Farmingdale, NY – The opening day of the 45th Ryder Cup at Beth Page Black looked like Rome two years ago.
The Europeans sent the Americans in their first two sessions at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in 2023, grabbing a 5.5-2.5 lead on Friday and doing it again.
With the hot hands of John Lahm, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, the Europeans are in a position to win the Ryder Cup for the 11th time in their last 15 matches. They are about to end their home team’s five-game winning streak.
The Europeans have not beat US soil since their 14.5-13.5 victory at Illinois Medina Country Club in 2012.
They will only need to take 8.5 of the last 20 points available in the next two days to do that again.
What stood out on the first day?
Paolo Object: Beyond the fact that the best players on the US struggled, the expected benefits of home claud that Beth Page Black was supposed to give to the US weren’t as influential as expected.
Most of the First Tee Grandstands were packed at 5:30am, with the energy of Bryson Deccanbeau’s opening shots present, but it took the afternoon for the crowd to show their teeth. By then, the Europeans had gained momentum and were on the momentum 3-1, so they could move from quiet confidence to their own fire with every time they made a vital putt before them.
“It’s getting bigger,” said European captain Luke Donald. “You cross the road, there are lots of grandstands. There’s a lot of hospitality. In the afternoon, maybe everyone had more drinks. You know, it was loud, it was a complete squeal and it was a complete set of classes and calm.”
No one did it as McIlroy, who made some long putts in an afternoon four-ball match between Patrick Cantray and Sam Burns. Multiple times.
McIlroy and the Europeans seemed to have largely ignored the attacks of the crowd, but also managed to fit it when needed. According to Donald, it was part of the plan – sometimes using it as an incentive to bouncing the noise and implement it rather than responding when they are provoked.
“It was really incredible to see Europeans come into hostile circumstances and get out there and play their way,” Keegan Bradley said.
With the US down three points on Saturday, it will be interesting to see what kind of crowd we get on the second day.
What needs to happen for us to get back to it?
Mark Schlabach: US stars should play like stars, especially three-time major championship winner Scotty Scheffler. He has not won the last six Ryder Cup matches and returned to an American 16.5-11.5 defeat in Italy two years ago. On Friday, he became the first world No. 1 golfer to lose both games on the first day, with neither of them reaching hole 17.
For some reason, Schaeffler, who has won the PGA Tour 13 times over the past two seasons, has yet to figure out how to do it in the Ryder Cup. He is the No. 1 golfer in the third world who loses twice on the first day. Tiger Woods (1999 and 2002) and Ian Woosnum (1991) were others.
Schaeffler and Russell Henry lost five and three to Sweden’s Rudig Upper Åberg and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick on Friday morning in a Fourthurm match. Schaeffler dragged at least four holes in each of his three career rider Cup four-sum matches.
Scheffler and US Open winner JJ Spaun fought Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka at the end of a 3-2 defeat in a four-ball match, but it was too little and too late.
Schaeffler’s putter abandoned him until the second half of his four-ball match. He seemed less confident reading the Pat, some of which weren’t close to going to the hole. He didn’t make birdies in a four-ball match up to par 5 13th hole and added two more to Nos 15 and 16, so he’ll turn things around.
Schaeffler bouncing off after a sub-average putting performance in the past and has to do it again on Saturday.
“We gave us a lot of opportunities, and it really didn’t give me enough putts to the hole,” Schaeffler said. “We had a good fight in the end. People really turned it on to the back nine, but we didn’t take advantage of the hole early in the match we needed, but overall it was a good fight in the end. We’ll be back tomorrow.”
Saturday morning Foursome match and tee time
7:10: Bryson Deccanbeau Cameron Young Vs. Matt Fitzpatrick-LudvigÅberg
7:26: Harris English-Collin Morikawa vs. Rory McIlroy-Tommy Fleetwood
7:42: Xander Schauffele-Patrick Cantlay vs. Jon Rahm-Tyrrell Hatton
7:58: Russell Henry Scotty Schaeffler vs. Robert McIntiel Victor Hofland
What can you expect at Foursome on Saturday?
Schlabach: More the same? The Europeans have the same four teams, and the only change that the Americans have made in the lineup was replacing New York native Cameron Young with Justin Thomas.
Young was great in his first Ryder Cup match on Friday, so he and Thomas scored Oberg and Rasmus Hodgegard in 6 and 5 wins. If I were Bradley, I would probably roll with JT and Young on Saturday.
Young and Dedanbaugh both hit the ball a mile away from the tee, and they could provide a spark that Deccanbaugh and JT didn’t do on Friday.
“We just thought this was an option for us before the week began,” Bradley said. “We really love this pairing. Their golf balls are very similar. We feel they’re going to really match well.”
I’m amazed that Bradley has decided to go again with Harris English and Colin Morakawa. They are planning to play Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood in their second match, and the “Fleetwood Mac” pairing has beaten almost everyone in the Ryder Cup.
“We have plans for what we’re trying to do,” Bradley said. “They beat us today, but we’re really happy with our plans. We’re really happy with these two players.
“(It’s an exciting match) and we’re stuck on our plans. We’re not going to panic. We’re not going to panic and we’re not going to make that kind of mistake. We’re stuck on what we know. We have a lot of confidence in them.”
Thomas struggled on Friday morning, but he bouncing off and played well. He will be sitting with Ben Griffin, Sam Burns and JJ Spawn in his first session on Saturday.
It seemed easy for Europe’s captain Luke Donald to develop the same lineup. He had a 1-7-0 record earlier this year for pairing Åberg with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick.
“They shaking very well,” Donald said. “I never know they’re trying out new partnerships under intense pressure, but they looked very relaxed. Their personalities really shaking and their game was fantastic.
“Fitzie especially played scintillation golf. He looked very comfortable. He’s very confident. There’s media about his Ryder Cup record so it’s great to see.”
Players watching Saturday
uggetti: Beyond the usual consistent play from Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, the fact that if there was a silver lining for the US team, the Ryder Cup Rookie Cameron Young looked like it was made for this event.
Young was a star in his debut, paired with Thomas, recording the most dominant victory of the event (6 and 5). Despite the fact that his attitude never changes and it’s rare to see a fist pump from him, Young looked comfortable, shooting flags and making lots of birdies to push the US to the only full point of the session.
Young’s Play won its first T-shirt ticket on Saturday at Foursomes. There they were paired with DeChambeau in another blockbuster matchup with Fitzpatrick and Rudig.
Dechambeau and Young should match relatively well in alternative shots. Both bombed the balls, and Young’s putters have been particularly hot recently. If Young could replicate some of the magic that he produced alongside Thomas on Friday, it would be helpful enough for the Americans to score Saturday’s first point. So far, he looked like their best player.
“He played great, he’s been playing great for a long time,” Bradley said. “I’m excited to have him in the lineup tomorrow.”