Browsing: foursomes

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Classic Ryder Cup peppering of the pin at 9. It’s a 451 yard par-four. Justin Rose has 26 feet for birdie, Bryson DeChambeau 11 feet, Scottie Scheffler 8 feet and Tommy Fleetwood 5 feet. They have the hole surrounded.

Share

Updated at 15.10 EDT

The top match makes the turn. A pumped up Justin Thomas unleashes a ferociously fast swing at his ball and finds the fairway. A more controlled Rory McIlroy does the same. TV shows us a line of law enforcement officers looking at the galleries and suggests they’ve turned up to keep the calm.

Share

An excited Simon McMahon is back – and with his catchphrase, too! “Oh my gawd, Matt. Rose walking it in at 8 with a bonus fist pump you just don’t see unless it’s Ryder Cup weekend. Or you’re at the McMahon annual putting competition at the Himalayas in St. Andrew’s. Gotta LOVE the Ryder Cup!â€

Share

As blue drops off the leaderboard in the top match, Sepp Straka steps forward in the third game out. Some doubted his inclusion this week but he’s a two-time PGA Tour winner in 2025, has experience of Rome, and he holes from 12 feet at 7 for a winning birdie. He and Jon Rahm go 1UP on JJ Spaun and Xander Schauffele.

Share

More noisy scenes at 9. Justin Thomas tries to quieten the galleries as Rory McIlroy lines up a 21 foot birdie putt that edges the hole. Thomas himself holes from 20 feet and stands tall as he peers out at the galleries, waggling his earlobe. Can Shane Lowry match him for a half from 9 feet? No he can’t! Huge roars from the galleries. The match is all square.

Thomas/Young A/S McIlroy/Lowry (9)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 1UP (8)
Spaun/Schauffele A/S Rahm/Straka (6)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (6)

Share

What a bewildering game this is. Bryson DeChambeau can bazooka a ball over 350 yards but he’s just hit a putt 6 feet when the hole at 8 was 12 feet away. It was a double hit, too (no penalty these days). In mitigation, he was up against a collar of rough but it was all part of this infuriating business. Justin Rose takes advantage by making a walk in birdie from 21 feet. He started the walk when it was 8 feet out! Absolute scenes from the oldest man in the match! He and Tommy Fleetwood are now 1UP.

Share

Updated at 14.54 EDT

Fin is impressed by one American: “It feels like DeChambeau is a one man team so far this weekend. If Rose and Fleetwood turn that match around the USA could disintegrate.†Cam Young is not doing too bad, Fin!

Cameron Young plays out from the bunker on the 8th. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/ReutersShare

Updated at 14.58 EDT

Cam Young and Justin Thomas have played two at the par-three 8th and neither are inside 15 feet. Before Rory McIlroy putts from 25 feet Thomas urges quiet. The putt misses but it’s a safe par. Young’s long par putt pulls up short then Shane Lowry misses for birdie. Thomas has to stand off his par putt before he drains it at the second attempt and then gives some back to the galleries. This is a tight session.

Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 1UP (8)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Rose (7)
Spaun/Schauffele A/S Rahm/Straka (6)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (5)

Share

Scottie Scheffler has missed the green at 7. He’s stuck on a bank above a bunker. Just standing is a conundrum. His stab forward flies a good 20 feet past the hole. Partner Bryson DeChambeau edges the hole with his long birdie attempt. Justin Rose has 8 feet for a winning birdie and he makes it! The match is all square. A tremendous tussle.

Share

When you win a hole in match play, keeping the foot down tends to matter. But Cam Young and Justin Thomas have missed the green at the par-three 8th while Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy have both found the green.

Share

Cam Young drains a 36-foot birdie at 7 to win the hole against Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. His partner Justin Thomas bounces around the green, lifting his arms, putting his hand to his ear. He’s pumped but Cam Young is one of the stars of the Ryder Cup. The New Yorker is having the week of his life. Thomas and Young are now 1DOWN through 7.

Justin Thomas gets a little excited. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/ReutersShare

Updated at 14.32 EDT

Matt Fitzpatrick launched a superb approach to the par-five 4th but he can’t find the hole with his eagle putt from 14 feet. The match remains all square, however.

Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 2UP (6)
Scheffler/DeChambeau 1UP v Fleetwood/Rose (6)
Spaun/Schauffele A/S Rahm/Straka (4)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (4)

Share

Bryson DeChambeau’s putting has been sensational this week, but at 6 he can’t find the hole from 22 feet. Scottie Scheffler is up next from 11 feet and he finds the birdie! But the Europeans can match him. Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood are both closer. As Scheffler tucks into a sandwich, Rose steps forward and makes a par breaker of his own. His career Indian Summer continues apace.

Share

Damien Woods emails: “God bless the Americans but you never poke an Offalyman. Shane’s father, Brendan, scored points in the all Ireland football final of 1982 when they were overwhelming underdogs but beat a Kerry team going for five in a row. Expect something similar today…â€

Share

Updated at 14.16 EDT

This could be getting tricky. Rory McIlroy has stepped off his putt once more. He and Shane Lowry are chatting to the officials, but not a lot is happening. McIlroy circles the shot then tries again … the ball lags close. There are jeers to follow. Dame Laura Davies on Sky Sports wants to head out there to sort it out. “Ridiculous,†she says. And it’s surely only going to get worse. Then Shane Lowry drains his birdie from 11 feet. It’s only for a half as Cam Young has a tap in, but it’s spicy!

Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy on the sixth. Photograph: Harry How/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 14.34 EDT

Rory McIlroy is waiting to hit a putt. And he’s waiting. He wants quiet and he’s not getting it. Meanwhile, the situation:

Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 2UP (5)
Scheffler/DeChambeau 1UP v Fleetwood/Rose (5)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (3)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (3)

Share

The American big boys have lit the fuse. After his eagle-3 at 4, Bryson DeChambeau knocks his approach at 5 inside 7 feet, and Scottie Scheffler joins him in that range. Their opponents, meanwhile, are struggling for birdie. Justin Rose is up first from 34 feet and can only lag to gimme distance. Tommy Fleetwood is 18 feet away and his putt edges the hole but doesn’t drop. DeChambeau capitalises by finding the hole and there is now red on the board. Can their team mates match them?

Share

“No envelope situation,†reports Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir. He expands that Viktor Hovland stepped down for cautionary reasons this afternoon and will play in the singles. He also explains that Shane Lowry has had a fan removed from the property for bad behaviour.

Share

The Europeans can’t match the eagle of Bryson DeChambeau so the second match is now all square (or tied as the US scoring system prefers this week). Back on 2, Matt Fitzpatrick misses a 3-foot putt but Tyrrell Hatton helped him out from the same range. Shane Lowry drains another winning putt at the 5th and gives another roar from the heart.

Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 2UP (5)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Rose (4)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (3)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (2)

Share

Simon McMahon is enjoying the fiery scenes: “Absolutely tremendous from Shane Lowry there on 5, giving it the full eff you plus bonus finger jabbing at the punter who had heckled McIlroy moments before. You just don’t see that any other week of the year, unless of course you’re drinking in Lochee High Street in Dundee. We’re all just friends and golf fans at the end of the day, though. Gotta love the Ryder Cup.â€

Share

Bryson DeChambeau is not everyone’s cup of tea, but he is standing strong today. He doesn’t look happy about it, but his 193-yard approach to the par-5 4th misses the hole by inches. A gimme eagle for him. He’s happier as he gets to the green and urges the galleries to make more noise.

Bryson DeChambeau tees off from the fourth. Photograph: Michael Reaves/PGA/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 13.51 EDT

After Shane Lowry’s excitement, and Justin Rose’s quality, Sepp Straka makes a winning putt of his own at 2. Europe lead in three matches. A giddy start to the afternoon for the visitors.

Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 1UP (4)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 1UP (3)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (2)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (1)

Share

Shane Lowry is pumped! There is aggro in his game with Rory McIlroy and when he holes a long eagle putt on 5 he goes bananas and shouts “F**k you!†as he points to someone in the gallery.

Shane, pumped. Photograph: Matt Slocum/APShare

Updated at 13.38 EDT

Joe Pearson asks: “Given Viktor Hovland’s situation, will we get to find out who’s in Bradley’s envelope?†Let’s hope the neck is just a little sore and the physios can work their magic, Joe. We will likely only learn that name if the worst case scanerio emerges tomorrow.

We have a break of the fourball deadlock, by the way. Justin Rose opens birdie-birdie and the second one wins the hole for Europe. He and Tommy Fleetwood lead 1UP in the second match.

Share

Ryder Cup rookies might be wondering what happens if Viktor Hovland can’t play tomorrow. The two captains put the name of a player in an envelope for these circumstances. If Hovland can’t play, the American whose name is in Keegan Bradley’s envelope will sit out the singles, and their match will be deemed to have been halved.

Share

Fantastic speculation about Viktor Hovland’s neck. Nick Faldo on Sky Sports wonders if he pulled it celebrating his putt on 17. There is a precedent for this. Ian Woosnam issued a famous fist pump when he holed the winning putt in the 1991 Masters – and pulled a muscle in his upper arm. He then spent his time in the Butler Cabin partially-anaesthetized by adrenalin as he struggled to get the sore arm inside the green jacket.

Viktor Hovland celebrates on the 17th. Is this when his neck twanged? Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPAShare

Updated at 13.42 EDT

Interesting. Viktor Hovland was set to play in the fourth match with Matt Fitzpatrick, but Tyrrell Hatton has turned up on the tee instead. Sky Sports reports the Norwegian has a neck injury. They’re taking on Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.

Share

Earlier today, Scott reported an incident when Rory McIlroy shouted American fans to “shut the f*** upâ€. “I don’t mind them having a go at us, that’s to be expected,†he said after winning his foursomes. “I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is. In between shots, say whatever you want to me. That’s totally fine. But just give us the respect, let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have.†Fans have taken to shouting “miss it†or “it’s downhill†or “you missed this one yesterday†(and similar) as Europeans address the ball. The galleries have also collectively counted out loud as Europeans set themselves. It will be interesting to see if this becomes a little more intense if this afternoon goes on.

Share

Match three is testament to the cosmopolitan nature of the modern world. Spaniard Jon Rahm (married to an American) alongside Austrian Sepp Straka (whose mum is American) up against the Americans Xander Schauffele (French-German dad, Taiwanese-Japanese mum) and JJ Spaun (dad of European descent, mum Filipino-Mexican). It makes the simplicity of all the howling and hollering around this match seem a little bewildering!

Share

Updated at 13.05 EDT

A good start from Scottie Scheffler. He knocks his approach at 1 to 3 feet after the English pair leave their second shots outside 10 feet. What about beefcake Bryson? He tucks his effort inside Scheffler’s. (Back at the tee, JJ Spaun’s caddie jogs down the tunnel stroking the various Stars and Stripes flags on the wall.) Justin Rose makes his birdie, then they ask the Americans to polish off their efforts. Scheffler brushes his in for an opening half.

Share

Match number two. Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose up against the Alpha Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler. Big roars for Scheffler, wild ones for DeChambeau. He’s absolutely amped and biffs his ball just short of the green. Scheffler is less alpha than his partner, of course, but syncing this pair together is a big statement ask from captain Keegan Bradley.

Share

Some sloppy approach work after all four players in the first match found the fairway. Rory McIlroy and Cam Young have the best birdie opportunities. McIlroy up first from 14 feet. He gets the count from the gallery and the putt misses on the high side. Young has half the distance and he pulls it! A flat start all round.

Share

First up in the fourballs: Shane Lowry (in the fairway) and Rory McIlroy (in the fairway) versus Cam Young (in the fairway) and Justin Thomas (in the fairway). There was a lovely photo on TV just now, showing Young as a toddler with his father at a Bethpage Black US Open, watching Tiger Woods. They looked like Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin.

Here goes Rory in the four-balls. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 12.41 EDT

It’s also worth remembering that these New York galleries don’t only throw flak at the Europeans. Earlier today, a voice hollered at Scottie Scheffler, while he stood over an approach shot on the back nine: “You’re the World No. 1 – start playing like it!â€

Photograph: Paul Childs/ReutersShare

Updated at 12.40 EDT

There are dangers for Europe over the next 30 hours, of course. One is complacency. The outside chatter can be that the Europeans are flying and the Americans are flagging. But the players cannot afford to think like that. Rory McIlroy addressed another threat: how the crowd dynamic will change in the singles. The current lead is the exact one that the victorious European team had at this stage in 1987 – but an 8-4 advantage went pear-shaped at Brookline in 1999. One reason it went wrong there is that, in an intimidating atmosphere, the players coped with a pal by their side but struggled when they were alone. It’s not done yet.

Share

Thanks Scott. How much fun was that first session?! I’m a little exhausted and I was only watching it. I’m not saying I have the answer to the following riddle, but there is plenty of criticism flowing the way of Keegan Bradley’s captaincy. On Sky Sports Nick Dougherty and Laura Davies have pegged him stubborn for sticking to his plan. I think we can all understand what they mean. But remember Thomas Bjorn in 2018? It’s also widely believed that he won because he stuck to his plan. I suppose the only conclusion is that if you’re going to stick to a plan it had better be a damn good one.

Share

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The Americans made the wrong kind of history Saturday at the Ryder Cup.

Their opponents just became the first road team to win the first three sessions.

What was a three-point European advantage swelled to five by midday Saturday after Jon Rahm remained perfect in foursomes, Rory McIlroy continued to dole out punishment, and Viktor Hovland holed a clutch 8-footer on the 17th hole to help secure another full point for the Europeans.

