Europe 5.5 USA 2.5
Afternoon fourballs:
5:25pm: Scottie Scheffler/JJ Spaun lose 3&2 to Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka
5:41pm: Bryson DeChambeau/Ben Griffin lose 1 up to Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose
5:57pm: Cameron Young/Justin Thomas win 6&5 against Ludvig Aberg/Rasmus Hojgaard
6:13pm: Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay tie match with Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry
Earlier...
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 2 up against MacIntyre/Hovland
Here is Philip Reid’s report of the day’s action:
[ Ryder Cup: Europe silence the jingoistic US crowds as they make ideal startOpens in new window ]
That’s all from me for tonight, back at it tomorrow with a blog for the foursomes! See you then
Rory McIlroy: “It’s a great day for Europe, in the moment I’m disappointed I didn’t hole that for a full point. It’s about resting and getting ready for tomorrow.”
Shane Lowry: “It was rowdy out there today, think it’s going to get worse. It was a great day for Europe and we will look to build on that tomorrow.”
So that’s the end of play for the day.
Only two players with 2 out of 2 record:
Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm
Only two players with 0 out of 2:
Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler
A big surprise with the latter two, needs to change if USA are to get back into it.
Captain Luke Donald credits the good start today for the lead:
“They thrive, it’s not easy out here, it’s loud. We have some support too, they’re drawing off that too.”
Captain Keegan Bradley:
“Europe made a lot of putts, hopefully it will change so we do that tomorrow. It’s only the first quarter, I have faith in my guys.”
Lowry from 20 feet is just short, maybe a bit of dew in the grass, it was a good effort. Next up is Burns. Burns misses!
Rory McIlroy then from 12 feet to win the match! McIlroy misses!
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry tie the match with Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns
Stance is fine for Lowry from the rough, hits to the middle of the green. A good marker. Cantlay from 106 yards slices it way right into the bunker. Surprising! 100 yards for Burns, much better and good chance for birdie. 96 yards for Rory... just inside Burns.
Burns goes into the semi rough. Excellent drive by Cantlay down the middle. Lowry is in the rough, could be an awkward stance with the bunker. McIlroy middle of the fairway and long.
Cantlay misses his putt to the right. 23 feet for Lowry then. Putt didn’t break another one down. Between McIlroy and Burns now.
Birdie for McIlroy! The man always steps up! Burns then for a half. Burns birdies. All square down the last.
Match 2: Was it ever in doubt with a pressure putt with Justin Rose?
Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose win 1 up against Bryson DeChambeau and Ben Griffin
Brilliant win against the odds, behind for much of the front 9.
Match 4: The 17th, par 3 174 yards, Burns fades it into close about 8 feet. Cantlay is into the heart of the green, tough ask for birdie. Lots of jeering at McIlroy and Lowry.
Lowry is inside Cantlay but a good bit farther than Burns. McIlroy twirls the 7 iron and walks on as he hits to 13 feet.
Match 4: Burns misses his long putt so down to Cantlay now for the Americans. Cantlay makes it. Such a hard man to beat in this format. McIlroy birdies it in after him! Hole is halved.
Match 2: Fleetwood hits it to 5 feet at 18! A player in top form. Rose about twice the distance. Griffin hits it as close as Fleetwood, maybe inside him.
Match 4: What a shot Lowry! From 170 yards, hits it to 9 feet. Cantlay about 20 feet away. Burns about 30 feet away. McIlroy from 146 is about 12 feet away, excellent shot!
Match 2: Rose and Griffin down the middle. DeChambeau way down there but in the gnarly rough. Fleetwood also down the middle at 18.
Match 4: Big drive by Rory at the 16th.
Match 2: All on DeChambeau then to extend the match at 17. Big crowd of US players behind him on the green. Birdie for DeChambeau from 7 feet. We’re going to 18! Europe 1 up
Match 4: McIlroy’s putt is very good but just slips by at the end. Cantlay misses too. Still tied.
Match 2: Griffin hits a great approach at the 17th where only birdies work from here. DeChambeau follows him with a great approach.
