Farmingdale, N.Y. – Another defeat appeared to be taking place at Beth Page Black’s 45th Ryder Cup – and once again the Americans were on the wrong side.
The US team was on the verge of falling behind the Europeans 4-0 for the second straight time after the foursome’s opening session (alternative shot).
However, after wasting a three-hole lead, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay saved the home team’s points by scoring the final two holes in the final match between Scotland’s Robert McIntyre and Norway’s Victor Hofland.
“If you only win one point, gaining momentum could also be an anchor match,” Schaufele said after Europe advanced 3-1 in the opening session. “You’ll need to score some points on the board in the afternoon.”
The Americans appeared to be in serious trouble after dropping the first three matches of the session. According to ESPN research, it was the first time in the history of the European Ryder Cup that it had won three foursome matches on three or more holes to play in a single session, and the first time Europe had won each of its first three matches in the Ryder Cup, which competed in American soil.
It was a familiar face to American golfers who competed in the 2023 Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in the suburbs of Rome. The Europeans sent the US team 4-0 on their way to a 16½-11½ victory at Four Sam on Friday morning, earning their 10th victory in the last 14 games.
The team returned to the course on Friday afternoon for a four-ball (best ball) match. It could be stacked against the Americans when staging their comebacks. The team, which scored at least three points in the first session, has a 7-1 record in the Ryder Cup since 1991.
The host team won the previous five Ryder Cups, but US fans didn’t often cheer on Long Island on Friday.
Cantrey and Schauferle were the only bright spots for Americans. They were 3 up after 11 holes, but then the Europeans tied the match by winning three of the next four. Hovland is Nos. I had a 6½-foot birdie putt on 12 and 13, so after Cantlay missed, I made a 6-footer to save par on 15th.
On the par 3 on the 17th, McIntyre hit his tee shot into the greenside bunker, and the Europeans were unable to move up and down to save par. Schaufele’s tee shot found the green right side and gave him a one-up lead with a 20½-foot two putt.
US team captain Kiegan Bradley was hoping to send Livgolf captains Bryson Deccanbeau and Justin Thomas first to blow sparks into the home team. Deccanbo did in the opening hall, nearly driving through green on a 344-yard tee shot, setting up a simple birdie and quick lead.
However, Deccanbeau and Thomas proved to be no match for claiming a 4-3 victory, with five birdies after the European duo of Spain and Tyrrell Hatton of England and sixth hole.
It wasn’t surprising that Masters champion Rory McIlroy and Tour Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood had little difficulty driving Harris English and Colin Morakawa with a 5-4 victory in the second point in Europe.
Rahm and Fleetwood improved to 5-0 with foursome in the Ryder Cup.
“Foursome is a very strict form,” Fleetwood said. “It’s a Friday morning of the Ryder Cup. I think we’re talking about Fast. I think Luke (Donald) is the captain so I’ve always delved into it into us. That’s what you want to do. That’s the ideal. So far, it’s very good.”
But what’s amazing for the Americans is that world No. 1 Scotty Schaeffler and Russell Henry didn’t put up much of a fight with Sweden’s Rudig Åberg and British Matt Fitzpatrick, who won five and three wins.
“I felt like Russ, and I did some good things,” Schaeffler said. “We didn’t make enough putts right away. We had some chances. I think the putts just didn’t fall. But overall, the people we played, they had a really good round.
Schaeffler has now lost his past three four-sum matches in the Ryder Cup. And he and his partner pursued at least four holes in each.
Schaeffler is not the only top golfer who has struggled in an alternative shot match. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, World No. 1S is 10-11-1 in Foursome.
