Day 1:

Today the 45th Ryder Cup tees up at Bethpage Black on Long Island. Even if you don’t normally watch golf, this is a fun event with lots of drama and gamesmanship. It is a biennial team event where top championship golfers from the US and Europe compete—but with a twist. The event uses “match play,” where players compete hole-by-hole, with each match win scoring a point for their team. Different from the normal “stroke play” format where a single winner is determined by a total score.

So, you could say it’s like – a schoolyard fight for a trophy where kids pair up and take turns using one ball (that’s Foursomes), others play their own best shots and hope their partner backs them up (Four-ball), and then it all comes down to a fist-to-cuffs, one-on-one free-for-all on the final day (Singles). Yep, that’s it!

Drama Beyond the Tee Box

As we said, there’s lots of drama, and the drama started well before the first tee! Since 1999, US players had a $200,000 charitable donation made in their name. This year, the PGA of America changed the structure to $300,000 for charity PLUS a $200,000 personal stipend (a total of $500,000). While many US players, like Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay, have stated they plan to donate the full amount, the stipend has created a division. The European team famously does not take payment, and the European side and many fans were soundly tee’d off. Regardless, hopefully Team USA will see this as an opportunity to give even more back to their communities!

Saturday’s Uphill Climb

At the end of day one, the European team has a commanding 5.5-2.5 lead over the US team. This is huge news, as it’s the first time Europe has held a lead after the first day on U.S. soil since 2004 (which they went on to win). Europe’s morning foursomes were especially dominant (3-1), with the veteran pairing of Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood leading the charge.

What does Team US need to do? Show up on Saturday! We have a talented team who are comfortable performing on the big stage, and the one major bright spot was the partnership of Justin Thomas and Cam Young, who secured a decisive win. US Captain Keegan Bradley needs to find more winning pairings like that to gain momentum and close the gap!

And, speaking of winning pairings on the course, we will have ours right here on our couch: watching the next round of the Ryder Cup with a nice cold brew! We hope this Day 1 Recap gets you excited to tune in tomorrow and watch the Team US comeback!

Day 2:

USA in the Rough: Europeans Take Record Day 2 Lead

Yesterday, we were all about the excitement of the start of the Ryder Cup. Today, however, is absolutely about describing a beatdown for Team USA. The intensity was cranked to an eleven as the European team increased their lead to a historic 11.5 – 4.5, placing them on the very verge of retaining the Cup. They now need just 2.5 points from the 12 Sunday Singles matches to seal the deal.

Volatility and the Crowd’s Impact

The New York crowd was less “feisty” and more outright hostile, and the tension frequently spilled over onto the course. We saw multiple controversial moments, including on-course confrontations between players and caddies, and European players like Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry directly responding to hecklers. The crowd’s pressure was intense, but what’s remarkable is that the European team seemed to thrive on the chaos, often playing their best golf right after a controversial moment. They channeled the noise into focus, which is a key difference between the two teams this week.

The Scheffler Mystery

We are huge Scottie Scheffler fans, but this is the part that makes absolutely no sense to anyone, especially a new fan. He is the #1 player in the world. He wins everything. Yet, he’s lost all four of his matches and has failed to score a single point. It’s like watching the star quarterback forget how to throw a football in the Super Bowl! This shocking failure by the American anchor proves that the unique pressure of this team format can break even the most consistent mental games.

The Captain’s Call

If your best players are struggling, you change things up, right? Yet, some of the worst-performing pairings, like Morikawa/English, were inexplicably sent out there again together. If you are watching the Ryder Cup for the first time, this would seem very confusing! We’re confused, and we’re fans who watch it every time it comes around! It leaves you wondering about the overall strategy, or the lack thereof.

As the US plan continues to crumble under the pressure, the only fitting commentary comes from boxing legend Mike Tyson: “Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face.”

Looking Ahead to Sunday

For the US to avoid a historic blowout, they need one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. Scheffler will need to rise to the occasion in his singles match, and the rest of the team will have to deliver a flawless Sunday. The final 12 singles matches are set, but the math is brutal: can Team USA salvage some pride and make a contest of this, or are we witnessing a full-scale European coronation? Regardless of the score, the unpredictable drama of the Ryder Cup on Sunday is truly unmatched in sport, and we hope you tune in for the final act!

Day 3:

The Comeback that Fell Short

Winning the Sunday singles session 8.5 to 3.5 was a historic victory for the American team, but it was, as they say, the greatest comeback that fell two points short. Starting the day down 11.5 to 4.5, the largest deficit the US had ever faced heading into a singles session, the task required a historically unprecedented 10 out of the 12 available points. The final score of 15-13 in favor of Europe ultimately proved that the hole the USA dug on Friday and Saturday was just too deep.

However, what a Sunday it was! An early blitz saw US stars like Cameron Young and Justin Thomas win thrilling 1-up matches, and Xander Schauffele dominated Jon Rahm in their singles match. The momentum became evident when Bryson DeChambeau staged a miraculous rally from five-down to halve his match, keeping the dream alive. But it was Shane Lowry’s clutch putt on the 18th that guaranteed Europe would retain the Cup, with Tyrrell Hatton sealing the 15-13 victory.

Reasons to Enjoy the 2025 Ryder Cup

Despite the lopsided score after the first two days—this Ryder Cup delivered one of the most memorable finishes in history. It was the closest since the famous “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012. Fans for both sides were on the edge of their seats with the dramatic Sunday singles. The day started as a sure European victory but transformed into a heart-stopping comeback attempt by the US team, punctuated by clutch putts, shifting momentum, and world-class shot-making under extreme pressure.

Fan Behavior – Our Take

You can’t really discuss this year’s Ryder Cup without talking about the crowd behavior, which became a significant flashpoint, particularly on Saturday. European players, most notably Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, were subjected to an unacceptable level of heckling and personal insults—even directed at their families. It created delays in matches and necessitated calls for extra security and police presence at Bethpage Black. There is a distinction between noise and passionate support for your team, and the toxic personal abuse unfortunately marred the otherwise spectacular competition.

The Vengeance Tour: Looking Ahead to 2027

The setting will be the historic Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland. The course, redesigned by legendary architect Tom Fazio, is renowned for its pristine conditions, strategic design and stunning scenery with the River Maigue weaving through it. A notable hole is the 15^th, a par-3 that requires a shot over the river, while the 18^th hole provides a spectacular finish at the foot of the manor house. And how can you not point out that Irish hero Shane Lowry is practically guaranteed a spot? The home atmosphere will be amplified by the famed ‘Irish welcome’—a hospitality Team USA will be hoping lives up to its name after the hostile reception Europe received at Bethpage.

And you can’t look ahead without bringing up the Captaincy question: Will it feature a dynasty or a Tiger?

• Europe: Can Luke Donald make history? After two sensational back-to-back victories (home and away), he has become one of Europe’s greatest captains. The players are already pleading with him for “two more years” to complete a legendary three-peat at Adare.
• USA: With Keegan Bradley’s tenure over, all eyes are on the PGA of America. Will they finally turn to the one man who can change the entire dynamic of the event? Tiger Woods remains the overwhelming favorite to take the reins, a presence that would galvanize a US team desperate to end an away-game drought stretching back to 1993.

The USA’s historic, yet failed, comeback at Bethpage Black has only fueled the hunger for the trophy. Let’s all start early planning for an emotionally charged centennial celebration that promises to be the most dramatic Ryder Cup in a generation!