Fleetwood and Rahm Lead Europe to Commanding Ryder Cup Advantage Over USA on Day One
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – The 2025 Ryder Cup kicked off with a surge of European dominance as the continent’s golfers extended their lead over the United States to 5.5-2.5 after the opening day at Bethpage Black Course. Highlighted by brilliant performances from Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm, Europe stunned the home crowd, establishing their first Day 1 lead on U.S. soil since 2004.
Friday began with the Foursomes matches, where Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood showcased impeccable teamwork, outperforming Harris English and Collin Morikawa decisively. Their commanding 5&3 victory underscored Europe’s strength in paired formats and stretched Fleetwood’s personal Ryder Cup Foursomes record to an undefeated 5-0-0. McIlroy’s synergy with Fleetwood, culminating in a 4.5-point lead, reinforced their status as one of Europe’s most successful pairings in Ryder Cup history.
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm paired with Ben Griffin to deliver clutch moments in their match against Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun. Rahm’s resilience and Griffin’s steady play provided Europe with crucial points, contributing to the early momentum that the European squad relished.
The afternoon Four-ball session presented its own challenges, with the U.S. launching a spirited comeback attempt. However, Europe’s collective resilience ensured they captured 2.5 of the possible 4 points, maintaining a dominant 5.5-2.5 lead going into Saturday’s matches.
The American side, led by captain Keegan Bradley, faces the daunting task of regrouping. Bradley expressed concern over forming effective pairings, as the Friday sessions revealed little in terms of chemistry or momentum for the home team. The U.S. must quickly identify winning partnerships to reverse Europe’s commanding position.
The 2025 Ryder Cup is now in full swing, with Europe’s players demonstrating composure, strategic excellence, and heavy-hitting performances to capture the early initiative. With the weekend ahead, the United States will need to deliver aggressively in the Foursomes and Singles formats to keep the championship within reach.
All eyes now turn to Saturday morning’s foursome pairings, where both teams will aim to gain an edge in this fiercely contested battle.