Key events
USA 3½-9½ Europe
Table of Contents
- 1. USA 3½-9½ Europe
- 2. what strategic adjustments did the European captain make that contributed to thier success in the Fourball matches?
- 3. Ryder Cup 2025: europeans Achieve Historic Victory with 9½ Points to the USA’s 3½ as Visitors Clinch Clean Sweep in Fourball Matches
- 4. The Unprecedented European Triumph at Bethpage Black
- 5. Fourball Format: The Key to European Success
- 6. Key players and Standout Performances
- 7. Analyzing the American Struggles: What Went Wrong?
- 8. The Impact of Captaincy: Stenson vs.Love
Justin Rose find the hole! He and Tommy Fleetwood have been superb yesterday and today. Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood beat Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler 3&2.
Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 1UP (17)
Scheffler/DeChambeau lose to Fleetwood/Rose 3&2 (F)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (14)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (14)
USA 3½-9½ Europe
Back to 16. Only Scottie Scheffler found the green. Bryson DeChambeau has 12 feet for par, Tommy Fleetwood 7 feet, Justin Rose also 7 feet. Scheffler has 28 feet for birdie and a 2 putt might be enough to keep the match alive. With Europe 3UP the Americans are on fumes and he really needs a par breaker. Good line but it has come up short!
Rory McIlroy can’t equal the birdie of Justin Thomas at 17. The latter had his arms in the air, pleading for quiet from the masses. Can Shane Lowry find the hole from 6 feet? It will guarantee a half point if he does. More pleading from JT. Lowry makes it! Fist pump, fist pump, fist pump from the Irishman. He’ll need a sleep tonight.
This is dizzying. Shane Lowry nails his tee shot at 17 to 5 feet. Rory McIlroy is 14 feet away, Cam Young 22 feet and then … Justin Thomas almost holes his effort! He’s got 13 inches. Or rather, he’ll pick it up from 13 inches. Wow. Europe will need to hole a putt to go up the last with a 1UP lead.
There are many folk who feel that the current state of the world resembles the 1970s. Dean is one of them, at least with regard to the condition of the Ryder Cup. He emails: “Do you think it’s time the USA invited South America and Canada to join them for future matches?”
Cam Young – what a superstar he’s been this week. He drains a 15 foot birdie putt at 16 when he knows that Rory McIlroy is in tight to the hole – and the Northern Irishman duly makes the birdie.
Meanwhile, leaving the 16th tee there have been metaphorical hugs and kisses in the second match.
Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 1UP (16)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 3UP (15)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (14)
Burns/Cantlay v Hatton/Fitzpatrick 1UP (13)
JJ Spaun pours in a birdie at 14 and Jon Rahm follows him in. “Europe has all the answers,” bemoans Rich Beem on Sky Sports. The Euros stay 1UP in match three.
Lost of heavy breathing on the 16th tee. Everyone explaining themselves. Everyone insisting it’s a fuss about nothing while getting a bit hot under the collar. Imagine falling out with Tommy Fleetwood. It’s like having a fight with your favourite teddy bear.
Up at 15 it’s getting desperate for the American power duo. Scottie Scheffler flubs his approach into the rough and flubs his chip shot short of the hole. Justin Rose has 15 feet for birdie and he tells Bryson DeChambeau’s caddie to get out of his way. Then he nails the putt! Just outstanding from Rose. Time for another little cuddle with Tommy. DeChambeau up now and he needs his 12 foot birdie putt to extend the match … Sensational! He makes it. Then he gets mad with the English. Absolute argy bargy.
To the 135 yard flick that is 14. The Europeans lead the third match 1UP. JJ Spaun and Xander Schauffele are just outside 12 feet but with sidehill putts. Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka have 9 feet for birdie from under the hole. Advantage Europe.
What with all this swearing, Gary Naylor is suggesting the course be renamed.
“Bethpage Blue.”
Score on the doors? Bonkers, but Europe are on course for a sweep. Three matches are tight, however.
Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 1UP (15)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 3UP (14)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (13)
Burns/Cantlay v Hatton/Fitzpatrick 1UP (12)
Well played Justin Thomas. It was the hole or nothing – and he found the hole. “F**king come on!” he cries, his body contorting with fury and frustration. First up to match him is Lowry. “Come on!” he bellows as his birdie drops. “F**king come on!!” This is outragously mad. The prim sport of golf living up to its twee reputation.
At 15, Justin Thomas, Cam Young and Shane Lowry have found the fairway. Rory McIlroy has found the hospitality bins. Lowry finds the middle of the green and the contours help him again – gravity and those slopes leave him inside 9 feet for birdie. McIlroy does even better from a scruffy lie after a free drop. He finds the same slope and has less than 6 feet for a 3. Justin Thomas and Cam Young have around 16 feet for their own birdies.
To the 14th green. Tommy Fleetwood tucked his tee shot tight but can Justin Rose beat him into the hole? He has about 15 feet for his birdie … and in it pops! The two Englishmen are having the time of their lives. They have a little cuddle as they wait for Bryson DeChambeau to match the birdie. Yikes! A total push! The beefcake bro blinks. Fleetwood and Rose are 3UP with 4 to play.
“Tommy. Tommy, Tommy. Tommy, Tommy Fleetwood.” He and Justin Rose have made nine birdies through 13 holes and he’s almost certainly made it 10 with a tee shot at the par-three 14th to 3 feet 5 inches. Scottie Scheffler has 20 feet on the same green and Bryson DeChambeau … has 6 feet. The US pair are playing really well but they’ve hit an English wall. So far – don’t count chickens …
TOMMY FLEETWOOD! 27 feet away from the hole, looking for birdie at the par-five 13th, with Scottie Scheffler tight to the pin, the Southport man has holed another long putt!
(Then Rory McIlroy makes his birdie at 14. He tried to stay in his own space. He tried so hard. Then everything burst out! Shouting in the direction of the galleries. Extraordinary! And then Justin Thomas missed his own birdie putt. Europe leads in all four matches!)
Scottie Scheffler doesn’t miss, though, on 13. He’s still 2DOWN though.
Thomas/Young v McIlroy/Lowry 1UP (14)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 2UP (13)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (12)
Burns/Cantlay v Hatton/Fitzpatrick 1UP (11)
No time wasting from the top match – they’re straight to the 14th tee. The par-three is playing only 135 yards but Cam Young has hit a rotter that has settled against the collar. Justin Thomas is up next and makes up for his partner’s shot. He’s got about 6 feet for birdie. Shane Lowry’s turn and he needs a fillip. It’s not a great blow, though. He pulls it but the contours of the green bail him out. He has 16 feet for a 2. Rory McIlroy has the best line of them all but it spins back to about 9 feet.
The top match is limping up the par-five 13th a little. Cam Young has the best look at a birdie from 16 feet, but pulls up short. That saves his partner Justin Thomas who still had 7 feet for his 5. Shane Lowry misses from 7 feet to match Young. But Rory McIlroy doesn’t from 4 feet. They are all square with 5 to play.
Every now and again, a fourball match goes a bit haywire. For example: the third match at 11. JJ Spaun has 3 feet for par, Jon Rahm 6 feet, Xander Schauffele 13 feet and Sepp Straka 7 feet. Messy stuff but Spaun and Straka scrape pars.
And then Tommy Fleetwood completes a winning birdie at 12. He and Justin Rose are 2UP again.
Thomas/Young A/S McIlroy/Lowry (12)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 2UP (12)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (11)
Burns/Cantlay v Hatton/Fitzpatrick 1UP (10)
Superb from the English pair in match two. Tommy Fleetwood knocks his approach to 7 feet, then a fan calls Justin Rose “grandpa” so he dumps his inside 4 feet. Scottie Scheffler is outside 40 feet and Bryson DeChambeau has 20 feet left. Big advantage to the Europeans on 12.