Match 2: Birdie for Fleetwood from 18 feet! Massive moment and he’s become a man for the big moment. Fantastic putt. DeChambeau just misses and it’s dormie 2. Europe 2 up
Match 4: Poor shot by Lowry, out of rhythm and hits it into no-man’s land on the right of the green. Super shot by Cantlay again, 5 iron to the heart of the green and not far from the pin. Wedge by McIlroy to the heart of the green, slightly outside Cantlay.
Match 4: Burns is way left and Cantlay is way right, but not a bad lie for Cantlay. Lowry hits it on the fairway. McIlroy smashes it down the left, but decent lie too.
Match 1: Fleetwood, DeChambeau and Griffin are a similar distance for birdie, Rose a little bit further. Putting contest ahead.
Match 1: Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka win 3&2 against Scottie Scheffler and JJ Spaun. Scheffler put pressure on with a birdie but too little too late as Straka holes one to finish the deal. Two points out of two by Rahm, leading by example.
“It was a lot of fun, to have Jon today was great, I did not have my game. He kept reminding me it’s there. Thanks to him we’re still in the match,” Straka says.
“I can’t take all the credit, I’ve had great partners, it’s a team, I’ve had really good team-mates,” says Rahm. Very humble as ever considering he was carrying the team at times.
Match 2: “You’re like Chelsea, you’re going to blow it,” says a heckler to Rose, as he just misses the birdie chance, but a half.
Match 4: McIlroy goes for his putt but goes way off. Down to Lowry from about 5 yards to chip in, but goes right of the hole. Cantlay misses from 3 feet! Wow. Stays All Square.
Match 4: Burns into the bunker isn’t much help to Cantlay but he doesn’t need it. Stuffs it again to 3 feet. Irish lads in trouble. Lowry isn’t too far away but in the fringe. McIlroy 25 feet for birdie on the green.
Match 2: Rose hits a great iron at the 15th as DeChambeau misses the green by a good distance wide.
Match 4: McIlroy and Lowry haven’t been on the TV coverage too much in the past little while, but McIlroy pitches to about 6 or 7 feet for birdie at the par 5 13th.
Lowry tickles it down the slope to secure par to let Rory go for the birdie. Cantlay 12 feet for birdie, McIlroy 6 feet.
Cantlay holes it. That’s three in four holes for Cantlay. McIlroy for the half... it goes the whole way around the hole but misses! Wow. Back to All Square.
“I just sat back and watched the show. I’m happy for Cam and proud of him. He played like he was the veteran,” says Justin Thomas about Cameron Young today.
Match 1: Birdie for Scheffler. He finally holes a longer one, from 23 feet. Big reaction from the crowd. It had to be holed too. Can Rahm follow him in? Of course he can! Birdie for Rahm from 20 feet! Always hard to beat the Spanish in the Ryder Cup.
Match 3: Cameron Young and Justin Thomas win 6&5 over Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard. Great performance by the Americans, tough to beat with eight birdies.
Match 2: Birdie for Fleetwood! The English pair have come back and given Europe the lead in this one with four holes to go. What a win that would be if they can pull it off. Europe 1 up
Match 3: Blistering second shot into the par 5 by Young, only Rahm has been close to that in two at the 13th, and could be curtains on that match.
Match 2: Fleetwood steps up and piles the pressure on with an approach to 10 feet. It shows as DeChambeau pushes his iron to a good distance away on the green and Griffin hits the bunker.
Match 4: Birdie for Cantlay. He is capable of big shots in this format and McIlroy and Lowry under the cosh now. Europe 1 up.
Match 2: Rose makes a birdie at the par 5 with a putt from 13 feet. Griffin gets his for a half.
Match 1: Birdie for Straka! Hasn’t done too much today but him and Rahm have dovetailed perfectly, with Rahm off the green, he holes from 30 feet up the hill! Spaun birdies, nerves of steel, hole halved.
Match 4: Cantlay hits a beauty at the 12th, he’s not going away, and could bring it back to 1 up against the Irish lads.
Match 2: Lovely approach by Fleetwood at 13 sets up a good birdie chance, but Griffin is close after a pitch for a birdie too.
