Why fast start sets Europe up for Ryder Cup success

Team Europe has been discussing the necessity of a quick start for the Ryder Cup opener at Bethpage all week.

One reason for this was a desire to quench the notoriously boisterous New Yorkers. The other is that, according to history, Friday’s front runners will likely win on Sunday.

Each of the previous five Ryder Cups was won by the team that had taken the lead at the end of the second session.

After the first two sessions, Europe has led the previous six times, winning the trophy. The team that won the first foursomes games has now triumphed in five of the previous five contests.

Luke Donald, the captain of Europe, is aware of how crucial a winning title start would be for his country to defend in Rome in 2023.

Donald called it an “incredible day,” saying, “To win this morning was huge.”

History is a good thing, but it doesn’t mean anything until Sunday, he continued. Naturally, only 14 points will be enough to keep the trophy in tact, but Donald’s dozen will be hoping to win it outright after such a strong start.

Stats are available to highlight how effective the visitors are.

Teams with at least three points in the opening session have a Ryder Cup record of seven victories and one defeat, dating back to 1991.

Following 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2023, Europe has now won the first four of its six matches.

After the Ryder Cup’s opening session, seven of the previous ten teams took the lead.

And they will be aware that the side that has predominated the foursomes sessions has won 11 of the last 14 contests, and the last five have been won by them.

In summary, this appears to be Europe’s fault.

Bradley has kept faith with three of his tried-and-true pairings for Saturday while Donald chooses to stick with his tried-and-true formula for the foursomes.

Justin Thomas, who he impressed alongside in winning their lone full point on Friday fourballs, is the only player to change in the US line-up. Bryson DeChambeau and Young will play together.

That leaves Harris English and Collin Morikawa, who were effectively defeated by Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood in the morning quartet, 5& 4. On Saturday, they will meet again.

When confronted with data from a reputable analytical website that suggested of the 132 possible foursomes pairings for the Americans, Bradley said, “We’re not going to panic.” They were ranked 132nd.

After what American player Collin Morikawa called a “tame” week opening, much had been written about the frosty welcome that European footballers could anticipate from the local fans. However, he hoped for “absolute chaos” on Friday.

As the home support tried to win their players over the line as the final two matches of the day approached the 18th, there were indications of that.

However, to wrap up a thrilling day three points ahead, Europe claimed 111 points from those two rubbers.

McIlroy’s verdict was that, despite missing a 12-footer, the final game was won off the course.

Keegan Bradley, the US captain, put a positive spin on his team, winning the match by half. He claimed that “that was big.”

“We’ve only scored 28% of the points,” the player said. First quarter here. There are still three more quarters to go. I have a lot of faith in my boys.

However, Saturday will put the faith of American fans on the line.

Before sunrise, thousands of people had flocked to the enormous 5, 000-square-foot grandstand on the first tee in a rush to claim a spot there. As the sun set over the Long Island course, they were shocked as they were escorted away from the 18th.

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top player, won two majors in 2025, just as their rival, Bryson DeChambeau, their talisman, did not win.

Jon Rahm, a native of Europe, was the common denominator. The Spaniard, a wildcard pick, led from the beginning in both sessions and collected two points, regaining captain Donald’s faith in him.

After the morning’s European Blue had stomped the scoreboard, with their three points all coming in large victories in 11 minutes, the afternoon matches were livelier both inside and outside the ropes.

Some home fans turned on Scheffler after his afternoon defeat alongside US Open champion JJ Spaun, who had already been defeated. One person yelled, “Come on Scottie, show up,” while another yelled, “You’re the world’s number one, show us what you can do.”

McIlroy appeared to react and gesture toward the spectators as he left the 11th green, which also made the European players targeted.

The setting of Bethpage’s first tee is less intimidating than Rome in 2023.

The American players appeared to struggle with the cauldron created by horseshoe-shoed stands around the Marco Simone Country Club opener, which they did not do in the first 12 matches.

More like London Stadium than Upton Park, the grandstand that runs along the back of the first tee and the adjacent 18th green at Bethpage. It appeared to drift over the players’ shoulders and down the fairway rather than letting the noise pass from the terrace to the tee.

As the opening pairings emerged from the 100-yard long tunnel below the grandstand and onto the first tee, disco tunes had previously overshadowed attempts by supporters of either side to create their own atmosphere.

In the opening group, Bradley had chosen to exclude DeChambeau and Justin Thomas as his chief cheerleaders. They arrived draped in the American flag, just like all other US players did. DeChambeau immediately delivered the winning birdie after a horrifying drive.

However, despite their best efforts, the home supporters managed to keep the crowd engaged and win the first match.