FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — The stage is set for a thrilling start to the 2025 Ryder Cup as Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas have been announced as the opening pairing for Team USA’s Friday morning foursomes at Bethpage Black. The match, scheduled for 7:10 a.m., will see the American duo face off against the formidable European team of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley made the announcement Thursday afternoon, affirming that DeChambeau and Thomas are the perfect pair to ignite the home crowd after more than two years of anticipation. “Besides the fact that he’s a world-class player and one of our best players on the team … we wanted to send out a fiery group to lead us out with these fans that have been waiting two years—more than that, 15 years, to see this tournament play,” Bradley said.
The pairing marks DeChambeau’s return to the Ryder Cup lineup after missing the 2023 contest, while Thomas brings his experience as the most seasoned American on the roster with four Ryder Cup appearances. Both players are known for their competitive spirit, with Bradley noting, “Bryson just relishes in these opportunities. He wants them. He’s one of these guys where you hear on a basketball team who wants the ball for the last shot. He’s one of those guys, and so is Justin. Let’s not forget, Justin is the heartbeat of our team. They are to go out and be a really tough team to beat.”
Facing them on the European side will be Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, a duo that boasts a perfect 2-0 foursomes record from the last Ryder Cup in Rome in 2023. Rahm, who will be leading out Team Europe for the fourth consecutive Ryder Cup, teams again with Hatton, his LIV Golf League teammate, promising an intense and strategic matchup to kick off the tournament.
The Ryder Cup foursomes opening session has historically been pivotal. Europe swept the 2018 and 2023 opening foursomes 4-0, while the United States bounced back with a 4-0 win in 2018 and a 3-1 victory in 2021 at Whistling Straits. The United States hopes to maintain this home-course advantage with strong pairings and dynamic play.
Other notable Friday morning pairings include Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley taking on Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa partnering with Harris English against Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, and the experienced U.S. team of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay facing Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland. Schauffele and Cantlay are the only American duo with extensive Ryder Cup partnership experience, having played together successfully in the previous two Ryder Cups.
As the competition commences on the challenging and often soggy Bethpage Black course, players and fans alike can expect an electrifying atmosphere fueled by passionate supporters eager to witness the iconic U.S. vs. Europe rivalry. With DeChambeau’s leadership and Thomas’s steady presence leading Team USA out, the home crowd will be hoping for an emphatic start to the week-long competition.
The opening foursomes session marks only the beginning of a week filled with intense match play, camaraderie, and historic tradition. Both captains, Keegan Bradley for the U.S. and Luke Donald for Europe, have carefully crafted their pairs to balance experience, chemistry, and strategic fit for the unique alternate shot format.