Bethpage Black is a challenging course on Long Island, NY, open to any regular golfer daring enough to face it. But this past weekend, the course roared like a stadium and felt like a state fair. The first time the Ryder Cup was hosted on New York’s most feared course delivered everything this event and course promised.
Every two years, 12 Americans face 12 Europeans in three days of match play. The teams play three different formats with foursomes (alternate shot in a two vs. two format), four-ball (every golfer plays their best ball), and singles (one vs. one match play), both chasing 14.5 points to bring the Ryder Cup home.
The format of different games paired with different golfers turns little momentum swings into tidal waves that impact the entire match. A single missed or made putt can flip matches.
The European team arrived in New York with momentum after winning the 2023 Ryder cup hosted by Marco Simone Country Club in Guidonia, Italy. Holding an 11.5 to 4.5 lead after day two — the largest lead heading into the singles in the history of Team Europe — USA was headed toward the wrong side of a blow out. But USA’s persistence on day three closed the gap and left fans on the edge of their seats.
The captains shaped the tone for the entire event. Luke Donald, Team Europe’s captain, doubled down on continuity, analytics, and pairing chemistry, while Team USA’s captain Keegan Bradley tried to gather home court advantage and use it. New York produced a ferocious atmosphere that fit the course’s reputation and Team USA’s roster. Even with the crowd fueling the Americans to a late push on the third day, the hole USA dug for themselves the first two days of competition was too big to climb out.
Before the final day on the Sunday morning, the biggest headline came from off the course when Team Europe’s Viktor Hovland withdrew from Sunday singles with a neck issue. This triggered the rarely used envelope rule. Before singles, each captain secretly names one player and places their name in an envelope; if the opponent scratches, that match is recorded as a half. The rule preserved parity, but reignited an old debate about whether a substitution would be fairer. Europe handled the setback, the U.S. questioned the rule afterward, and Donald stood by it. It was a reminder that even the rulebook can send ripples into the final decision of The Ryder Cup.
Key swings arrived in clusters. Europe banked a big advantage through team sessions with an seven-point lead before Team USA sent a jolt through Bethpage, coming back within two points. At that point, the Board hinted at a historic comeback covered in red numbers and American wins. The math was improbable, but the atmosphere was electric, thanks to early U.S. singles victories from Cameron Young, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Scottie Scheffler. In the end, Europe steadied and slammed the door with Shane Lowry’s birdie on the 18th hole vs. Russell Henley.
Even before Lowry closed the match out and delivered the final blow for Team Europe he reportedly turned to his caddie, Darren Reynolds.
“I’ve got an opportunity to do the greatest thing I’ve ever done today,” Lowry said. He sunk the put. “And I’m very proud of myself.”
Bradley spoke with the media on Sunday, applauding Team Europe and faulting himself on the loss. He spoke about hitting long off of the tee because he didn’t think the rough was as punishing as usual.
“We thought this was the best way to set the golf course up to win,” he said. “You look at past Ryder Cups, and that’s kind of how it goes. Sometimes you’ve got to make a decision on what to do, and if I could go back, I probably would have changed that.”
Europe’s 15–13 win will leave scars across Team USA and raise the question of whether things need to be changed for the next Ryder Cup. Team Europe will be riding this wave of momentum from back-to-back wins into 2027 for the next edition of the Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland where different scenery and galleries await for this challenge between the U.S. and Europe.
