Team USA came into the 45th Ryder Cup determined to end Europe’s recent dominance and reclaim golf’s most coveted team trophy on home soil. But Day 1 at Bethpage Black on Friday looked all too familiar. Just as they did in Rome two years ago, Europe blitzed the Americans in the opening sessions, storming out to a 5.5–2.5 lead.
It was a performance powered by the same names that have haunted the U.S. before: Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood each delivered crucial points to give Europe the early upper hand. With momentum clearly on their side, the Europeans are now well-positioned to chase a historic win — one that would mark their first Ryder Cup victory on U.S. soil since the dramatic 14.5–13.5 triumph at Medinah in 2012.
The opening foursomes session set the tone. Europe grabbed three of the four matches, leaving the U.S. scrambling to find answers. McIlroy partnered with Robert MacIntyre to notch a convincing win, while Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton showcased their chemistry with crisp shot-making. Rahm, meanwhile, showed why he remains Europe’s anchor, pairing steady iron play with clutch putting.
Only one American duo managed to secure a point, preventing a clean sweep and keeping the deficit manageable heading into the afternoon.
Team USA hoped the four-ball session would shift momentum, but Europe again held their ground. They picked up two more wins, with McIlroy continuing his hot streak and Justin Rose turning back the clock with timely putts. The U.S. salvaged a much-needed point courtesy of Xander Schauffele and Harris English, while another match halved to prevent further damage.
The scoreboard, though, told a painful story for the Americans: Europe 5.5, USA 2.5.
History shows the challenge that lies ahead. Europe needs only 8.5 of the remaining 20 points to secure the Ryder Cup for the 11th time in the last 15 meetings. Team USA, despite boasting the likes of Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Schauffele, Russell Henley, English and Bryson DeChambeau, must engineer a massive turnaround at Bethpage Black.
The U.S. has thrived on home soil in recent Cups, carrying a five-match winning streak when hosting, but Europe has made it clear they’ve come to New York intent on flipping the script.
With two full days of matches left, there’s still time for a comeback — but the Americans can’t afford another slow start. Saturday’s foursomes and four-ball sessions will be critical in determining whether the U.S. keeps its chances alive heading into Sunday singles, or whether Europe sets itself up for another runaway.
For now, the Europeans are celebrating yet another fast start. The Americans, meanwhile, are left searching for the spark that can ignite their Ryder Cup revival.