Europe leads, 8 ½ to 3 ½, with the situation becoming increasingly dire for the U.S. It’s the largest lead for a road team since 1987. Here are some takeaways from the Saturday morning session:

Recap of Saturday morning’s foursomes matches at the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where the Europeans did something no visiting team has done since 1961 – and no European team has done ever.

• At the end of another historic season, Scottie Scheffler heard something unusual Saturday: Boos. Needing to mount a rally to flip the anchor match and split the foursomes session overall, Scheffler and partner Russell Henley failed to birdie each of the last five holes in what was a 1-up defeat. Scheffler’s ending was particularly uninspiring: In perfect position on 18, Scheffler dumped a wedge into the native grass short and right of the green. The world No. 1 dropped to 0-3 for the week – the first time that’s happened in Ryder Cup history.
• Europe’s foursomes firewall held up again Saturday. The duos of McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood and Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton improved to a combined 8-0 in the alternate-shot format over the past two Ryder Cups. Those four players, together, have trailed in a match after a total of just seven holes. Rahm is now 6-0 in the alternate-shot format.
• U.S. captain Keegan Bradley didn’t have a statistical justification for sending Collin Morikawa and Harris English back out in foursomes after a 5-and-3 thrashing on Friday morning, saying, basically: They were disappointed by their play and wanted another chance. Though they fought gamely, combining for five birdies, the Americans ran into the same problem they encountered a day early – McIlroy and Fleetwood, both in full flight. The European duo dropped seven birdies in foursomes, with McIlroy ending the match with a stuffed wedge to 3 feet after telling an unruly fan to “shut the f— up.†Both English and Morikawa will sit in the afternoon session after going 0-2 together.

Rory McIlroy backed away from the ball, turned around and told a group of heckling fans to “Shut the (expletive) up!†Then, he stepped up to his shot and did the work himself.

• The pairing of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay is now 1-3 in their last four Ryder Cup foursomes matches together.
• Looking for a spark, Bradley will once again pair Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau together for afternoon fourballs. That duo went 1-0-1 together at Whistling Straits in 2021. DeChambeau got on the board alongside Cam Young in the morning, earning a 4-and-2 victory, but was the second-worst player statistically in the session for the U.S.
• Young was statistically the best player on the course, on either side, on Saturday morning. One of the few bright spots for the Americans, Young is the only American to earn two points so far. The Ryder Cup rookie will run it back with Justin Thomas in the leadoff spot for fourballs.
• Ben Griffin (0-1) and Rasmus Hojgaard (0-1) are the only players who will sit both sessions on Saturday. Six players will play all five sessions: McIlroy, Fleetwood and Rahm on the European side, with Scheffler, DeChambeau and Cantlay going the distance for the U.S.

Here is a recap of Saturday morning’s foursomes matches at the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black:

Bryson DeChambeau/Cameron Young (U.S.) def. Matt Fitzpatrick/Ludvig Aberg, 4 and 2

Bradley needed to get DeChambeau going, so he paired him with Young, the star for the U.S. on Friday afternoon, and it worked. The Americans took their first lead after Young chipped in for birdie from 18 feet at the par-3 third, and while Europe tied things back up with birdie at the par-5 fourth, the U.S. went 1 up again with par at the par-4 seventh.

The par-3 eighth was key in this one, as Young stuffed his tee ball 200 yards to inside 3 feet and Fitzpatrick followed with a shot to 6 feet. However, Aberg missed the birdie putt and DeChambeau made his, and the Americans doubled their lead. The U.S. went 3 up with par on No. 10, though Nos. 9 and 12 were exciting halves, with each of the four players getting a crucial mid-range roll to drop on those holes.

Aberg had a chance to get a hole back, at the par-4 15th, but his downhill trickler from 15 feet lipped out. The Americans closed the match out at the par-4 16th, where Young holed a 12-footer for birdie.

Young is the first U.S. player to two points this week.

“For our country, it was just pedal to the metal,†DeChambeau said. “Cam played unbelievable today. We struck it well, we executed when we needed to and we just put the pressure on them all day. They struggled to get momentum, and when we had our opportunities, we took advantage.â€

Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood (Europe) def. Harris English/Collin Morikawa, 3 and 2

This U.S. duo showed Friday morning why they were considered Bradley’s worst possible foursomes pairing (of 132 possible partnerships), and yet the U.S. captain stuck to his plan and sent them back out. This one went about how you’d expect, too.

Though the Americans went 1 up after one hole, Europe birdied three of the next four holes to go 2 up. At the par-4 second, Fleetwood canned a 30-footer from the fringe while McIlroy holed one from long distance, 23 feet, at the par-4 fifth.

Europe went 4 up after wins with par at Nos. 7 and 8, and even as the Americans tried to battle back with birdies at Nos. 11 and 12, Europe punched back, Fleetwood hitting the stick with his approach at No. 11 and McIlroy throwing a dart to 3 feet at No. 12.

Finally, though, the U.S. gained some momentum back, winning the par-3 14th with par as Fleetwood missed a 5-footer and taking the par-4 15th on an 18-foot birdie make by English after Morikawa found the green with 5-wood from the rough.

“We played phenomenally well for 12 of the holes, and for the next few holes it was like we were always kind of one golf shot away from the match being over. I made a hash of a couple of things,†Fleetwood said. “Yeah, I just think where we put ourselves, obviously it made it very difficult for them, they played great toward the end there. Having that buffer there and that lead helped massively, and then Rory hitting that shot on the last, so that was good.â€

McIlroy backed off his approach at the par-4 16th to chirp back at some hecklers, and then he stepped up and hacked one out of the rough to 3 feet, inside the Americans’ ball 9 feet away.

“I don’t mind them having a go at us,†McIlroy said of the U.S. fans. “Like that’s to be expected. I mean, that’s what an away Ryder Cup is. Whenever they are still doing it while you are over the ball and trying to hit your shot, that’s the tough thing. You know, look, in between shots, say whatever you want to me. That’s totally fine. But give us the respect to let us hit shots, and give us the same chance that the Americans have, I guess.â€

Morikawa would miss the putt and Fleetwood would roll in the short birdie to end the match and bring he and McIlroy to 4-0 together in foursomes for their careers. This week, Fleetwood is now 3-0 and McIlroy 2-0-1.

Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton (Europe) def. Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay, 3 and 2

The Americans’ most experienced foursomes duo, the only winners for the U.S. on Friday morning, got off to a nightmare start. Hatton hit a beautiful pitch from 67 yards to 14 inches at No. 1, and the Europeans won the second hole as well with Schauffele missing a 6-footer for par following a poor lag putt by Cantlay.

While the U.S. pair clawed back to tie the match with wins at Nos. 5 and 7 with pars, Rahm snatched back the momentum with a seemingly impossible chip-in at the par-3 eighth. Rahm was standing inside a greenside bunker with the ball in the rough way above his feet, and he took a baseball swing and hooped it.

