easy, and they’re making a lot of birdies and we’re not,” Schauffele said. “They’re just beating us flat-out, and I’m just happy to get a point with J.J. A little bit of red on the board is a win today.”
Scottie Scheffler became the first player to go 0-4 under the current Ryder Cup format. Peter Casey-Imagn Images
At stake for Europe on Sunday is a chance to break the record for the biggest rout — 19-9 by the Americans at Whistling Straits in 2021.
Bradley was asked what message he will give to his team to keep hopes alive, and the New England native pointed to the New England Patriots’ stunning comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in 2017.
“Twenty-eight to three. I was at that Super Bowl,” Bradley said. “I watched it. What a cool thing to have witnessed live in person.”
The way this Ryder Cup has played out, 11.5-4.5 feels much bigger.
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.