Europe Takes Day 1 Ryder Cup lead as U.S. falters at Bethpage Black

Europe took Day 1 of the 2025 Ryder Cup by storm, grabbing a 5½-2½ lead over the United States after Friday’s action at Bethpage Black. Returning captain Luke Donald’s European side swept the opening three foursomes matches—the first time a European team has swept the first session in Ryder Cup history—and handed the Americans a brutal early setback. The U.S. needs 14.5 points to win, while Europe requires 14 to retain the trophy. After the start, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley offered a measured outlook: 'We’ve only played 28 percent of the points. This is the first quarter. We’ve still got three quarters to go. I’ve got a lot of faith in my boys.'

From the first hole, the vibes were electric, with thousands arriving before dawn to secure seats behind the first tee at Bethpage. Jon Rahm opened Europe’s account by finding trouble off the tee before Bryson DeChambeau answered with a 344-foot drive that left a birdie putt for the opening hole, setting the tone for the day. The opening three European foursomes were completed in quick succession, finishing before the 16th hole as Europe built a 3-0-0 start in the session. McIlroy and Fleetwood and Rahm and Hatton rode early momentum, while Ludvig Aberg, now 3-0 in fourballs, teamed with Fitzpatrick to defeat Scheffler and Henley, one of just a pair of U.S. vulnerabilities on the day. Rahm added: 'Although it was great, it was just one part of a long race. We started great and we have to keep it going.'

Europe extended its lead in the afternoon, riding a historic 14-hole margin across the first three matches. Scheffler remained without a birdie through 12 holes in one of the day’s notable stumbles, while DeChambeau and his partner did not birdie beyond the opening hole. Aberg’s 3-0 mark in the format underscored Europe’s depth as he again teamed with Fitzpatrick to beat Scheffler and Henley. The U.S. sent out Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who finally delivered a point by winning 2 up over MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland after the 16th hole. Cantlay said, 'We saw a lot of blue on the board,' underscoring the urgency.

In the late-morning and afternoon matches, Cam Young and Justin Thomas posted a 6-and-5 win over Aberg and Højgaard, while J.J. Spaun endured a tough Ryder Cup debut, losing to Rahm and Sepp Straka on the 16th. Notably, Fleetwood and Rose secured a full point on the 18th by beating DeChambeau and Ben Griffin, and Cantlay and Burns halved with Lowry and McIlroy after McIlroy missed a 13-foot birdie to win the hole. The U.S. team’s energy around the grounds changed as darkness fell, but Europe remained ahead.

Trump’s appearance in the afternoon session drew attention but did not alter the on-course result. The day ended with Europe in command, a daunting deficit for Bradley and his team to overcome over the weekend. The event resumes with two sessions on Saturday, when the Americans will again try to flip momentum in front of a crowd accustomed to big Ryder Cup moments. Ryder Cup history, course setup, and the strength of Europe’s depth on day one set a demanding stage for the United States to mount a comeback.