“The only benefit to the whole situation is that they were off the green, as well,†Rahm said. “So I could afford to be aggressive and hopefully leave him a decent putt. I was honestly just trying to putt it on the green, right. Hopefully hit it somewhere online, somewhere with the right distance, and it came out absolutely perfect. It’s a bit of luck involved but at least the ball was lying well and got really decent contact on it.â€

The back nine featured a ton of tied holes with par, though Rahm’s approach from the rough to 5 feet at the par-4 12th set up a Hatton birdie to push Europe’s lead to 2 up. Rahm closed out the match by hitting his approach at the par-4 16th 143 yards to 3 feet; Hatton polished off the putt. According to NBC’s Smylie Kaufman, Rahm hit just two putts all morning.

Like McIlroy and Fleetwood, Rahm and Hatton move to 4-0 as a foursomes pair. And like Fleetwood, Rahm is 3-0 for the week.

“We tried to get something going,†Schauffele said. “Couldn’t adjust quick enough, and they played better and beat us.â€

Added Cantlay: “Yeah, I fought hard. Just wasn’t enough.â€

Down three points, 5 1/2 to 2 1/2, and needing a spark, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is rolling out mostly his same lineup for Saturday morning’s foursomes session at Bethpage Black.

The only difference, besides the order, is Bryson DeChambeau will pair with Cameron Young and not Justin Thomas, who will sit along with Sam Burns, J.J. Spaun and Ben Griffin.

Luke Donald will send out his same four pairings from Friday morning’s foursomes, which Europe won, 3-1, though also in a different order. Rasmus Hojgaard, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry will sit for Europe.

Here are the matchups and starting times for Saturday morning foursomes:

Here’s how you can watch all of the action and get all the updates for the 45th Ryder Cup matches at Bethpage Black.

• 7:10 a.m. ET – Bryson DeChambeau/Cameron Young (U.S.) vs. Matt Fitzpatrick/Ludvig Ã…berg
• 7:26 a.m. ET – Harris English/Collin Morikawa (U.S.) vs. Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood
• 7:42 a.m. ET – Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (U.S.) vs. Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton
• 7:58 a.m. ET – Russell Henley/Scottie Scheffler (U.S.) vs. Robert MacIntyre/Viktor Hovland

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Match three leaves the 1st tee and the Scandinavians are out in force for the visitors. Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg finds the left rough, Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard finds short grass just short of the green. “Majestic,†says Ewen Murray on Sky Sports of the debutant. What of New Yorker Cam Young? Another decent blow for another debutant. And finally there is the veteran Justin Thomas who finds the right rough. Meanwhile, there is a tidy little chip-in for birdie at 2 from Sepp Straka – that draws the opening match back to all square.

Share

Updated at 13.05 EDT

Tommy Fleetwood makes a birdie at the par-four 1st.He finds the hole from about 12 feet and now Bryson DeChambeau has six feet to halve the hole. He makes it. The American leaves the green waving his arms upwards and towards the galleries, urging them to make more noise.

Scheffler/Spaun 1UP v Rahm/Straka (1)
Griffin/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Rose (1)

Share

Julian Menz emails: “I enjoyed the first half of the day, of course. COME ON EUROPE!!†He’s not so keen on the involvement of the U.S. President, however.

Share

The biggest roar of the afternoon so far is for Bryson DeChambeau at the 1st tee. He responds with a big blow to the centre of the fairway, a mere flick from the green. He’s 2-for-2 at doing that today which is a significant contrast to everyone today (on both sides) who are struggling to find the short grass. He’s playing with debutant Ben Griffin, up against the English duo of Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood (who both claimed win on the PGA Tour in August).

Share

Updated at 12.51 EDT

Straka’s birdie attempt at 1 never looks close to the hole. What about Rahm? Ditto! From different angles, they saw a similar slope that didn’t exist. Spaun doesn’t miss his short effort. Nice start for him. Back at the tee, Bryson DeChambeau and President Donald Trump tickle each other’s tummies.

Scheffler/Spaun 1UP v Rahm/Straka (1)

Share

A delicious start for Spaun. After Straka and Scheffler leave their approaches at 1 short of the hole, Spaun has knocked his very close. Not a gimme but close to it. Rahm cannot respond. He and Straka have two chances from around 20 feet to match Spaun’s (likely) birdie.

Share

All sorts of noise as the opening afternoon match hits the 1st tee. “A festival of birdies,†predicts Ewen Murray on Sky Sports. World number one Scottie Scheffler is joined by US Open champion JJ Spaun to take on Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka, a new Spanish-Austrian combo few would have predicted. Lots of noise around Rahm’s tee shot, but it did quieten down for the hit. Less aggro for Straka. Both of them hit through the dogleg and into the left rough. Spaun receives plenty of (good) noise and his first Ryder Cup blow finds the right rough. Scheffler (big cheers then absolute silence) joins the Europeans in the left rough.

Share

A reminder for those of you new to the Ryder Cup: This morning the teams played foursomes which involves the two golfers playing alternate shots. In contrast, this afternoon the format is fourball (or better ball) which means all four golfers play their own ball and the best score for each team counts. If Player A makes a 5 and Player B a 4, the team score is 4.

Share

“Luke has obviously got a game plan, splitting up his pairings,†says Nick Faldo on Sky Sports. He adds that he’d like to play with Ludvig Åberg. Who wouldn’t, in foursomes especially? The Swede has now won all three career foursomes contests. Playing alongside Viktor Hovland in Rome, remember, he beat Scottie Scheffler & Brooks Koepka (9&7) and Max Homa & Brian Harman (4&3). He’s yet to see the 16th hole in the three games.

Share

A few impressive stats have been flying around off the back of this morning’s action. How about this? Europe has won three points in the first session of a Ryder Cup just three times before – in 2002, 2004 and 2023. On all three occasions, the team went on to win the Cup itself. I suspect Luke Donald wouldn’t like such an observation, afraid of any possibility of complacency. And here’s the combined score in the last three foursomes sessions at the Ryder Cup: Europe 10, USA 2 (holes won: Europe 70, USA 37). All three of those sessions, of course, were captained by Luke Donald (with data input from Edoardo Molinari).

Share

Thanks Scott. It’s been a great morning of Ryder Cup golf – here’s hoping for more of the same this afternoon. A bit of personal drama as well, this morning, because I had a bit of a disaster with my laptop yesterday when it crashed to earth from 8 feet and ended up looking as beaten up as a British or Irish player in the pre-Europe Ryder Cup era. It could have been worse, though. I have a spare that has stepped into the breach and I’ve seen worse laptop problems this year. Glasgow Herald journalist Nick Rodger’s keyboard malfunctioned at the Open – he couldn’t get the R, T or S to work. Tricky under any circumstances, of course, but a nightmare for a fellow whose focus of the week was Robert MacIntyre of Scotland.

