Come late September, Bethpage Black will roar. The 45th Ryder Cup returns to American soil Sept. 25-28, and after Europe's dominant showing in Rome two years ago, the stakes couldn't be higher. This is golf's ultimate team showdown, where individual brilliance means nothing if you can't deliver for your continent.
A Brief Walk Through History
Samuel Ryder had no idea what he was starting back in 1927. The English businessman donated a trophy for what began as a friendly contest between American and British golfers. Nearly a century later, his little competition has become golf's most emotionally charged event.
The real transformation came in 1979 when continental Europeans joined the party. Suddenly, you had Spanish flair from Seve Ballesteros mixing with German precision from Bernhard Langer. The matches got tighter, more unpredictable. Europe went on a tear from 1995 to 2014, claiming eight victories in 10 tries. "The Miracle at Medinah" in 2012 remains the most jaw-dropping comeback in the event's history.
What makes the Ryder Cup special isn't the golf — it's everything else. Grown men crying after missing putts. Jack Nicklaus conceding that famous putt to Tony Jacklin in 1969. The ugliness at Brookline in 1999. These moments stick because they're so raw, so human. You can't manufacture that kind of drama.
Bethpage Black: The Beast Awaits
If you've never played Bethpage Black, you've probably heard about the warning sign. It sits right there at the first tee, essentially telling weekend golfers to turn around and go home: "The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers." Not exactly welcoming.
Built in 1936 by Joseph Burbeck with input from the legendary A.W. Tillinghast, this Long Island municipal course has humbled everyone from hackers to major champions. At 7,426 yards playing to a par 71, it sports a slope rating of 155 — among the nastiest in professional golf.
Tiger Woods proved the course's brutality at the 2002 U.S. Open, winning as the only player to break par for the week. Brooks Koepka added his name to the winners' circle at the 2019 PGA Championship, but not without a fight. The course doesn't give you anything — every birdie must be earned through precise iron play and nerves of steel.
What has Phil Mickelson and others excited (or worried, depending on your allegiance) is the crowd. New York golf fans don't whisper polite encouragement. They yell, they cheer, they let you know exactly how they feel about your 4-foot putt. The 17th hole's natural amphitheater setting should create moments that give you goosebumps just thinking about them.
Team USA: Youth Meets Experience
Keegan Bradley finds himself in an interesting spot — he's young enough to remember being in these players' shoes, old enough to command their respect. His American squad blends proven winners with fresh faces who've never felt Ryder Cup pressure.
Scottie Scheffler arrives as the world's best player, coming off a 2024 season that reminded everyone why he's so tough to beat. Xander Schauffele brings major championship momentum after capturing both the PGA Championship and the Open Championship last year. Both guys know how to win when it matters.
Then there's Bryson DeChambeau, whose power game seems tailor-made for Bethpage's length. His LIV Golf sabbatical adds intrigue — will the team chemistry work? Justin Thomas brings the best Ryder Cup record among Americans (7-4-2), while Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa have proven they can handle the pressure.
Bradley's vice captain lineup reads like a Ryder Cup hall of fame: Jim Furyk, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker and Gary Woodland. These guys know what it takes — and what it feels like to lose.
Team USA Ryder Cup Roster
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Scottie Scheffler (Ridgewood, N.J.) — Third Ryder Cup (2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 2-2-3
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J.J. Spaun (Los Angeles) — Rookie, first Ryder Cup (2025), Record: 0-0-0
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Xander Schauffele (San Diego) — Third Ryder Cup (2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 4-4-0
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Russell Henley (Macon, Ga.) — Rookie, first Ryder Cup (2025), Record: 0-0-0
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Harris English (Valdosta, Ga.) — Second Ryder Cup (2021, 2025), Record: 1-2-0
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Bryson DeChambeau (Modesto, Calif.) — Third Ryder Cup (2018, 2021, 2025), Record: 2-3-1
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Justin Thomas (Louisville, Ky.) — Fourth Ryder Cup (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 7-4-2
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Collin Morikawa (Los Angeles) — Third Ryder Cup (2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 4-3-1
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Ben Griffin (Chapel Hill, N.C.) — Rookie, first Ryder Cup (2025), Record: 0-0-0
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Patrick Cantlay (Long Beach, Calif.) — Third Ryder Cup (2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 5-2-1
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Sam Burns (Shreveport, La.) — Second Ryder Cup (2023, 2025), Record: 1-2-0
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Cameron Young (Scarborough, N.Y.) — Rookie, first Ryder Cup (2025), Record: 0-0-0
Four rookies might sound like a recipe for disaster, but sometimes fresh eyes see opportunities that experienced players miss. The question becomes whether Bradley can blend all these personalities into effective partnerships when the format demands teamwork over individual brilliance.