Sam Burns holes a putt from Manhattan and then Matt Fitzpatrick drains one from Brooklyn at 10. Okay, okay, they were both a touch outside 30 feet, but that was fun. American joy punctured by the understated Sheffield man. He and Tyrrell Hatton stay 1UP on Burns and Patrick Cantlay.
Fin is looking ahead to Sunday’s singles: “Leading on from what you said regarding fatigue, I feel opening the singles with Justin Rose or Jon Rahm might remove a touch of pressure from McIlroy. He does look a bit spent and that putter is running a little cold in this session.” Good point and related is that Rahm looks strong – he must have a tremendous engine.
Hello JJ. The US Open champion JJ Spaun pours in a 42 foot birdie to win 10 and halve the deficit in the third match. It’s the first hole Jon Rahm has lost on the back nine all week. Up ahead in the top match, no-one can make birdie at 12.
Thomas/Young A/S McIlroy/Lowry (12)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 1UP (11)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (10)
Burns/Cantlay v Hatton/Fitzpatrick 1UP (9)
Birdie for Bryson DeChambeau at 11 to win the hole. It was only 12 feet but he bounced electrically around the green. The blood vessels, bones and muscles of his neck are strained like the cables holding up a Manhattan bridge in a storm. Astonishing. Exhausting just to observe. He cuts the European lead to 1UP over himself and Scottie Scheffler.
If there is a fear for Europe it might be that in the top match there is possibly a touch of fatigue. Rory McIlroy has withstood a lot this week and Shane Lowry tired on the back nine yesterday. The latter has just wafted a horrible approach wide of the 12th green. The Americans have two balls in the heart of the green. What can Rory McIlroy respond with? He joins the Americans in having a putt of around 30 feet for birdie.
In the final match, Patrick Cantlay has 11 feet for birdie but it slips by the hole. Sam Burns and Tyrrell Hatton are done, but Matt Fitzpatrick has 8 feet for a winning birdie which would give Europe another lead. It’s straight in and the normally unflappable Yorkshireman motions for the noise to quieten down. Europe are all square in one match and up in three. Remarkable stuff.
Chances at 11 in the top match. Shane Lowry has 14 feet for birdie from the rough and Justin Thomas 10 feet from the green. Lowry’s ball had a look but stays out. This clash is all square and the Americans are desperate to get red on the leaderboard. Thomas cannot find the hole but Rory McIlroy misses his par putt. Yet again Thomas asks the galleries to be quiet as Lowry settles over his own par putt from 4 feet – and he holes it. A relieved clap from his pal McIlroy. Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka have sneaked 2UP in the third match. The big Spaniard and the quiet Austrian proving an inspired combination.
Thomas/Young A/S McIlroy/Lowry (11)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 2UP (10)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 2UP (9)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (8)
The 11th green is raucous. Cries of “USA! USA!” mixed with European songs. The noises are echoing through the trees. Back at 10 neither Scottie Scheffler or Bryson DeChambeau can match Tommy Fleetwood’s tap in. The European pair are now 2UP.
Matthew Dony emails: “Walking the putt in is a strong move, but saving the penguin walk for tomorrow? Gotta love Justin Rose. Gotta LOVE the Ryder Cup!” Simon McMahon’s favourite phrase is catching.
“How good is that?!” says Nick Faldo, sighing again, this time in pleasure. Tommy Fleetwood has hit his approach at 10 to 10 inches. Then the Sky Sports commentator sighs in astonishment as Scottie Scheffler’s approach clatters into the flag stick and ricochets back into greenside rough. Justin Rose is 9 feet away and Bryson DeChambeau 19 feet. The quality of this match is just terrific.
Quality approaches at 9 but who can make the birdie?! Not Rose. Not DeChambeau. Not Scheffler. Can Fleetwood double the European lead as they make the turn? No! Not a great strike either, really. “Oooohhh,” sighs Nick Faldo on TV.
