Europe Dominates the First Matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup

Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe reacts to his on the 13th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe reacts to his on the 13th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup. Michael Reaves / PGA of America.

The Friday morning Foursomes session of the 2025 Ryder Cup started off exactly how Keegan Bradley would have dreamt it. Bryson DeChambeau drove it just short of the green on the first hole and then made a long birdie putt to go 1 UP on Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. That would be the only hole DeChambeau and Justin Thomas would win in their match. The fiery duo of Rahm and Hatton won the seventh and eighth hole to go 1 UP and never look back. They would close out the powerful American duo 4&3to put the first European point on the board. 

Jon Rahm high fives Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe after his putt on the eighth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Jon Rahm high fives Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe after his putt on the eighth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup. Michael Reaves / PGA of America.

The Americans’ dream start quickly turned into a nightmare after the next two matches saw the European teams win the first hole of each match and never look back. 

 

Ludvig Aberg of Team Europe reacts to making his putt on the ninth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Ludvig Aberg of Team Europe reacts to making his putt on the ninth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup. Scott Taetsch / PGA of America.

In the second match of the morning – Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley (Team USA) vs. Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick (Team Europe) – the Europeans took control after the opening nine holes, going 4 UP on the World No. 1 and No. 3 golfers. Fitzpatrick and Aberg closed the Americans out on the 15th hole to win 5&3. 

Rory McIlroy of Team Europe spins his putter on the seventh hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy of Team Europe spins his putter on the seventh hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup. Maddie Meyer / PGA of America.

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood of Europe won four of the first six holes against Collin Morikawa and Harris English. They won two more holes to close out the American team on the 14th at 5&4. 

Xander Schauffele of Team United States hits his shot on the 15th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Xander Schauffele of Team United States hits his shot on the 15th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup. Michael Reaves / PGA of America.

The last match of Friday morning was Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele (Team USA) vs. Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre (Team Europe). After 11 holes, the stoic American pairing had a 3 UP lead over Europe. Hovland and MacIntyre came back to win three of the next four holes to tie the match heading into the final three holes. The Americans won the 17th hole to go 1 UP with one hole to play. Schauffele and Cantlay put an exclamation point on their match by winning the 18th hole, thereby putting the first and only American point on the board in the morning session. 

Fans cheer for Ludvig Aberg of Team Europe by the 15th hole of the Black Course at Bethpage.
Fans cheer for Ludvig Aberg of Team Europe by the 15th hole of the Black Course at Bethpage. Scott Taetsch / PGA of America.

Heading into the Friday afternoon Fourball matches, Team Europe leads Team USA 3-1.

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