Europe Rolls to Hot Start in Friday Foursomes at 2025 Ryder Cup

Here are three takeaways from Friday morning's opening foursomes session of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

1. Yikes, Americans. There is no sugarcoating it: that was a dreadful start for the red, white, and blue. A good ole-fashioned European drubbing. It wasn’t like three or four matches came down the wire and flipped blue on the 18th green. By 9:30 a.m. ET, the Americans trailed in three matches – by four holes in two of them – and were tied in the other. Only one match made it to 16th tee, Team USA's lone point courtesy of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.

This was a nightmare beginning for Team USA, effectively from start to finish. 

2. It’s time to find out what kind of captain Keegan Bradley is. Early returns have been…not great. Deploying Justin Thomas in foursomes was entirely predicated on vibes and he gave partner Bryson DeChambeau very little to work with all morning. The Collin Morikawa/Harris English pairing never made any sense and turned out exactly as most expected it to go. JT and Morikawa shouldn’t have seen much action in this Ryder Cup to start with, and this morning’s matches only reinforce that they should be on short leashes for the rest of the week. 

3. The Ryder Cup is not over. As easy as it can be to get swept up in the moment, it’s important to remember that just four of 28 matches have been decided. In 2018 in Paris, the American side charged out to a 3-1 lead after one session and ended up getting obliterated 17.5-10.5. The complexion of a Ryder Cup changes quickly, and the bottom of the European roster is vulnerable. Team USA’s chances of winning decreased significantly this morning, but it is way, way too early to write off an American victory.