Ryder Cup 2025: Four defining moments that fueled the rivalry

As the 2025 Ryder Cup approaches at Bethpage Black in New York, history suggests the biennial match will again feature moments that test nerves and sportsmanship. Four episodes stand out for their intensity and the way they shaped how teams prepare for the event and how fans remember it.

One of the most talked-about episodes occurred in 2023 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club near Rome, when Patrick Cantlay played without a hat, citing fit concerns. Fans waved hats in response as Cantlay knocked in a 43-foot birdie at the final hole to secure at least a half point for the United States. The moment intensified when Cantlay’s playing partner’s caddie, Joe LaCava, waved a hat toward Rory McIlroy on the edge of the green, prompting a tense exchange on the fringe. McIlroy and LaCava later spoke with McIlroy appearing agitated enough that he was briefly restrained by Shane Lowry as the players walked off.

Another defining moment came in 2016 at Hazeltine National Golf Club, where Europe needed a rally and sent Rory McIlroy to open against Patrick Reed. The pair generated a high-energy duel, with McIlroy shushing the crowd while Reed celebrated every pivotal putt. The match stretched to the full 18 holes. McIlroy capped it with a 45-foot birdie, and Reed answered with a birdie and a finger wag. The set-to underscored how every hole can feel like a crescendo in this event, and both players later acknowledged the front-nine energy as a factor in the outcome.

At Brookline in 1999, the United States staged what many call the greatest Sunday comeback in Ryder Cup history. After trailing 10-6 entering Sunday singles, the U.S. won the first seven singles matches to surge into position. Justin Leonard delivered a 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to give the Americans a critical half-point that helped clinch the Cup as the crowd surged onto the 18th green. The scene was chaotic enough that cameramen briefly stepped into Jose Maria Olazabal’s line as he prepared to putt, contributing to one of the sport’s most enduring images of Ryder Cup theater. Europe would rebound in the following years, but the Brookline moment remains a benchmark for the Cup’s dramatic potential.

Earlier, at Kiawah Island in 1989, tension rose in a pairing featuring Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal against American duo Paul Azinger and Jeff Beck. The Spaniards accused the Americans of altering ball choices to gain wind advantages, a claim the Americans initially denied but later acknowledged after being confronted. The dispute fed into broader European perceptions of gamesmanship and underscored the competitive sting that has long defined Ryder Cup history.

These moments remain emblematic of the Ryder Cup’s enduring appeal: high-stakes golf that blends precision with raw emotion, strategy with crowd dynamics. As the 2025 edition at Bethpage Black approaches, players and fans alike expect more drama, continuing a legacy that has made the event one of golf’s most closely watched and debated competitions.