Foursomes Set Tone as Ryder Cup Opens With High-Stakes Weekend at Bethpage Black

Friday morning at Bethpage Black will begin the 45th Ryder Cup with foursomes, the rarely used alternate-shot format that tests partnership and strategy more than individual skill. The session, staged Friday and again Saturday, pairs players to share one ball and rotate between tee shots and approach shots, making teamwork and plan execution crucial. Historically, the team that wins the most points in foursomes in the last five Ryder Cups has gone on to win the overall title. In Rome two years ago, Europe swept the opening session 4-0 and eventually won the Cup by five points. Since 2012, the home team has held a strong edge in foursomes, with 36½ points to 11½ for the visitors. This edition shows Europe’s players carrying stronger career records in the format, with ten European players combining for a 30-15-2 mark, while seven Americans are 8-13, and Collin Morikawa is the only U.S. player with a winning record in foursomes at 2-1.

On the European side, several players have thrived in foursomes, including Justin Rose at 7-2-1, Rory McIlroy at 7-5-1, and Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood each at 4-0. The Americans face the challenge of crafting pairings that complement each other in a format that leaves little room for individual error. Gary Woodland, one of Bradley’s vice captains, stressed that trust between partners matters and that shared responsibility on the course compounds the pressure. As Friday’s tee times loom, teams will try to balance power with precision on Bethpage’s demanding layout.

Europe’s plan is expected to mirror Rome’s approach to some extent, with a large portion of the 2023 roster back on the course this week. In Rome, Rahm and Hatton, Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka, and McIlroy with Fleetwood formed the opening-day quartet that produced a 4-0 start. Donald has described this Ryder Cup on the road as a different animal from Rome and cautioned that while there is value in past success, the team will focus on implementing new techniques and adapting to the course conditions and format.

In the mechanics of foursomes, teammates alternate hitting tee shots, so one player handles all the odd-numbered holes and the other handles the even-numbered holes, with the two partners alternating from there until the ball is holed. The lower score on each hole counts toward the match total. The setup often prompts strategic decisions about which player should tee off on longer holes and how to leverage the strength of each pairing. For the Americans, Bryson DeChambeau’s length could be a factor on extended par-5s, while Europe will lean on players such as McIlroy to drive the strategy on those same holes. Woodland noted that the format can put partners in difficult spots, but success hinges on embracing the teamwork and letting go of individual nerves as a unit.

Friday’s morning foursomes are widely viewed as a litmus test for the weekend. Bradley and his staff will weigh pairings and the order of tee shots to maximize strengths and minimize potential mismatches, aiming to set a tone that could carry momentum into the remaining matches. The U.S. team, with Bradley guiding the way alongside vice captains Ben Griffin and Gary Woodland and players such as Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young, enters the session ready to test chemistry under pressure. The dynamics of these first matches will likely influence decision-making in subsequent formats and could tip the balance over the course of the weekend.

As the matches unfold, momentum can swing quickly in golf’s most storied team event. The opening foursomes session at Bethpage Black is not just the first 18 holes of competition; it is a strategic barometer that will shape how both teams approach the weekend, balancing tradition with the need for dynamic, adaptive pairing. With Europe’s historical strength in the format and the United States’ depth of talent, the Friday start promises to be a defining moment in the 45th Ryder Cup.