Europe Takes Historic Day 1 Lead at 2025 Ryder Cup on U.S. Soil
September 26, 2025 — Bethpage Black, New York: The European Ryder Cup team stunned fans and the American squad by commanding an early lead on Day 1 of the 2025 Ryder Cup, marking the first time in two decades that Europe has led after the opening day on U.S. soil.
Friday’s opening session saw Europe dominate the morning foursomes with a clean sweep of 4-0 against the United States. The European players displayed clinical precision, winning three of those matches with four or more holes to spare—a first in Ryder Cup history for a European team on American soil.
Standouts included Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood who overwhelmed U.S. pair Collin Morikawa and Harris English with a convincing 5&4 victory. The Europeans’ aggressive and cohesive play style put the American team in an early 3-1 hole despite a late point earned by U.S. pair Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay in the afternoon fourball matches.
The European dominance in the alternate-shot format was particularly notable. Statistical analysis shows that world number ones have struggled with foursomes, but the Europeans capitalized on this weakness, extending their advantage early in the match.
The afternoon fourball series saw a mixture of wins and losses, but Europe maintained momentum, solidifying their Day 1 lead. This strong start places the U.S. team in a challenging position for the remainder of the tournament, as historical data reveals teams securing at least three points in the first session typically enjoy a near-perfect record in winning the Ryder Cup since 1991.
Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley of the U.S. team faces critical strategic decisions ahead, with Europe’s experience and consistency evident on the course. European Captain Luke Donald expressed confidence in his team’s performance, citing the cohesive energy and battle-tested pairings as key to their early success.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team brought positive news for American golf, clinching a 17½-12½ victory over Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup held alongside the main event. Led by 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion Coleman, the younger American players showed promise for future Ryder Cups.
Fans at Bethpage Black and worldwide viewers witnessed a thrilling start to this prestigious biennial competition. The 2025 Ryder Cup will continue with more high-stakes matchups over the weekend as Europe’s team seeks to maintain their lead and the U.S. team aims to mount a comeback on home soil.
For ongoing updates and detailed match summaries, refer to official Ryder Cup communications and accredited sports news coverage.