Europe takes the early lead at 2025 Ryder Cup

Jon Rahm (YouTube, Wikimedia Commons)

The first day of the 2025 Ryder Cup took place at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. It was clear that Team Europe maintained the momentum they got from winning the 2023 Ryder Cup two years ago in Italy, where they clobbered the Americans 16.5 to 11.5. On Friday, Europe won the morning foursome session 3 to 1, and then the afternoon four-ball session (with United States President Donald Trump in attendance) 2.5 to 1.5. So, overall, Europe has a lead of 5.5 to 2.5.

The European squad got two points each from Jon Rahm of Barrika, Spain and Tommy Fleetwood of Southport, England. Rahm teamed up with Tyrrell Hatton of High Wycombe, England in the foursome session to beat Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3. It should be noted that Rahm and Hatton are both LIV players. Rahm then teamed up with Sepp Straka of Vienna, Austria to beat Americans Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun 3 & 2 in four-ball action.

Fleetwood teamed up with Rory McIlroy of Holywood, Northern Ireland in foursome play. They beat the American duo of Colin Morikawa and Harris English 5 & 4. Then in the matinee four-ball play, Fleetwood and Justin Rose of England beat Ben Griffin and Bryson DeChambeau 1 up.

It was very interesting that DeChambeau and Scheffler lost both of their matches. Scheffler is the world number one and won the Procore Championship earlier this month in Napa Valley, California, and had a lot of momentum. However, he really struggled this morning. Scheffler then teamed up with world number three Russell Henley, but were upset 5&3 to England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg.