Bethpage Black Delivered Drama, But Europe’s Composure in Crunch Time Is the Real Story

I’ve been covering professional golf for 35 years, and I’ve seen plenty of Ryder Cups. I’ve walked the grounds as a caddie, stood behind the ropes as a correspondent, and watched this biennial event transform grown men into warriors. But what unfolded at Bethpage Black this September reminded me of something I’d almost forgotten: Europe doesn’t just show up to away matches—they thrive in them.

The final score tells you Europe retained the cup with a commanding 15-13 victory, but the margin doesn’t quite capture what I witnessed over three days on Long Island. Team USA brought home-course advantage, a talented roster, and Keegan Bradley’s strategic wizardry in course setup. Europe brought something less tangible but far more dangerous: a seasoned, battle-tested roster that’s been through this before.

The Foursomes Proved Decisive

Here’s what struck me most about Friday morning: Europe absolutely dismantled Team USA in the foursomes, winning three of four matches decisively. I’m talking 5&3, 5&4, and 4&3 margins. That’s not competitive golf—that’s dominance. And it set the tone for everything that followed.

“Europe enters the tournament with plenty of confidence, aiming to win a road Ryder Cup for the fourth time since 1995 and bringing back 11 of the 12 players who claimed victory two years ago.”

In my experience, foursomes are where the best teams separate themselves from the rest. It’s not just about individual talent—it’s about rhythm, communication, and trust. You need golfers who’ve played together before, who understand each other’s tendencies. The fact that Europe brought back 11 of their 12 championship players from 2023 gave them an enormous cohesion advantage. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood—these guys have been through wars together. They know how to construct a tournament.

Team USA, meanwhile, fielded a roster full of major championship winners and world-beaters in stroke play. But Ryder Cup golf isn’t stroke play. It’s a different animal entirely.

Saturday’s Swing Moment

Saturday morning foursomes should have been Team USA’s statement round. Bethpage is their course. Keegan had set things up their way. Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young delivered with a 4&2 victory, but look at the other three matches: Europe won two and halved one. The Americans never seized momentum when they had the chance.

What I found most telling was the four-ball sessions. This is where depth and individual brilliance typically shine through—it’s more wide-open than foursomes, less about partnerships and more about star power. Yet even here, Europe held their own. Friday’s four-balls ended 3-1 in Europe’s favor. Saturday’s split 2-2, with Europe’s wins coming against DeChambeau and Scheffler in one pairing.

That’s not luck. That’s quality.

Sunday Singles: The Inevitability

By the time Sunday rolled around, I had a sense of where this was headed. European teams that come to America don’t typically fold on the final day. Having caddied for Tom Lehman during some of his big Ryder Cup moments in the late ’90s, I learned that momentum in this event is everything. Europe had it.

“In the Ryder Cup, there are 28 total matches over three days, including team matches and single events. Teams earn a point by winning a match and half-a-point for matches that end in ties.”

Team USA took some singles matches—Young beat Rose 1 Up, both Thomas and Scheffler found wins, and Schauffele delivered a dominating 4&3 victory over Rahm. These were quality performances. But Europe’s anchoring through midcard players like Straka, Hatton, and even Hovland proved resilient. The halves were plentiful, which in a Ryder Cup means Europe is protecting the lead.

What This Means Going Forward

I think what we witnessed at Bethpage is less about American golf being in decline and more about European golf being exceptionally well-managed in team settings. This isn’t a referendum on Keegan Bradley, who made smart captain’s choices. It’s a reminder that having 11 returning players is a trump card in match play.

The American side has tremendous talent—Scheffler, DeChambeau, Thomas, Schauffele. But talent alone doesn’t win Ryder Cups. Chemistry, experience, and the ability to execute under pressure do. Europe’s road wins at Bethpage continues their extraordinary streak: four road victories since 1995 is the mark of an organization that knows how to handle pressure events away from home.

“This year’s event has no shortage of storylines, from USA captain Keegan Bradley opting not to play to Europe’s quest to repeat.”

Bradley’s decision to sit out as a player was intriguing—it showed confidence in his team’s depth and allowed him to focus on captaincy. That’s the right call. The question for the next American captain, whoever that may be, is whether we need to rethink how we construct and prepare Ryder Cup teams. One-week wonders in team events aren’t enough anymore.

Europe came to New York battle-tested and composed. They left with another trophy and a reminder that consistency in team golf matters as much as firepower. That’s the real story beneath the scoreboard.