Volunteer saves Justin Thomas from disaster at Bethpage during Ryder Cup

A Ryder Cup volunteer inadvertently prevented a potentially disastrous shot from Justin Thomas on Bethpage Black's 13th hole during Friday morning foursomes. Thomas pulled a 3-wood for his second shot at the par-5 after a strong drive from Bryson DeChambeau. The ball sliced to the right and seemed bound for a bunker or the trees, but it bounced in front of the volunteer's feet and then struck the volunteer's body. The volunteer raised their hands to signal innocence as DeChambeau faced an 18‑foot pitch to the green, a shot that landed short of the hole. Thomas then missed the ensuing putt to the right of the cup, pushing it two feet past the hole.

Hatton knocked in an eight-foot par to go 3 Up on the Americans, highlighting a rough start for Team USA in the morning session. The incident at the 13th and the ensuing missteps helped European pair Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm seize control, with their team eventually claiming a 4&3 victory over Thomas and DeChambeau. The Thomas/DeChambeau pairing had taken the morning's first hole but surrendered the advantage by the seventh and were among the first American groups to concede points in the tournament.

Moments after that result, the so-called Fleetwood Mac duo of Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy won their match 5&4, defeating Harris English and Collin Morikawa. The early momentum swing at Bethpage Black underscored a challenging start for the United States as Europe pressed its advantage in the Friday morning session of the Ryder Cup.

As the day progressed, the cup standings began to tilt toward Europe, with multiple matches still in progress. The Ryder Cup schedule and results remained fluid, with both teams jockeying for position as the event continued at Bethpage.