Match 1: Rahm finally misses a green, but Straka is safely on the green at 14. JJ Spaun hits it it to 9 feet, they really need that. Scheffler misses the green again, surprisingly.
Match 3: Young and Thomas go 5 up as Young knocks in another birdie. USA 5 up.
Match 1: Scheffler will get a rare birdie, but his chip-in just goes wide. Rahm misses the eagle chance, and it may not be conceded... knocked in from 2 feet. Still Europe 3 up
Match 4: Great shot by Lowry on the 11th, maybe the best of the day. Goes way back in the green and spins all the way back. Only three feet for birdie. Birdie for Lowry! He points at an Irish flag in the crowd and bangs his hand on the Europe badge. That’s the stuff, Shane! That’s Europe 2 up
Match 1: Oh my, Rahm. 263 yards smashed onto the green up the hill at 13 to 11 feet for eagle. Another brilliant shot by the Spaniard who is in the zone. Right after Scheffler had hit a good one just short of the green.
Match 2: Fleetwood from 230 yards gets a very nice bounce just past the bunker and off the green but near the pin. Could chip in from there. Rose is well off, at the back of the green. Griffin is middle of the green. DeChambeau is on the green but further away.
Match 3: A great approach by Thomas at 11 and he holes the birdie “let’s f**king go!”. That’s a big lead there. USA 4 up
Match 2: Fleetwood birdie! Holes from the fringe to bring the match back to all square.
Match 4: Good effort from Rory to chip in again, but just wide. But Cantlay birdies to reduce the deficit! Europe 1 up
Match 2: Brilliant shot by Rose at the 11th, to seven feet for birdie. Fleetwood 12 feet from the fringe. Big chance there as Griffin spins it off the green. DeChambeau within 100 yards but also spins it off the green.
Match 2: Fleetwood’s putt is nowhere near and knocks it five feet past. Still a chance for Rose though up the hill. Doesn’t keep it up and his return will be generously conceded by DeChambeau.
Match 1: Scheffler can’t buy a putt as another one slips by, gives Rahm the chance to win the hole. Birdie for Rahm! Straight in, the Spaniard does it again. Europe 3 up
Match 4: McIlroy and Lowry turn 2 up. All going to plan so far.
Match 2: Beautiful shot by Fleetwood at the 10th, 209 yards to 14 feet. He has the best birdie chance of the four of them.
Match 1: Straka misses the green with a wedge doesn’t help Rahm out but 108 yards at the 11th. Super, crisp wedge to 9 feet. Scheffler from 104 yards needs to match him with Spaun in the bunker and almost holes it with loads of backspin, but goes well outside Rahm’s ball.
Match 3: Cameron Young hits a superb approach at the 9th to six feet. Great performance by the rookie so far. Aberg hit a good iron in too but missed the putt, so leaves it to Young to... hole it! USA 3 up
Match 4: On the 8th hole, Lowry hits the best iron shot again, this time to 14 feet. Two good approaches in a row.
Oh, a great attempt to chip in by Rory from the greenside rough, low and right at it, but just slips by. In for three, now the stage set for a birdie chance to try to go 2 up. Nope, never there. McIlroy/Lowry still 2 up.
Aberg and Hojgaard playing well enough tee to green but struggling to make any ground on Young and Thomas in that match as they are two down. Europe would be satisfied with two points if they can tie this session, but could still be better. All to play for.
Match 4: A dart by Lowry at the tough par 4 7th, 244 yards to 25 feet. McIlroy from 30 yards closer hits it to a similar distance. Cantlay in the bunker, Burns missed the green. Good bunker shot by Cantlay though.
Match 1: Massive crowd on the 9th goes wild as Spaun hits it close to 10 feet. Rahm on the green from 21 feet too though in makeable in the form he’s in. But Spaun’s putt just slips by! Still 2 up to Europe. Spaun went first despite being closer, but Scheffler misses too. Just not happening today for the great man.
Match 4: Massive drive by Rory at the 6th leaves only a short pitch in but leaves it a lot shorter than he would have liked. Not too much energy in that group as Lowry knocks his putt well past and Cantlay half duffs his chip. So a chance for Rory then.
