Foursomes Set Tone as Ryder Cup Opens at Bethpage

Friday morning at Bethpage Black marks the Ryder Cup’s opening session, and the format could shape the entire weekend. The foursomes—alternate shot—are rarely used in professional golf, forcing two players to share one ball and rely on chemistry and timing to carve out a point. U.S. captain Keegan Bradley stressed that the format amplifies the need to match personalities and approach because even small differences in equipment or temperament can influence results.

In foursomes, teammates alternate hitting tee shots, so Player A handles the odd-numbered holes and Player B the even-numbered ones. The players then alternate from there, and the team’s lowest score on each hole counts toward the match total. Leaders will be watching who gets the tee shots on the longer holes; for example, Bryson DeChambeau, known for his power, could be entrusted with the tee on the longer par-fives for the U.S., just as McIlroy might be lined up on the European side. "Foursomes is obviously the tougher format to pair because there’s so many more factors," Bradley said. "There’s the golf ball, [and] you really want to match up the personalities with foursomes because it is a way tougher format."

Beyond the strategic layer, players and captains also must contend with a mountain of history. In each of the past five Ryder Cups, the team that won the most points in foursomes ultimately captured the trophy. Two years ago in Rome, the European team opened with a 4-0 edge in the morning session, helping set the tone for a Europe-driven run that culminated in a five-point victory. Europe went 7-1 in foursomes in Rome and ultimately claimed the Cup by five points. Since 2012, the home team has enjoyed a pronounced advantage in foursomes, leading 36½ points to 11½.

Europeans have generally fared better in Ryder Cup foursomes than their American counterparts, a data point that could influence Friday’s pairings. Among the 10 European players who’ve competed in Ryder Cup foursomes, they’re 30-15-2 collectively. Among the seven Americans who have played foursomes in the Ryder Cup, they are 8-13, with only Collin Morikawa at 2-1 posting a winning record. On the European side, certain veterans have thrived in this format, including Justin Rose at 7-2-1, Rory McIlroy at 7-5-1, and Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood at 4-0 each. The balanced, high-pressured environment of foursomes tends to favor experienced teams that are comfortable sharing ideas and accepting turns in the spotlight.

In Rome last year, Luke Donald leaned on a familiar mix: Rahm paired with Hatton, Ludvig Åberg with Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry with Sepp Straka, and McIlroy with Fleetwood, a combination that produced a 4-0 lead through the Friday session. Donald has described this Ryder Cup as a different animal from Rome, signaling he’s prepared to adapt even if the framework looks familiar. "Obviously having the chance to do it again doesn’t mean we’re going to do the same things we did in Rome,” Donald said. “It’s about implementing new techniques. I’ve really tried to look hard at exactly what this will require."

For the United States, Bradley and his leadership group—Ben Griffin as vice captain alongside Gary Woodland, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young—face the task of forging effective duos in a format that can magnify weaknesses. Woodland, who has played in Presidents Cup formats that involve similar pairing dynamics, stressed the emotional and strategic weight of foursomes: "You need to trust your partner. You’re going to put your partner in bad positions. You’re going to hit bad shots all the time like we do all the time. But it’s different when it’s just you. It’s letting that go and figuring it out together. There’s way more pressure than four-ball where you can play your own ball and do your own thing."

As Friday’s opening session approaches, anticipation centers on whether the Americans can translate power and versatility into harmony over the course of 18 holes of alternating tee shots. The format’s demands—matching tactics on the fly, choosing which holes to stress with longer hitters, and managing the psychological dynamics of playing with a partner—could provide an early read on how the rest of the weekend might unfold. The opening session will be the most quantifiable signal yet of whether the United States can reverse historical trends that have favored the home country in foursomes and whether Europe’s depth of experience in this specific format will again tilt the balance.

Looking ahead, Friday’s results will likely set a tone for a weekend in which every shot carries weight and every pairing decision ripples into the overall team dynamic. As players step to the first tee, the Ryder Cup’s most unique test of teamwork will begin to reveal which duo can synchronize under pressure and which pairings might need adjustments as the day unfolds.