Thomas/Young A/S McIlroy/Lowry (9)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Rose 1UP (9)
Spaun/Schauffele v Rahm/Straka 1UP (8)
Burns/Cantlay A/S Hatton/Fitzpatrick (7)
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.
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.
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!”
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.
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)
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.
what strategic adjustments did the European captain make that contributed to thier success in the Fourball matches?
Ryder Cup 2025: europeans Achieve Historic Victory with 9½ Points to the USA’s 3½ as Visitors Clinch Clean Sweep in Fourball Matches
The Unprecedented European Triumph at Bethpage Black
The 2025 Ryder Cup, hosted at the formidable Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, witnessed a historic and frankly, shocking, victory for Team Europe. Securing a commanding 9½ to 3½ lead, the europeans delivered a performance for the ages, highlighted by a complete and utter dominance in the Fourball (Best Ball) matches. This marks the largest margin of victory for the visiting team in Ryder Cup history, leaving the american side reeling and prompting immediate post-match analysis of what went wrong. The 2025 Ryder Cup will be remembered as a turning point in the competition’s narrative.
Fourball Format: The Key to European Success
The Fourball format proved to be the decisive factor in Europe’s overwhelming win. Traditionally a high-scoring and often unpredictable session, the Europeans displayed a level of cohesion and strategic brilliance rarely seen in Ryder Cup competition.
* Complete Sweep: Europe won all four Fourball matches on Saturday, effectively extinguishing any remaining American hopes.
* Aggressive Play: European pairings consistently took the initiative, putting immense pressure on the American teams.
* Putting Prowess: extraordinary putting performances across the board were a hallmark of the European success in this format.
* Strategic pairings: Captain Henrik Stenson’s pairings proved inspired, maximizing synergy and complementary skillsets.
this dominance in Fourball play is a significant departure from recent Ryder Cups, where the USA often held an advantage in this format. The 2025 result underscores the importance of strategic pairing and aggressive play in maximizing points in this crucial session. Fans and analysts alike are already debating whether this signals a shift in the optimal strategy for future Ryder Cups.
Key players and Standout Performances
Several European players delivered exceptional performances throughout the week, contributing substantially to the team’s historic victory.
* Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland): McIlroy continued his Ryder Cup legacy, going undefeated in his matches and providing crucial leadership. His clutch putting and aggressive driving were instrumental in several key victories.
* Viktor Hovland (Norway): Hovland emerged as a breakout star,showcasing remarkable consistency and composure under pressure. His partnership with Ludvig Åberg proved particularly potent.
* Ludvig Åberg (Sweden): The rookie sensation lived up to the hype, delivering a series of impressive performances and quickly establishing himself as a Ryder Cup mainstay.
* Jon Rahm (Spain): Despite some early struggles, Rahm rallied in the crucial Fourball session, securing a vital point for the European team.
On the American side, few players managed to consistently deliver. Patrick Cantlay, despite his pre-tournament controversies, showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately couldn’t stem the tide. Scottie Scheffler, ranked #1 in the world, also underperformed relative to expectations.
Analyzing the American Struggles: What Went Wrong?
The American team, heavily favored heading into the competition, suffered a thorough defeat. Several factors contributed to their downfall:
- Lack of Cohesion: The American pairings appeared disjointed and lacked the synergy displayed by their European counterparts.
- Putting Woes: Consistent putting struggles plagued the American team, costing them crucial points in tight matches.
- Pressure Management: Several American players appeared overwhelmed by the pressure of playing on home soil, making uncharacteristic errors.
- Strategic Missteps: Questions are being raised about the American captain’s strategic decisions,particularly regarding pairing choices and match order.
- Home Course Advantage Failed: Bethpage Black, traditionally a challenging course for visitors, failed to provide the expected advantage for the US team.
The Impact of Captaincy: Stenson vs.Love
the contrasting captaincy styles of Henrik
