McIlroy and Fleetwood reunite in Ryder Cup foursomes at Bethpage
Europe seeks a fast start with a veteran-heavy opening-day lineup led by McIlroy and Fleetwood
Ryder Cup organizers announced the European team’s Friday foursomes lineup at Bethpage Black, reuniting Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood for the opening wave of matches. European captain Luke Donald said the selections were aimed at a fast start and consistency in the alternate-shot format. “We want to start strong obviously,” Donald said.
Friday's foursome pairings will see Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas facing Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton; Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley taking on Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick; Collin Morikawa and Harris English against Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood; Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay meeting Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland.
Donald’s call reflects a strategy to lean on established partnerships and high-caliber form as the European team seeks to set the tone early at a course known for demanding precision and patience. McIlroy and Fleetwood form one of Europe’s most familiar and trusted combinations, having teamed up in major events and Ryder Cups in recent years. Their reunion underscores Donald’s emphasis on pairing reliability with firepower, aiming to blunt any early momentum the U.S. side might summon in the opening matches.
The four matches listed for Friday illustrate a blend of experience and emerging talent across both sides. DeChambeau and Thomas, two former major champions from the United States, are matched against Rahm and Hatton, a pairing that pits two veteran European scorers against a powerful American duo. Scheffler and Henley, both in strong form on the PGA Tour, will take on Aberg, a rising European talent, and Fitzpatrick, a veteran with Ryder Cup experience. Morikawa and English link a high-caliber, established American pairing against McIlroy and Fleetwood, whose chemistry is well documented from past Ryder Cup campaigns. The final pairing, Schauffele and Cantlay versus MacIntyre and Hovland, features a mix of American star power and European depth, emphasizing the global talent pool that defines the event.
The Friday lineup is a key early test for both teams as they aim to gain momentum in the two-day opening segment before the weekend singles. Ryder Cup play on Bethpage will continue with additional foursomes and four-ball matches before singles determine the overall balance of wins. The European team’s approach centers on maximizing precision under pressure, leveraging McIlroy and Fleetwood’s past Ryder Cup success and the breadth of form across the squad. Fans and analysts will be watching to see how these early matches shape the mood and momentum for the rest of the week.