On the opening day at Bethpage Black, Team Europe delivered a commanding performance, taking a 5½ to 2½ lead over the United States. CBSSports.com+2The Guardian + 2
Morning Session (Foursomes)
Europe won 3 of the 4 matches in the alternate-shot format, giving them a strong cushion early on. SI+4The Guardian+4New York Post+4
- One of the standout results was Ludvig Åberg / Matt Fitzpatrick defeating Scottie Scheffler / Russell Henley 5 & 3 — a particularly stinging defeat, as Scheffler entered the event as world No. 1. CBSSports.com+3CBSSports.com+3Reuters+3
- McIlroy / Fleetwood also delivered a dominant win, beating Morikawa / English convincingly. SI+3The Guardian+3New York Post+3
- The U.S. pairing Xander Schauffele / Patrick Cantlay managed to salvage a point by winning their match, preventing a 4–0 sweep. CBSSports.com+4CBSSports.com+4The Guardian+4
Afternoon Session (Fourballs)
Europe continued to press their advantage in the fourball (best-ball) matches. The Guardian+2CBSSports.com+2
- Europe secured wins in multiple matches: notably Jon Rahm / Sepp Straka defeated Scheffler / J.J. Spaun 3 & 2. SI+3CBSSports.com+3The Guardian+3
- McIlroy / Lowry halved their match against Burns / Cantlay, giving Europe half a point. The Guardian+2CBSSports.com+2
- The U.S. pairing Thomas / Young posted an emphatic win (6 & 5) to at least show some fight. CBSSports.com+2The Guardian+2
One of the most discussed outcomes was Scottie Scheffler’s poor showing. He lost both of his matches (one in foursomes, one in fourballs), going 0–2 on Day 1. He thereby became only the third world No. 1 in Ryder Cup history to lose twice on the opening day — joining Ian Woosnam and Tiger Woods in that dubious distinction. Reuters+2SI+2
What Day 1 Tells Us: Big Warning Signs for Team USA
That dominant European start carries big implications. Here’s what matters most:
Momentum & Confidence
Europe’s commanding lead after just one day puts psychological pressure on the U.S. side. Taking early control, especially on U.S. soil, allows Europe to play more aggressively, force the Americans into reaction mode, and control pairings over the weekend. The Guardian+2New York Post+2
Pairing and Strategy Success for Europe
European captain Luke Donald’s pairings appear to have paid immediate dividends. The chemistry and consistency shown — especially in the morning sessions — suggests that Europe is executing their plan well. New York Post+1
Conversely, the U.S. team will need to reshuffle or reinvent pairings, especially given how their top names underperformed. The struggles of Scheffler and DeChambeau are alarming for U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, who may need to roll out alternate strategies. SI+2New York Post+2
Risk of Complacency — and Resilience from USA
A lead isn’t a victory. Europe must guard against complacency. The U.S. still has two full days (and the singles session) to mount a comeback. Historically, teams trailing after Day 1 have overturned deficits — though it’s harder on home soil under crowd pressure. The Guardian+1
Pivotal Role of Key Players
Scheffler’s failure is a major blow; he was expected to anchor U.S. scoring. His inability to convert opportunities raises questions about his form and how the U.S. will adapt. Reuters+2SI+2
Meanwhile, European stars like Rahm, McIlroy, Åberg, and Fitzpatrick have delivered — those performances could be the backbone of a Europe victory. SI+1
Margin for Error Shrinks for U.S.
Trailing by 3 points after Day 1 means the U.S. must be aggressive and efficient over the next sessions. There’s less room for mistakes, and every match becomes more critical. The pressure will mount.
What to Watch on Day 2 & Beyond
Given the Day 1 results, here are key things to monitor over Days 2 and 3:
- Pairing Changes: Will Bradley reshuffle to find winning chemistry?
- Momentum Shifts: Can U.S. capture early points in the morning foursomes to avoid falling deeper?
- Energy & Fatigue: Which team better handles back-to-back sessions?
- Crowd Factor: Home crowd support will be intense — Europe must prevent it from fueling a U.S. momentum swing.
- Singles Matches Sunday: If the U.S. keeps it close heading into Sunday, a strong singles performance (where depth matters) could turn the tide.
Final Word
Day 1 at the 2025 Ryder Cup was a strong statement from Europe. With a 5½–2½ lead, they’ve set the tone. The U.S. will need near-perfect execution in the coming sessions to claw their way back.
Still, golf is unpredictable: matches can swing, momentum can shift, and great individual performances can salvage a comeback. But for now, Europe controls the narrative, and Team USA is playing from behind.