Birdie for McIlroy! Holes from 12 feet and he shouts “come on” and pumps the air. Chest bump with Lowry. That’s more like it. Europe 1 up
Match 2: What a moment. Ben Griffin holes a bomb, brilliant putt from off the green from 56 feet. Then Rose halves the hole with a birdie from 41 feet. Halved in an unexpected way!
Match 1: Scheffler misses his eight footer, as Rahm knocks it in from 18 feet for birdie at 8. What a turnaround for Europe! Europe 2 up
Match 4: “Shane, your partner stinks,” shouts another heckler. The chip certainly did not from Rory as he hits a nice chip where he uses the fringe to set up a good chance for par. But going to be a long afternoon if the banter is this individual, annoying and weak this early. Just a par for Lowry then, Burns a chance to win the hole, but he misses. Still all square.
Match 1: “In the wataaah” is what Rahm gets in a strong New York accent at the 8th but a good shot leaving him a putt up the hill for birdie. Spaun pulls into the bunker. Scheffler though steps up and hits a towering iron to 8 feet.
Match 3: The heckles are getting a lot less subtle and harder to understand. Some guy shouting “boo” and saying the Europeans got dressed in the dark. I think they look perfectly fine to be honest. Doesn’t put off the Scandinavians who both hit nice drives down there.
Match 4: Good drive by Lowry on 5, 25 feet left for birdie. Lowry doesn’t seem happy though as the crowd gets rowdier. Burns hits it half the distance, 12 feet short of the hole. Heckles at Rory too and seems to put him off as he misses the green completely.
Match 3: Aberg misses for birdie on the low side at the 6th, Hojgaard misses it on the high side. Sets up the chance for Thomas to four feet. With stars and stripes shoes, he puts the two ahead. USA 2up
Match 2: DeChambeau misses a big chance on 6 after a big drive and pitch to five feet, pushes his putt. Only a half.
Match 1: Massive break on 7 for Rahm as he pulls his approach into the hay and then it bounces out of it.
Match 3: Brilliant iron from 188 yards to four feet by Justin Thomas, some great approaches so far by him. Aberg responds well to hit it to a similar range to DeChambeau on 5, 10-12 feet left.
Match 4: Cantlay lags it up close for birdie. McIlroy from 54 feet for eagle is well played to a couple of feet for birdie. Hole halved.
Match 4: McIlroy flies it over the flag at the par 5 4th, still on the green but a long putt left for eagle. Cantlay also makes the green in two. Lowry in the bunker.
Match 1: No birdies for Scheffler on the first five holes. Not really shown the form he’s been showing the past few years. 6th hole halved.
Match 2: Two well hit iron shots at the 5th set up birdie chance for Fleetwood and DeChambeau. DeChambeau gets his putt from 13 feet to win the hole! USA 1 up
Match 3: Hojgaard and Aberg both hit the green in two at the par 5 4th. Both Young and Thomas don’t, but hit wedges fairly close. Hojgaard lags it up close and 35 feet for Aberg to go for it, but just misses. Young gets it for birdie for a half.
Match 4: Cantlay’s putt looks misread and goes off to the right. From four feet then, McIlroy misses! Match stays all square. Big chance missed there.
Match 1: Excellent effort for birdie by Spaun at the 5th from distance, just lipped out. Halved in pars.
Match 4: Shane Lowry hits it in the bunker at the par 3 3rd hole. McIlroy stuffs it close with another brilliant iron! Best of the afternoon, what a shot. Burns pulls it left of the green. Cantlay hits a very good iron, not as good as Rory, but good chance for birdie.
Match 4: Birdie for Lowry at 2! Drains one up the hill, great putt. Burns needs to hole from maybe 10 feet for a half. Burns misses. McIlroy/Lowry back A/S
Match 2: Great effort by Fleetwood for eagle from just off the green, narrowly misses. Halved in birdies.
Match 4: McIlroy hits a superb approach into the second! Into the back corner with the pin position, only 6 or 7 feet left for birdie. Lowry is good too, not quite as good, 15-20 feet.
Match 3: “Where’s your brother,” chants the Americans at Rasmus Hojgaard, his twin brother Nicolai played last time, as he hits the middle of the green at the 3rd. Cameron Young hits the best shot into the par 3 and has a good chance for birdie.