Share

Updated at 12.33 EDT

The fourballs will commence in 20 minutes or so. All times BST.

5.25pm: Scottie Scheffler and JJ Spaun v Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka
5.41pm: Ben Griffin and Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose
5.57pm: Cameron Young and Justin Thomas v Ludvig Åberg and Rasmus Højgaard
6.13pm: Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay v Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry

Thanks for reading this morning’s foursomes coverage. Matt Cooper will take you through the afternoon’s fourballs, and I’ll see you again tomorrow. Good luck one and all!

Share

Updated at 12.02 EDT

Day one foursomes: result

DeChambeau/Thomas v Rahm/Hatton 4&3
Scheffler/Henley v Ã…berg/Fitzpatrick 5&3
Morikawa/English v McIlroy/Fleetwood 5&4
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland
USA 1-3 Europe

Share

USA 1-3 Europe

The crowd continue their boisterous party, so much so that Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay are forced to raise their hands to get them to pipe down so Bob Mac can putt. He doesn’t make it, and that’s a diminuendo end to their attempted comeback. But the USA pair showed great heart in rebounding from the loss of their three-hole lead, closing the match out on 17 and 18 in style. The hosts on the board! Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay beat Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland 2UP.

2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (F)
USA 1-3 Europe

USA’s Xander Schauffele celebrates as he and Patrick Cantlay leave the 18th green after winning their foursomes match against Europe’s Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland. Photograph: Peter Casey/Imagn Images/ReutersShare

Updated at 12.58 EDT

Hovland swishes out from the bunker, and does so pretty well. But his ball stops 15 feet short of the flag, and this final match is all but done and dusted. The crowd at full volume, at long last!

Share

Xander Schauffele, from the middle of the fairway, 105 yards out. He’s going first. With Bob MacIntyre’s ball in deep cabbage, here’s a chance to pretty much close this out … and he wedges a delicious approach to ten feet. Cheers of USA! USA! USA! ring out for the first time in hours … and they double in volume as MacIntyre is unable to muscle Europe’s second onto the green. His ball apologetically dunks into the bunker guarding the front right of the dancefloor. Viktor Hovland will need to hole out for Europe to have any chance of winning the hole and putting up half a point.

Share

Patrick Cantlay sends Team USA’s drive at 18 down the track. Viktor Hovland carves Europe’s miles to the right, the ball disappearing into a rare patch of thick Bethpage rough. Hovland and MacIntyre clawed their way back into this match wonderfully, but the momentum has suddenly shifted back to Cantlay and Schauffele, just in time for the USA, at the moment they desperately needed something. A first point for the hosts looks more likely than not from here. Very much more likely.

1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (17)
USA 0-3 Europe

Share

… but Cantlay doesn’t hit it! Yet another underhit putt, stopping a couple of turns short. Over to Bob MacIntyre, who is serenaded by several frat boys accusing him of onanistic practices. The crowd have really gone for him at this hole, and the putt breaks sadly off to the left. The hosts go 1UP with one to play, and are certain of getting something on the board. But what? The next few minutes so precious to Team USA.

1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (17)
USA 0-3 Europe

Share

Viktor Hovland is presented with a plugged lie. He nevertheless splashes out to seven-and-a-half feet. That’s some result from where he was – there wasn’t too much in the way of green to work with, either – and that’s pretty much the best he could do. But it still leaves his partner with a missable putt for par. And it won’t matter anyway if Patrick Cantlay holes his downhill left-to-right slider from 20 feet …

Share

Xander Schauffele nails his tee shot. An 8-iron sent sailing majestically over the flag to 20 feet. Serious advantage to the USA. The crowd, for the first time since this morning’s very early exchanges, are en fête.

Schauffele/Cantlay A/S MacIntyre/Hovland (16)
USA 0-3 Europe

Share

The par-three 17th makes its tournament debut. The number: 168 yards. Bob MacIntyre stands over his ball, begins his backswing … but then aborts the mission. He steps away to a chorus of pantomime booing. He goes through with his second effort … and dunks it into the bunker to the left of the green. The crowd might have got under his skin there. Door open for Xander Schauffele.

Share

… but hits a weak putt that’s always destined to die left well before it reaches the cup. That’s not Cantlay’s first tentative prod of the morning. He’s not putted well. So costly for the hosts.

Schauffele/Cantlay A/S MacIntyre/Hovland (16)
USA 0-3 Europe

Share

Both pairs call the referee to ascertain who putts first. It’s Europe, just. Viktor Hovland, his putter hot, steps up … but this one kinks off to the right on its final couple of turns. Over to Patrick Cantlay, who has the chance to reclaim the lead for the USA …

Share

This final match issuch an entertaining battle. Xander Schauffele screeches his approach into 15 to a halt, pin high, ten feet from the flag. Bob MacIntyre responds by firing a dart straight at the flag, 12 feet short! Yet another flat-stick showdown coming up!

Share

A jaw-dropping stat courtesy of the ever-superb Sky Sports commentator Ewen Murray. “The biggest surprise of the morning is the world number-one Scottie Scheffler … his last 26 holes in foursomes … he’s 14 down!†He then goes on to observe that Tiger Woods didn’t really fancy the format either. “Sometimes the best hunters hunt alone.â€

Share

Viktor Hovland bashes his drive at 16 down the left-hand side of the fairway. Patrick Cantlay, the nerves surely jangling like billy-o, sends a power fade down the right-hand side of it. Both teams in good nick. One team feeling a darn sight better than the other right now.

Share

Of the two players chipping onto 15, Xander Schauffele has more green to work with. He bundles his chip to eight feet. Bob MacIntyre lobs up from closer range to six. Patrick Cantlay’s downhill putt is always sliding by on the left; Viktor Hovland’s tickle down is always dropping into the centre of the cup! Europe have hauled themselves back level in this anchor match, in no small part because of Hovland’s flat-stick moxie!

Schauffele/Cantlay A/S MacIntyre/Hovland (15)
USA 0-3 Europe

Share

A very pleased Luke Donald takes his turn to chat to the host broadcaster USA Network. “I’m very proud. They’ve come out very strong. I knew the USA would be very tough. It’s very tough out here. I’m very pleased to see the boys playing so well. They know the plan and it’s nice to see them sticking to it.â€

Share

Viktor Hovland sends his second at 15 towards a greenside bunker. It stops just short, and he’d be left with an awkward stance with his feet in the sand … were he playing the next shot himself. But he’s not, and his partner Bob MacIntyre is left-handed. Meanwhile Patrick Cantlay gets a drop away from the boozy-do, and also finds greenside rough. Shredded nerves all over the shop already, and it’s not even midday on day one!

