FARMINGDALE, NY. Coming into day two of the 45th Ryder Cup matches the message from American captain Keegan Bradley was one of enthusiasm and belief in turning around the anemic performance his squad had produced through the first day of play.
Trailing by three points was of concern to Bradley but not believing his team could not turn the tables and regain critical momentum that had been crushed Friday.
Such hope was not to be.
The Euro juggernaut continued — winning four consecutive sessions. Europe became the fourth team to win each of the first four sessions of a single Ryder Cup. And, each of the previous teams won singles play as well to add a final exclamation point to the golf skills demonstrated.
The previous record after the first four sessions of team play was 11-5. No team has rallied from more than a four-point deficit on the final day.
When day two started the USA had a total of 2½ point. By day’s end that total would only rise two additional points. No misprint. Just two points. And that “accomplishment” did not see a single point produced by Scottie Scheffler. The world-ranked number one player saw his non-victory efforts extended to a cumulative total of eight matches (0-6-2) dating back to the ’23 matches at Marco Simone in Rome.
Bottom line – heading into today’s twelve singles matches — Europe has a commanding 7-point lead and that margin is a record in the modern format used.
Bradley summed up his feelings with a clear nod to the stellar play demonstrated by his opponents.
“I think it’s one of the best performances of a road team in any sport. They have played incredible. They have played great. They have putted even better. They have come into a hostile environment and played great golf. You know, sometimes as a competitor, as an athlete, you have to take a step back and again sort of tip your cap to something like that.”
Heading into this year’s matches at Bethpage the home team had been victorious in every match dating back to 2012 when the USA squandered a four-point lead heading into the singles matches and were victim to a European win aptly called — “The Miracle at Medinah.”
| * Scottie Scheffler has not won a Ryder Cup match going back to the 2023 encounter in Rome. He is 0-4 this week at Bethpage and 0-6-2 combined dating back to Marco Simone but what is not fully appreciated is that his opponents have been a collective 32-under-par. * |
Related: Sunday Singles Matches pairings
Team USA will need a divine intervention if it wants to reclaim the most coveted team trophy in golf. Europe needs only a total of 2½ points to keep the Ryder Cup on their side of the Atlantic Ocean.
How dominant were the Europeans? During the four-ball matches Saturday afternoon the Americans had a lead in only three of the 70 holes played. If there were any doubt the Europeans were going to keep their foot on the gas, then the outcome at the end of day two sent a loud and clear message. The only glimpses of an American lead came with US Open champion J.J. Spaun hit his approach close on the 17th and 18th birdies as he and fellow San Diego State alum Xander Schauffele squeezed out one of only two US points on the day.
The other belonged to Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young in the opening foursome match.
On the downside there were issues of fan behavior – most notably impacting the Euro tandem of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in the afternoon four-ball match against Justin Thomas and Young. Vulgar comments were made by various spectators to the Irishmen with two being escorted from the grounds. Additional security was added for the players.
| * How good was the European play on Saturday? A total of 60 birdies were made by the Euros. The USA total was ten less with 50. * |
If anything, the behavior only served to motivate the Europeans to keep firing on all cylinders.
For the USA the result of the singles matches today will offer a clear picture on the desire to demonstrate some sort of meaningful effort in raising the quality of their woeful play. While turning matters to the victory column seems totally unlikely the desire to play with some sort of passion will be of clear interest in avoiding what could turn out to be the greatest debacle in Ryder Cup history.
