Ryder Cup teams gather for star-studded welcome dinner ahead of 2025 matches
Glamorous night with players and spouses signals the start of Ryder Cup festivities at Hempstead House in Sands Point ahead of Friday’s start at Bethpage Black
The Ryder Cup kicked off its traditional welcome dinner Tuesday night at Hempstead House in Sands Point, marking the formal start of the 2025 competition weekend as Team USA and Team Europe prepared for Friday’s opening at Bethpage Black. The red-carpet gala brought together the golf captains, players and their spouses for photos, social moments and a night of camaraderie ahead of the biennial team event.
The party unfolded inside the 50,000-square-foot mansion, described by organizers as a glamorous prelude to the competition. Guests arrived in formal wear, with wives and partners joining the players for the photo ops that dominate Ryder Cup coverage in the days leading up to the matches. The event was billed as the most fashionable night of the Ryder Cup, featuring a chandelier entrance and a string of groups posing for photographers on the mansion’s grounds. Prominent participants included Luke Donald, captain of Team Europe, alongside his wife Diane, who stood out in a gold fringe dress, and Keegan Bradley, captain of Team USA, with his wife Jillian as they joined other couples in front of the mansion. ![WAGs at Ryder Cup welcome dinner](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/RC-WAGS.jpg?w=1024