FARMINGDALE, NY. Two years ago, in Rome, the European team opened up in brilliant fashion in sweeping the USA in foursome play. The 4-0 margin proved insurmountable and Europe went on to retain the Ryder Cup easily by a 16 ½ to 11 ½ margin.
The opening four matches in the Foursomes format went better than expected for Team Europe as they nearly replicated what they achieved two years earlier in securing a strong 3-1 lead.
The USA with Captain Keegan Bradley at the helm were looking to flip the script with the opening four matches but matters went in a far different direction and the Americans were scrambling to avoid another shut out as they had at Marco Simone in 2023.
How rough was the morning foursomes for the home team? In four matches, just 62 holes were played. The Europeans won 22 of them, the US 10. The visitors held a lead for 35 holes, the Americans for just 14 – and all of the lone positive stuff came from Schauffele and Cantlay who had to rebound after losing a 3-up lead halfway through the back nine.
Two American teams — Henley / Scheffler and Morikawa / English — never had a lead and won but three holes between them.
As the world’s number one player the expectations on Scheffler to provide an impetus for an American squad looking to reclaim the Cup has proved concerning. Over the last five Ryder Cup matches he has played — the four-time major winner has only produced two ties and three losses.
Since 1979 when the Europeans joined the Ryder Cup, it’s the first time the Americans have been outscored in an opening session on home soil since 2004 and the first time in foursomes since 1999.
While it didn’t quite match the 4-0 drubbing the Americans took in the opening session of foursomes in 2023, until Schauffele and Cantlay won the 17th and 18th holes to squeeze out a point it was a humbling beginning for the home team.
The start of play featured the healthy personalities of Bryson DeChambeau / Justin Thomas against Jon Rahm / Tyrrell Hatton. The Americans birdied the first hole but that was the one shining moment as the Euro partnership never lost another hole – winning 4&3.
Breaking out of a woeful Ryder Cup overall record was Matt Fitzpatrick. The Englishman came into Bethpage with a 1-7 record in three previous Ryder Cups and never having won a Foursomes match. The 2022 US Open winner was paired with Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg and they easily held command over Scheffler and American Ryder Cup rookie Russell Henley.
In the match that followed — Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood simply overwhelmed Collin Morikawa and Harris English as the Euro tandem poured in five birdies in securing the match by the hefty margin of 5&4.
Only two teams in the modern format have rebounded from a 3-1 deficit after the first session to capture the Ryder Cup. The Europeans did so in 1985 at The Belfry and in 2018 at Le Golf National in Paris.
The task ahead for the USA will be an uphill climb. The Euros have won ten of the last fourteen Ryder Cups and proved adept in winning on American soil by claiming five wins since 1987. On the flipside the Americans last won on European soil in 1993.
Coming into this year’s matches — the common belief was that Bethpage would provide a similar home course advantage that secured American wins at Hazeltine in 2016 and Whistling Straits in 2021, respectively.
The European effort, led by its returning skipper Luke Donald, has made a clear opening statement that their visit to New York is not just about doing mindless sight-seeing.
The afternoon Four-Ball matches will demonstrate if the will to win for team USA is front and center.