Share

As Donald Trump’s plane passes overhead, USA captain Keegan Bradley puts a brave face on things. “It’s not exactly what we wanted, but we know the Ryder Cup is going to be ebbs and flows. I gotta lot of faith in our boys. Let’s see how this last match finishes up. We just had the president fly over in his Air Force One, so I gotta feeling things are gonna turn here.â€

Air Force One flies over the course during the foursomes. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/ReutersShare

Updated at 11.27 EDT

The volume cranks up as the final match crosses Arnold Palmer Way – the road that runs through Bethpage Black – and towards the 15th tee. All of the hospitality is over on this side of the road – serving holes 1, 15, 16, 17 and 18 – which explains the more lubricated nature of the noise. Bob MacIntyre sends a fairly straight tee shot down the hole, but Xander Schauffele pulls his into one of those hospitality suites! Team USA really feeling it right now.

Share

No problem for Viktor Hovland, who hasn’t let that short missed putt on 11 mess with his mind. A half, and he’s earned a hearty slap on the back from his captain Luke Donald as everyone vacates the green.

1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (14)
USA 0-3 Europe

Share

Xander Schauffele gives his long birdie putt a good roll, but it’s always dying to the low side on the left. That’s par, but a chance for Bob MacIntyre to level things up. However his putt from the fringe gets a bit of a flier, and skitters three feet past. No way is that going to be conceded, and out of nowhere, the man from Oban might have thrown his opponents a lifeline. Big putt coming up for Viktor Hovland.

Share

Viktor Hovland and Patrick Cantlay take turns to wedge their tee shots into 14. The Hov is closer, 15 feet to 35, but Cantlay’s ball is on the green, while Hovland’s is on the fringe. You could slice the tension with a 1-iron. The home gallery know things have already gotten real.

Share

This will be the first time Europe has won the opening session of the Ryder Cup on American soil since 2004. They ended up winning that contest 18½ to 9½. And here’s a reminder that the winner of the morning session on day one has gone on to win the Ryder Cup on each of the last five stagings. The one previous to that, when the day-one morning winners didn’t go on to close the deal? The miracle of Medinah. A lot for Team USA to process here.

Share

Team USA really need to hold on in this final match now. A point almost essential. Having been three holes up, anything else would be an unmitigated disaster. It’s bad enough for the hosts already. And they’re not in great shape coming up the par-five 13th, both teams on in three but Europe far closer. Patrick Cantlay can’t make the 35-footer that he’s left with … but Viktor Hovland is good for his ten footer, and that’s back-to-back business from the talented Norwegian. At the side of the green, Rory McIlroy, his morning’s work complete, screams with delight. The hosts reeling.

1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v MacIntyre/Hovland (13)
USA 0-3 Europe

Share

Well, that didn’t go as planned – for the home team at least.

While Bryson DeChambeau’s first-tee moon shot and subsequent birdie kicked off the 45th Ryder Cup with an American bang, Keegan Bradley’s U.S. side did little in following that up. DeChambeau and partner Justin Thomas would drop that leadoff foursomes match to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, and the Americans would get dominated in each of the next two in what ended a convincing, 3-1 opening-session win for the Europeans on Friday morning at Bethpage Black.

“We were aware it was going to be a tough day,†Rahm said. “Two of their better favorites up there, two of the crowd favorites. We knew the crowd was going to be loud, and well, we are going to need our best. And even though we didn’t have our best start during the first seven holes, we battled, we stayed in it and from then on, we started hitting good shots and getting really positive vibes.â€

Europe took the first session for the second straight Ryder Cup, following its 4-0 result in Rome. The last four times that the Europeans have led after one frame, they’ve gone on to win the Ryder Cup, doing so in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2023.

“Very proud,†European captain Luke Donald said. “They’ve come out very strong.â€

Bradley remained hopeful, though his body language was far from what he showed Thursday afternoon as he ran down the 18th fairway waving an American flag.

“We just had the President fly over in his Air Force One, so I’ve got a feeling things are going to turn here,†Bradley said.

Here’s a recap of Friday morning’s foursomes session:

Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton (Europe) def. Bryson DeChambeau/Justin Thomas, 4 and 3

DeChambeau was the sparkplug that the U.S. needed, smashing his tee ball about 45 yards short of the first green and then draining a 15-footer for birdie to win the hole. But that Europeans would withstand the early blow, and after incredible escapes – first Rahm from the heather at No. 6 and then Hatton from the trees and his ball against a twig at No. 7. A Thomas miss from 5 feet at the latter would tie the match back up.

“The second shot into 7 is a little bit of a hit-and-hope. Thankfully, it kind of went straight,†said Hatton, who later canned 24- and 8-footers for birdie at Nos. 12 and 13 to stretch the Euros’ lead to 3 up.

Trying to ignite something, DeChambeau rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-3 14th and then celebrated with a huge fist pump toward the crowd, but Rahm wasn’t fazed, pouring in his birdie on top of it.

On the next hole, DeChambeau fanned a drive up against the hospitality tents, and Europe would go on to win the hole and the match with par.

Ludvig Aberg/Matt Fitzpatrick (Europe) def. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley, 5 and 3

It wasn’t quite the beatdown of the world No. 1 that Aberg orchestrated with Viktor Hovland in Rome, but it was a convincing win nonetheless. Aberg and Fitzpatrick birdied four of the first six holes to jump out to a 3-up lead. They went 4 up after Aberg sank a 16-footer for birdie at the par-4 ninth. Meanwhile, the Americans missed three straight putts inside of 8 feet at Nos. 4-6 to fall behind.

“It was a nice mix of tee-to-green and good putting as well, and obviously I felt like we showed that on certainly those first seven holes,†Fitzpatrick said.

Henley spun back a wedge to gimme range at the par-5 13th to get one back, and he then hooped a birdie from outside of 30 feet at the par-3 14th. But Fitzpatrick had spun a short-iron to 5 feet to set up an Aberg match and maintain a 4-up advantage.

Both sides missed the fairway left at the par-4 15th, though Henley put Scheffler well back, and the world No. 1 couldn’t advance the second shot within 30 yards. Fitzpatrick completed a sand save with a 12-foot par make to end the match.

“We just didn’t hole enough putts early,†Scheffler said. “We had some chances. I think the putts just didn’t fall. But overall, the guys we played, they played a really good round, and [let’s] go back out this afternoon and see what we can do.â€

Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood (Europe) def. Collin Morikawa/Harris English, 5 and 4

When Keegan Bradley sent out this pairing, it was the worst of 132 possible foursomes combinations, per Data Golf. The U.S. duo did little to prove otherwise. English missed a 10-footer from the fairway cut while McIlroy took the first hole with a short birdie make after Fleetwood hacked a pitch beautifully from a tough lie. English missed a 7-footer at the par-5 fourth, too, as his side fell 2 down.

McIlroy then lipped in an 8-foot birdie at No. 5 and stuck a wedge close at No. 6 to double the lead, to 4 up. With a Fleetwood tee ball to 6 feet and McIlroy make at the par-3 eighth, that lead grew to 5 up.

The Americans birdied the par-4 ninth, but that would mark their only birdie and won hole.

“When you’ve got a partner like Tommy you can play with so much freedom and so much trust in your game because you know you have someone that’s going to back you up,†said McIlroy, who is now 3-0 in foursomes with Fleetwood.
“… I’ve been looking forward to doing this again since that last putt dropped in Rome.â€

Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (U.S.) def. Robert MacIntyre/Viktor Hovland, 2 up

This match was the last one on the golf course for a while, as the Europeans battled back from being 3 down through 11 holes. Schauffele stuffed his approach close at the par-4 second to give his side the early lead before Cantlay missed a 7-footer for par at No. 7 to bring the match back to tied.

Schauffele canned a 14-footer for birdie at No. 8 and two holes later a 7-footer for par to build the lead back to 2 up. It was 3 up thanks to Hovland missing a 5-footer on No. 11, but then the comeback began.

Europe won Nos. 12, 13 and 15 – all on Hovland makes – to tie the match again. However, the sweep was denied when MacIntyre whiffed on his par putt from 7 feet at the par-3 17th, which sent the match to No. 18 with the U.S. guaranteed at least a half-point. With the Euros drawing a tough lie in the right rough, Schauffele stepped up one last time, throwing a dart to 9 feet. After MacIntyre missed his par attempt, the Americans finally got on the board.

• 

  Mark SchlabachSep 25, 2025, 04:53 PM ET

  Close

  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Golf fans won’t have to wait long to watch Bryson DeChambeau at the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Friday.

The two-time U.S. Open champion will partner with Justin Thomas in the first match of foursomes (alternate-shot) at 7:10 a.m. ET. They’ll face the European duo of Spain’s Jon Rahm and England’s Tyrrell Hatton.

“Besides the fact that they’re both phenomenal players, they both bring a spark to our team,” U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley said of DeChambeau and Thomas. “Bryson has been an incredible teammate in the locker room, and we really want him to lead our team out with Justin in the first match.”

Ryder Cup Friday Foursomes

7:10 a.m.: Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton (-115), Europe vs. Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas (-115), U.S.
7:26 a.m.: Ludvig Ã…berg and Matt Fitzpatrick (+130), Europe, vs. Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley (-180), U.S.
7:42 a.m.: Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood (-180), Europe, vs. Collin Morikawa and Harris English (+130), U.S.
7:58 a.m.: Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland (-105), Europe, vs. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (-130), U.S.
— Odds per ESPN BET

DeChambeau and Thomas never have played together in a Ryder Cup match.

“We’ve got a big responsibility and role,” DeChambeau said. “We’re going to be going up against a great team, Rahm and Hatton. They’re a formidable force, but we want to send a message.”

When DeChambeau was asked what he expected from U.S. fans on the first tee Friday morning, he added: “Tsunami of a wave of support.”

Hatton and Rahm went 2-0 in foursomes in the last Ryder Cup, which the Europeans won 16½-11½ at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club outside Rome two years ago. Rahm is 4-0 in foursomes in three previous appearances.

“We want to start strong, obviously,” European team captain Luke Donald said. “We know that in match play you’ve got to get off to a good start. These guys have had a lot of success together. They know how to win. They’re a strong partnership; they get along well. We’re very happy to send them out first.”

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley will take on Europe’s Ludvig Ã…berg and Matt Fitzpatrick in the second match. Scheffler, who has won 13 times on the PGA Tour the past two seasons, will try to rebound from going 0-2-2 in Italy.

The third U.S. team is a bit of a surprise, with two-time major champion Collin Morikawa playing with Harris English, who is competing in his second Ryder Cup. They’ll face Masters champion Rory McIlroy and Tour Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood, who have been two of Europe’s best performers in recent Ryder Cups.

The last match features Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele against Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Norway’s Viktor Hovland. Schauffele won two major championships in 2024 but struggled this past season after suffering a rib injury.

“We’ve had this lineup set for a long time,” Bradley said.

Two years ago, the Americans were swept in foursomes to start the Ryder Cup, the first time a European team led 4-0 after the first session. It was a bit of a surprise that Donald and his vice captains split up a few of the teams that were so successful at Marco Simone.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Ã…berg and Hovland earned a 4-and-3 victory in their first foursomes match, then defeated Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9-and-7 in 11 holes in foursomes on the Saturday, the most lopsided victory in an 18-hole match in Ryder Cup history. Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Austria’s Sepp Straka held on for a 2-and-1 win in the first session.

Donald said the European team relied on analytics, in part, in setting up its pairings.

“A little bit of statistics, looking at the golf course, and a little bit that it’s two years from Rome,” he said. “People’s profiles and people’s games change. Again, we went with what we thought was the strongest match. We’re trying to win. We’re trying to get our strongest pairings out, and this is what we feel like is our strongest group.”

Ã…berg said he has played a lot of golf with Fitzpatrick the past couple of weeks.

“It’s a plan set in place by Luke, and we all trust in that,” Ã…berg said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun, and [I’m] looking forward to playing some good golf together.”

Lowry, Straka, Justin Rose and Ryder Cup rookie Rasmus Højgaard are sitting out the first session.

U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, Sam Burns, Ben Griffin and Cameron Young aren’t playing for the Americans in foursomes.

The opening session will be followed by four four-ball (best ball) matches, starting at 12:25 p.m. ET Friday. The same schedule will be played again Saturday, followed by 12 singles matches Sunday.

The Europeans need 14 points to retain the Ryder Cup; the Americans need 14½ points to take it back.

The home team has captured the past five Ryder Cups; the Europeans’ last victory on U.S. soil was a 14½-13½ comeback at Medinah Country Club in Illinois in 2012.

Keegan Bradley said he was seeking “fire†from his United States team from the outset of the Ryder Cup after selecting Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas to open the hosts’ attempt to reclaim the trophy in New York. In what is likely to be an emotionally charged opening foursomes clash, DeChambeau and Thomas take on Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at 12.10pm BST (7.10am ET).

“Besides the fact that he’s a world-class player and one of our best on the team, we wanted to send out a fiery group to lead us out with these fans that have been waiting years to see this tournament,†said Bradley, the US captain, when asked about DeChambeau’s position.

“Bryson just relishes these opportunities. He wants them. He’s one of these guys you hear on a basketball team who wants the ball for the last shot. He’s one of those guys and so is Justin. Let’s not forget, Justin is the heartbeat of our team. They are to go out and be a really tough team to beat.†Bradley raced the length of the 18th hole at Bethpage Black on Friday afternoon, waving a US flag to whip up spectators.

“I’m stoked to be playing with Bryson,†said Thomas. “I think trying to set the tone in that first match is always important. I think all of us were in agreement that Bryson needed to be in that first match, and being his partner, I’m very excited that we get to do that together.â€

In match two of the foursomes the world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, will play alongside Russell Henley for the US. Ludvig Ã…berg and Matt Fitzpatrick will represent Europe. This marked a slightly surprising call by the European captain, Luke Donald, given Ã…berg combined with Viktor Hovland to trounce Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, 9&7, in a 2023 foursomes contest.

Hovland instead has Robert MacIntyre as his partner in match four, with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay in opposition. In the penultimate game Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood don European colours against Collin Morikawa and Harris English. “I think it’s our strongest eight to go in foursomes,†said Donald. “We have so many options that it’s really quite fun for me as a captain.â€

Bryson DeChambeau revs up the crowd during practice. He has been chosen to lead out the US in the morning foursomes. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters

Europe’s captain denied he intended to jab at the US team during his opening ceremony speech on Wednesday. In that, Donald made multiple references to money. A theme of the Ryder Cup buildup has been the payment that will be made directly to the US players for the first time. “It wasn’t directed at the US,†said Donald. “My speech was directed at my players. I wrote that speech six months ago. We have been very consistent where we stand and what we play for. We’re not concerned about what the US are doing.â€

skip past newsletter promotion

The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend’s action

Privacy Notice:Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

after newsletter promotion

The foursomes selections mean Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Rasmus Højgaard and Justin Rose will sit out the morning for Europe. JJ Spaun, Sam Burns, Ben Griffin and Cameron Young are the US foursome absentees. All but Burns of that American quartet are Ryder Cup rookies.

We still haven’t seen our first real golf shot, but at least we have a real piece of news! Ryder Cup captainsKeegan Bradleyand Luke Donald have announced their respective teams for Friday’s first foursomes session.

On site at Bethpage Black, our writers give their instant reactions — from the biggest surprise to the most exciting match to whether one side has already gained an advantage.

Dylan Dethier: Okay gang, I’ll serve as host here. We’ve just watched the pairings come out — here’s what we’ve got:

FRIDAY FOURSOMES (all times ET)

7:10 a.m. Rahm / Hatton vs. DeChambeau / Thomas

7:26 a.m. Aberg / Fitzpatrick vs. Scheffler / Henley

7:42 a.m. McIlroy / Fleetwood vs. Morikawa / English

7:58 a.m. MacIntyre / Hovland vs. Schauffele / Cantlay

Sitting for Team USA: Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, J.J. Spaun, Cameron Young

Sitting for Team Europe: Rasmus Hojgaard, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka

1. Which match are you most excited to follow?

Sean Zak: The first one, duh! There will be fireworks, perhaps from the first swing of the event if DeChambeau can drive the 1st green. But Vegas likes the duo of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, and with good reason.

James Colgan:That first match has the chance to end Western Civilization before most of the Bethpage faithful have gotten their first cup of coffee. Holy hell, what a good time.

Bastable: If Bryson doesn’t have a go at the first green, I’m hopping on the media shuttle and heading back to New Jersey. Rory and Tommy also will be a joy to watch, and I’m eager to see if Xander and P-Ice still possess their match-play magic. Xander’s form is, pun very much intended, a big X-factor this week.

Dethier: Bryson’s rightfully the headliner. But that second match is such an interesting mix of styles — and includes the undisputed World No. 1. Time to stress-test that Scheffler-Henley duo that looked promising at the Presidents Cup. And if Team Europe steals a point in the second or fourth match, that could be a harbinger of an upset to come…

2. Any surprising omissions — or inclusions?!

Zak:Really thought New York’s very own Cam Young would be playing as many matches as possible. He’s playing the best golf of his life and he uses the same ball as DeChambeau. Would imagine he goes out early in the afternoon. The biggest surprise? Per DataGolf’s fascinating optimal pairings breakdown, Morikawa / English is among the worst possible fits. (Depending on who hits the first tee shot they’re either the 130th or 132nd best fit out of 132.)

Colgan:Not necessarily a talentomission, but I was surprised to see Luke Donald break up the Aberg/Hovland pairing. That duo was sofreaking good in Rome. I think a lot of golf fans are forgetting how important they were to the European success in ‘23. Maybe we’ll see them in the afternoon.

Bastable:I was still holding out hope that Keegan would rethink his decision to bench himself. Nah, honestly, no big surprises here. Given a third of the U.S. Open team are rookies, figured we’d see the vets leading the way in the opening sesh.

Dethier: I would have guessed we’d see either Young or Griffin instead of Harris English — but I guess that’ll be the case Friday afternoon instead. Morikawa / English should be the biggest underdogs of the first session, though. I’d also suspected we’d see Shane Lowry in foursomes. One other bit of note: Even though Justin Rose is 7-2-1 in his foursomes career, he didn’t play a foursomes session in Rome and it looks like he may not play one here, either.

3. Based on these matchups alone, which side has the first-session advantage?

Zak:Slight advantage to the Euros, who are playing their literal eight best players. If the Americans win this session, it’s a big statement.

Colgan:Agreed, Sean. Major pressure right off the bat on Morikawa and Harris English — long viewed as two of the more vulnerable Americans — not to get smoked by McIlroy/Fleetwood in that third group off. It really does feel like that first pairing of Bryson/JT vs. Rahm/Hatton has the chance to set the tone for the entire Cup.

Bastable: The U.S. cannotfall in an early hole, but, yeah, when I look at those names, it’s not to give the on-paper edge to the Euros. JT’s form is concerning. In that opening match, I definitely give the edge to Rahm and Hatton.

Dethier: I’d give a slight edge to the Euros and it appears Vegas would, too; the Americans’ odds went from -155 to -145 after the announcement. Recent history, though, would tell you not to count out the home team in any foursomes match. Real answer? Giant shrug.

4. Which players do you think will go all five sessions?

Zak: It’s a LOT, but I could totally see all of McIlroy, Rahm, Aberg, Fleetwood play five sessions. As for the Americans, it’s Scottie Scheffler, Russ Henley and maybe Bryson DeChambeau.

Colgan:McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm, Scheffler, DeChambeau, Cantlay.

Bastable: Scheffler, Scheffler and Scheffler.

Dethier: Scottie, Rory, Tommy, Rahm. I think we see a pretty balanced attack from the Americans.

5. You may have said this in other roundtables, but just to be clear: Which team wins and what’s the final score?

Zak: The Europeans lead early. The Europeans lead in the middle. But the Americans lead late. I’ll say Europe enters Sunday leading 9-7 and loses the depth battle on Sunday. U.S.A. wins 15-13.

Colgan: I’m changing my score prediction. 15.5-12.5 USA. The Euros are 100 percent the better team, but home-field advantage is so important.

Bastable: [checks last week’s Tour Confidential] Europe 14.5, USA 13.5, in a thriller for the ages.

Dethier: It scares me to line up with these other two jokesters but I’m staying strong at 15.5-12.5 USA.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Wild.That was the word from U.S. captain Nathan Smith but also the unanimous sentiment felt across…