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Ryder Cup: Europe Storms Ahead 5.5-2.5

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Europe dominant USA in Ryder Cup Opener
Europe dominant USA in Ryder Cup Opener




Ryder Cup: Europe's strong start puts pressure on USA. Europe takes commanding 5.5-2.5 lead over USA after dominant first day at Ryder Cup.


 “The boys played good this afternoon. Europe made a lot of putts. Happy with the way we're playing...”


Europe stormed into a three-point lead on the opening day of the Ryder Cup, dominating the United States with a 5.5-2.5 advantage. Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood played pivotal roles, striking twice to secure crucial wins for the European team. The morning session saw Europe claim a 3-1 lead, with Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton securing a 4&3 victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas.


Key Wins for Europe:

  • Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood: Secured a 5&4 win over Collin Morikawa and Harris English
  • Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Aberg: Claimed a 5&3 victory over Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley
  • Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka: Won 3&2 over JJ Spaun and Scottie Scheffler in the four-ball session


Europe's captain, Luke Donald, expressed his pride and satisfaction with the team's performance, saying, “Incredible day. Winning this morning was huge for us. Guys grinded to win the session this afternoon. Love where we are. I'm so proud of these guys.” The European team's strong start has put pressure on the United States, which now faces an uphill battle to catch up.


Meanwhile, Team USA captain Keegan Bradley remains optimistic about a turnaround, stating, “The boys played good this afternoon. Europe made a lot of putts. Happy with the way we're playing. Hopefully it'll turn and go to our putts tomorrow. This is the first quarter, we've still got three quarters to go. I've got a lot of faith in my boys.”


Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and US star Bryson DeChambeau faced setbacks, but the real focus is on the scoreboard. As Fleetwood aptly put it, “No matter who it is, the scoreboard is what counts.” The team felt well-prepared and was thrilled to have gotten off to a strong start.


US Open Leaderboard:

  • Current Leader: J.J. Spaun secured the top spot with a score of -1 (279)
  • Scottie Scheffler's Performance: Scheffler tied for 7th place with a score of +4 (284)


Other Notable Performances:

  • Viktor Hovland: Finished 3rd with a score of +2 (282)
  • Tyrrell Hatton: Tied for 4th with a score of +3 (283)


US captain Keegan Bradley was left searching for answers after a disappointing performance from some key players. Bradley had anticipated a turnaround, but the results didn't quite match expectations.


“Europe made a lot of putts,” he said. “Happy with the way we're playing. Hopefully it'll turn and our putts will go in tomorrow. This is the first quarter. We've still got three quarters to go. I've got a lot of faith in my boys.”


Europe's Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka dominated their American counterparts, Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun, winning the four-ball match 3&2. Earlier in the morning, Rahm teamed up with Tyrrell Hatton to defeat Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3 in the foursomes match, marking the Europe duo's fifth consecutive win in foursomes matches.


Rahm's Performance:

  • Four-ball Match: Rahm and Straka took an early lead, with Straka chipping in for birdie on the second hole. Rahm then rolled in a 16½-foot birdie putt at the third hole to take the lead.
  • Foursomes Match: Rahm and Hatton played crucial roles in securing the win, with Hatton rolling in consecutive birdie putts from 20 feet at the par-4 12th and 8 feet at the par-5 13th.


Rahm expressed satisfaction with their performance, saying, “We started great and we have to keep it going. That's what we did.” Meanwhile, Scheffler seemed frustrated after the match, struggling to make an impact against the European duo.


“We gave ourselves plenty of opportunities,” Scheffler said. “It really just came down to me not holing enough putts.”


Jon Rahm's unbeaten streak in Ryder Cup pairs play since 2018 continues to impress, with seven wins and two ties. Rahm humbly attributes his success to his partners, saying, “I can't take all the credit. I've had great partners. You can't do this alone.” This sentiment is echoed by his performances alongside top players like Tyrrell Hatton, with whom he's now 3-0 in Ryder Cup foursomes.


