Scheffler falters as Ryder Cup Day 2 starts ugly for US at Bethpage Black
Europe extends lead to 8 ½–3 ½ after a rough morning for the United States in fourball and foursomes on Long Island.
Europe moved to a commanding position in the 2025 Ryder Cup on Long Island, as the United States faced a rough start to Saturday’s morning sessions at Bethpage Black. The Americans trailed Europe 8 ½ to 3 ½ after a string of tight matches and a few lopsided outcomes, with only one U.S. pairing able to win in the foursomes.
Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley bore the brunt of the morning’s misfortune for the U.S. In a close-set of matches, Henley hit a solid drive on the 18th hole, but Scheffler pulled his approach into the rough, sealing a disappointing finish for the American tandem. The moment punctuated a morning that had already seen European pairings seize key points, including Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre wrapping up a decisive win to cap their match. The lone American victory in the session came when Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young defeated Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Aberg in a mirror of the momentum swing around Bethpage that Europe sought to maintain.
The rest of the morning produced a mix of results that underscored Europe’s depth. Harris English and Collin Morikawa closed a significant gap after falling four holes behind by winning holes 14 and 15, but Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood steadied and closed them out on the 16th. In another pairing, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay kept it tight with Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, but the Europeans answered at every critical juncture, illustrating the resilience Luke Donald has elevated across his team with a road-win mindset.
Rahm demonstrated why he is one of the tournament’s most dangerous players, sinking one of the tournament’s more memorable putts on the eighth hole as part of a back-and-forth sequence that left the U.S. runners chasing points rather than seizing them. The morning session carried a clear message from Europe’s captain: the team is focused on a road victory and is not content with shallow margins.
"We came here with a plan and a clear mindset to keep the momentum going after yesterday’s success," Donald said before Friday’s matches began, a sentiment echoed by the players who were intent on denying the home-course advantage the U.S. hoped to leverage. The European squad appeared to feed off that motivation on a raucous Bethpage crowd, which has remained energetic despite the U.S. struggles.
The mood and the scoreboard also reflect the larger narrative of the week: Europe has displayed road-game resolve, extending its lead in an event that has historically balanced between heroics on foreign soil and the pressure of home crowds. While Saturday’s morning play did not determine the Ryder Cup’s outcome, it did reinforce the need for a dramatic U.S. turnaround in the afternoon and the possibility of a long, grind-it-out weekend on one of golf’s most storied stages.
"The guys we played against just played great," Scheffler said after the morning match. "They did a good job. They holed the key putts. Obviously disappointed with the finish, but battled pretty hard this morning, and going to go out and do it again in the afternoon." His candid acknowledgment captured the frustration that has built through the session while also signaling the Americans’ intent to press forward.
As the day shifts into the afternoon slate, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley will look to recalibrate pairs and seek momentum from doubles and fourball matches that can swing the Ryder Cup’s tone. The energy in the grounds will oscillate between hope and pressure as the players return to the course, where every shot carries heightened significance and the crowd’s roars could tip the balance in favor of either side.
With Europe pursuing a road victory, the Americans face a tall task to reverse the deficit, not just in match results but in the momentum that has characterized the competition’s early stages. The afternoon schedule will feature a mix of veterans and rising stars who will be asked to rewrite the narrative from Bethpage Black, a course that has rarely offered simple answers to Ryder Cup questions.