Team Europe: The Defending Champions
Luke Donald gets to do something no European captain has done since Bernard Gallacher — lead back-to-back Ryder Cup teams. After the Rome triumph, he's earned that right. His squad might look familiar, but familiarity breeds confidence in match play.
Rory McIlroy remains the emotional heartbeat of this team, making his eighth Ryder Cup appearance. The Northern Irishman's record (16-13-4) tells the story of someone who thrives under this kind of pressure. Jon Rahm brings Spanish fire and major championship pedigree — exactly what you want in your corner when things get heated.
Tommy Fleetwood has quietly become one of Europe's most reliable performers (7-3-2 record), while Viktor Hovland gives them Nordic cool when the temperature rises. The surprise might be Justin Rose's inclusion — at 44, he's playing some of his best golf in years.
Europe's strength has always been their collective identity. Players from England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Norway, Denmark and Austria somehow mesh into something greater than their individual parts. Donald's challenge is recreating that magic with largely the same cast.
Team Europe Roster
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Rory McIlroy (Holywood, Northern Ireland) — Eighth Ryder Cup (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 16-13-4
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Robert MacIntyre (Oban, Scotland) — Second Ryder Cup (2023, 2025), Record: 2-0-1
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Tommy Fleetwood (Southport, England) — Fourth Ryder Cup (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 7-3-2
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Justin Rose (London) — Seventh Ryder Cup (2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2025), Record: 14-9-3
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Rasmus Højgaard (Billund, Denmark) — Rookie, first Ryder Cup (2025), Record: 0-0-0
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Tyrrell Hatton (High Wycombe, England) — Fourth Ryder Cup (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 5-4-2
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Shane Lowry (Clara, Ireland) — Third Ryder Cup (2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 2-3-1
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Jon Rahm (Barrika, Spain) — Fourth Ryder Cup (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 6-3-3
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Sepp Straka (Vienna, Austria) — Second Ryder Cup (2023, 2025), Record: 1-2-0
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Viktor Hovland (Oslo, Norway) — Third Ryder Cup (2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 3-4-3
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Ludvig Åberg (Eslöv, Sweden) — Second Ryder Cup (2023, 2025), Record: 2-2-0
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Matt Fitzpatrick (Sheffield, England) — Fourth Ryder Cup (2016, 2021, 2023, 2025), Record: 1-7-0
Donald's vice captains — Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Bjørn, José María Olazábal, Francesco Molinari and Alex Norén — bring decades of Ryder Cup experience. With just one rookie (Rasmus Højgaard), this team knows what to expect from the cauldron that awaits them.
Ryder Cup Format: How It All Works
Three days. Twenty-eight matches. Whoever gets to 14½ points first takes home Samuel Ryder's trophy. Here's a breakdown of the format by day:
Friday, September 26th & Saturday, September 27th
Morning Session: Alternate Shot Foursome
Teams will compete in pairs (2 USA players vs. 2 European players) in alternate shot format. Here's how it works:
- Players on each team alternate who hits each shot on every hole. So, if Player A drives the ball, Player B hits the second shot.
- Each team plays a single ball until the hole is complete.
- The team with the lowest score at the end of the hole wins that hole.
- The team that has won the most holes at the end of the round wins.
Afternoon Session: Four-Ball
The afternoon still features a foursome format, but with a different play style. Here's the four-ball format:
- Every golfer plays their own ball for the entirety of the hole.
- The player with the lowest score on the team is the one that counts.
- The team that wins the most holes after an 18 hole round wins the match.
Sunday, September 28th
Sunday is singles day. 12 pairings composed of 1 USA vs. 1 European player. The golfer with the best score at the end of an 18-hole round wins.
Ryder Cup Scoring
Ryder Cup scoring is straightforward.
- Each match is worth a single point.
- In the event of a tied match, each team receives half a point.
- The first team to reach the 14.5 point threshold wins the Ryder Cup.
- If the overall score ends 14-14, Europe keeps the cup as defending champions.
The Numbers Tell a Story
Europe comes in holding the trophy after that 16½-11½ thrashing in Rome — their eighth win in the last 11 tries. That kind of recent dominance has to sting for American golf fans who remember when their guys were supposed to be the favorites every two years.
Looking at the broader historical picture, the U.S. leads the all-time series 27-15 with two ties dating back to 1927. But since Europe expanded beyond just Great Britain and Ireland in 1979, it's been much closer: 12-9 in Europe's favor with one tie. That expansion changed everything.
America desperately needs to win at home. They've managed just one victory in the last five Ryder Cups, a stat that has to eat at Bradley and his players. With raucous New York crowds and a course that should favor their power games, this might be their best chance in years.
The stage is set. Europe arrives confident after Rome. America comes in desperate after years of disappointment. Bethpage Black waits to test both sides.
Golf doesn't get better than this.