Rahm's Ryder Cup Achievements:

  • Unbeaten Streak: 7 wins, 2 ties since 2018
  • Foursomes Record: 5-0-0 with Tyrrell Hatton
  • Recent Wins: Defeated Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3 in foursomes, and Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun 3&2 in fourballs


Tommy Fleetwood also played a crucial role in Europe's strong start, teaming up with Rory McIlroy to secure a 5&4 win over Collin Morikawa and Harris English in foursomes. Fleetwood then partnered Justin Rose to beat Ben Griffin and DeChambeau 1-up in fourballs. When asked about the team's performance, Fleetwood said, “The scoreboard is what counts. I think just our team as a collective, I think we obviously feel very prepared, and we've been looking forward to this day for a long time now.”


Rory McIlroy ended the day unbeaten, securing a crucial half-point for Europe in the four-ball match against Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay. McIlroy expressed his thoughts on the day's play, saying, “It's a great day for Europe. I'm disappointed I didn't hole that for a full point but the guys have done so well today.” The 11-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole slipped away, denying McIlroy a full point.


President Donald Trump arrived at Bethpage Black, shaking hands with attendees and greeting golfers, amidst chants of "U-S-A" and cheers. Trump was accompanied by his granddaughter Kai Trump, who is set to play college golf at the University of Miami in 2026. The visit drew significant security measures, including airport-style screenings and a substantial police presence, with over 500 law enforcement officers on duty.


The event saw heightened security due to Trump's visit, with the US Secret Service, CIA, and FBI working together to ensure safety. Trump's arrival was met with both cheers and boos from the crowd. Despite this, Team Europe's Robert MacIntyre referred to Trump as "just another spectator". Trump had previously attended a professional golf event as a spectator in August 2023 and visited his Doral course in Miami before a LIV Golf event earlier this year.


The Ryder Cup is heating up at Bethpage Black, with Team Europe holding a 5.5-2.5 lead over Team USA after the first day of competition. 


The “Fleetwood Mc” tandem, consisting of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, has improved to 3-0 in their partnership, winning four of the first six holes in their match against Morikawa and English. Europe's strong start puts them in a favorable position, with the team that leads after Day 1 having a historical advantage in the competition.


Europe's Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Åberg delivered a stunning 5&3 victory over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and third-ranked Russell Henley, winning four of the first six holes and maintaining their lead throughout the match. According to Åberg, “We hit a lot of nice shots and made it hard for them.” This impressive win was a significant boost for Europe, as taking down the two highest-ranked US players put pressure on the American team.


Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler reflected on his team's performance, saying, “Russ and I did some good things. We just didn't hole enough putts early. We had some chances. The putts just didn't fall.” Scheffler and Russell Henley struggled to find their rhythm, ultimately losing 5&3 to Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Åberg.


Meanwhile, Europe's Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton continued their winning streak, defeating Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3 in the Ryder Cup foursomes. The European duo improved to 5-0 in Cup foursomes, showcasing their impressive partnership. Rahm praised Hatton's dependability, saying, “This man is a joy to be partnered with. We spend a lot of time together and he can be very, very dependable when things get going difficult. I have full confidence every single time.”


Tyrrell Hatton reflected on the intense atmosphere during the Ryder Cup match, saying, “We dug in. The atmosphere was pretty intense but good fun.” The European duo faced off against their American opponents in a thrilling match. Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay secured a 2-up win for the Americans against Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland. They took the last two holes after a late rally from the European team.


Patrick Cantlay reflected on the challenging match, stating, “It was a tough match. Nice to get the point on the board and the fans going.” This win contributed to the intense competition between Europe and the US, with Europe seeking to replicate their 2012 “Miracle at Medinah“ victory on US soil and the Americans aiming to reclaim the Cup after losing in Rome two years ago.


Electric Atmosphere at the Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup is buzzing with excitement as 5,000 fans packed into the largest grandstand in tournament history, creating an electrifying atmosphere at the first tee. European captain Luke Donald described the scene as “intense and pure energy,” likening it to the high-octane vibe typically experienced at the first tee.


The format features four morning foursomes matches and four afternoon four-ball matches on Friday and Saturday, with 12 concluding Sunday singles matches.


The Americans need 14.5 points to win the Cup. Europe, winners in 10 of the past 14 meetings, need only 14 of 28 points to retain the trophy.





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