Match 2: Rose hits the green in two on the par 5 4th. DeChambeau is closest to the green with his drive, but hits the back corner of the green.
Match 4: McIlroy misses! Way off never looked like going in, as the jeers come out. Two chances for the Americans to win the hole. Burns makes it. USA 1 up
Match 2: Thomas doesn’t need to putt as Young birdies the second from further out. USA 1 up. The red getting on the board.
Match 1: Spaun gets up and down from the bunker for birdie, forcing Rahm to need his eagle putt to win the hole. He doesn’t hit it, so it’s a half.
Match 4: Lowry flicks one towards the green at the first but just short on the green. Cantlay takes a big divot and pitches it way past the hole but spins it all the way back to close. Burns hits a good shot as the hecklers are in hearing for Rory. Average wedge by Rory, still work to do for birdie.
Match 1: Unbelievable shot by Rahm at the par 5 fourth, draws an iron in to 10 feet for eagle. Can Scheffler match him? He can’t, short sides himself on the front of the green.
Match 3: Another brilliant wedge by Thomas at the 2nd to close for birdie.
Shane Lowry steps up first, down the left. Rory up next then to give it a belt. Full launch and it might be the longest drive of the day at the first! Maybe 20 yards short of the green. Burns down the right, with Cantlay on the fairway.
The Irish lads Rory and Shane are out on the tee in the final match. Not quite the reception they got at The K Club.
Match 1: Birdie for Rahm! Holes it from 15 feet. Scheffler needs the hole to tie, which he fails to do. Europe ahead 1 up.
Match 3: Halved in birdies - Thomas and Hojgaard get them.
Match 1: Scheffler’s bread and butter at the par 3 third as he hits it fairly close. Rahm also with a chance for birdie.
Match 3: Hojgaard went 336 off the tee, and hits a good pitch but Justin Thomas might be the closest after a well-hit wedge.
Match 2: Straka chips into the hole for birdie! Big moment for the Austrian and takes that match all-square.
Match 3: Aberg/Hojgaard and Young/Thomas tee off the first. Great drive by Rasmus in his first Ryder Cup, near where DeChambeau was. Young also in the fairway, not as far, the other two in the rough.
Fleetwood with a good approach to the front of the green from furthest back, closer than Griffin who is on the fringe. Rose is a similar distance to Fleetwood.
DeChambeau is closest to the hole and he hits it closest, puts it past the hole and stops it dead. He’s not that happy with it, but five or six feet above the hole.
Birdie by Fleetwood! Drains it for birdie to put pressure on DeChambeau to halve the hole. Which he does. Halved with birdies.
Meanwhile, Scheffler hits the green on 2 with a solid shot but outside birdie chance. Straka on the fringe, Spaun misses the green. Rahm also misses the green.
Gmac getting a wee bit excited there.
Spaun and Scheffler go down the left at the second, not great drives. Straka hits the fairway, Rahm down the better angle of the right.
Lovely drive by Justin Rose to start, middle of the fairway, never one to be daunted by a situation. Fleetwood hooked his drive slightly but fine.
Massive drive by DeChambeau as expected, just short of the par four in first. Good drive by Griffin too.
DeChambeau comes out and touches the “Warning: Bethpage sign” like he’s walking out at Anfield. Andrew Coltart says on commentary that he bets he comes out and hugs Trump. Wouldn’t be surprised. Just a big handshake instead when they come out.
Trump walking alongside him like he’s a part of the team briefly.
USA 1 up. Spaun holes it for birdie in the lead fourball match.
Straka goes short of the green, Scheffler’s pitch bounces on a bit more and rolls onto the front of the green. Spaun hits a beautiful pitch that rolls only four foot past. Rahm overhits his pitch slightly, but on the green with a birdie chance all the same. Advantage USA from those approaches.
Match 1: Jon Rahm kicks off the fourballs with the atmosphere at fever pitch.
Rahm’s drive is down the left at the first. So is Straka’s but not as far. Spaun is down the right, Scheffler is the furthest left of the lot, but all under way.
Some photos of Donald Trump arriving:
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)
