The 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black: A Battle for the Ages

The 45th Ryder Cup, held from September 26–28, 2025, at the iconic Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, delivered one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged chapters in the tournament’s storied history. With Team Europe defending their title against a star-studded Team USA on hostile soil, the stage was set for a clash of titans—and it did not disappoint.

Venue Spotlight: Bethpage Black

Bethpage Black, a public course with a reputation for punishing difficulty, made its Ryder Cup debut in 2025. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast and renovated by Rees Jones in 2015, the course stretches 7,352 yards as a par 70. Known for its long rough and fast poa annua greens, it has hosted multiple majors, including Tiger Woods’ 2002 U.S. Open win and Brooks Koepka’s 2019 PGA Championship triumph.

A sign at the first tee famously warns: “The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers.” For Ryder Cup week, however, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley softened the rough and sped up the greens, hoping to give his team a home-field edge.

Captains and Teams

• Team USA: Led by Keegan Bradley, the Americans boasted eight of the top 12 players in the world, including Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau. Despite four rookies and limited Ryder Cup experience, their talent pool ran deep.

• Team Europe: Captain Luke Donald returned after leading Europe to a dominant 16.5–11.5 win in Rome in 2023. Eleven of his players were veterans of that victory, with Rasmus Højgaard replacing his twin brother Nicolai. The team leaned on continuity, experience, and the brilliance of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Tommy Fleetwood.

Format and Schedule

The Ryder Cup followed its traditional five-session format:

• Friday & Saturday: Morning foursomes (alternate shot) and afternoon four-ball (best ball)

• Sunday: 12 singles matches

  
  

A total of 28 points were up for grabs, with Europe needing 14 to retain and 14.5 to win outright.

Key Moments and Drama

Day 1: Europe Strikes First

Europe raced to a 5.5–2.5 lead after Friday, dominating the morning foursomes and edging the four-ball matches. The Americans struggled to find rhythm, and the crowd’s energy couldn’t lift their performance.

Day 2: The Lead Grows

Saturday saw more European brilliance. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise visit to rally the home side, Europe extended their lead to 12–5, aided by Viktor Hovland’s injury withdrawal, which granted an automatic half-point.

Day 3: The Final Push

Needing just 2.5 points to retain the Cup, Europe sent out their heavy hitters early. McIlroy, Rahm, Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick, and Rose—who had a combined 14-2-1 record through two days—set the tone. Shane Lowry’s clutch birdie on 18 sealed the half-point that retained the Cup, and Tyrrell Hatton’s steady play clinched the outright win.

Final Score: Europe 15 – USA 13

Despite a spirited American comeback in the singles, Europe held firm. It was their fifth win on U.S. soil and the first since the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012. Luke Donald joined Tony Jacklin as the only European captains to win both at home and away—a testament to his leadership and strategic brilliance.

Individual Highlights

• Tommy Fleetwood: Went 4–0, a perfect record that anchored Europe’s dominance.

• Scottie Scheffler: The world No. 1 finished 0–4, a surprising and pivotal underperformance.

• Rory McIlroy: Delivered on his bold pre-tournament promise to win at Bethpage, silencing hecklers and leading by example.

• Shane Lowry: His birdie putt on 18 will be remembered as one of the most clutch moments in Ryder Cup history.

Legacy and Impact

Bethpage Black proved a worthy Ryder Cup venue, blending historic gravitas with New York’s electric atmosphere. The European team’s unity, experience, and resilience overcame the odds, while the Americans were left to reflect on missed opportunities and the challenge of converting talent into team success.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the Ryder Cup remains golf’s most emotionally charged and fiercely contested event. And in 2025, Europe once again proved they are the masters of team golf.