Trump praises Luke Donald as Ryder Cup Day Two pairings revealed
European captain's leadership lauded by the U.S. president as Europe extends its lead and the United States reshuffles its lineup for Saturday
At Bethpage Black, Europe extended its Ryder Cup advantage on Friday, sweeping the morning foursomes 3-1 and weathering a late United States rally to open Day Two with a commanding 5.5-2.5 lead. The shift to the weekend came as European captain Luke Donald and his team looked to maintain momentum after a strong showing that left the Americans pressing for a rally of their own.
Donald Trump arrived to cheers of 'USA' from American spectators and moved along the first tee grandstand to greet players from both sides. After meeting Donald, Luke Donald said the president had kind words for him, telling reporters, “You know what, you’re becoming a real great leader. It was nice of him to say that.”
With Day Two matchups announced, Donald decided to keep all four Friday foursomes pairings intact for the rematch, while United States captain Keegan Bradley made a single lineup adjustment. Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Young will lead the Americans at 7:10 a.m. local time against Europe’s Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, the only alteration to Saturday’s plan from Friday’s action. Young had been paired with DeChambeau instead of Justin Thomas, as Bradley opted to test a changed look to spark a comeback.
Morikawa and Harris English, who were beaten 5 and 4 by Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood on Friday, return to action to face Europe’s so-called Fleetwood Mac — Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy — in a bid to halt their opponents’ momentum. The pairing underscores the Americans’ willingness to lean into aggressive matchups as they seek to chip away at Europe’s lead.
Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay will reunite to take on the fiery combination of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who continued their unbeaten run from Rome and look to extend it at Bethpage. In the day’s final noted tilt, Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre, Europe’s sole losing pairing from Friday’s foursomes, meet Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley as the world No. 1 seeks redemption after starting 0-2 at Bethpage.
The day’s matchups place a premium on momentum and lineup balance as both sides seek to position themselves for a decisive finish. Rahm and Hatton’s continued unbeaten streak adds pressure on Schauffele and Cantlay to deliver a stronger performance, while Bradley’s one-change approach signals a cautious but proactive United States stance as the tournament moves toward Sunday’s singles and potential shifts in the overall standings.