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Saturday at the Ryder Cup: Five Things We Learned

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8 months ago

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For the faint of heart, the 2025 Ryder Cup is already resigned to the history books. The Blue team is 3.5 points away from a second consecutive victory, and what would be a sixth in the eight most recent playings of the event. It would also represent the sixth win as visiting team since 1991. For the warrior, the next greatest comeback is yet to be written. Boston for Team USA and Chicago for Team Europe represent the largest comeback moments for each. Knowing NYC as we do, the Big Apple will want to top those other cities. We shall find out on Sunday if Team USA can somehow win the equivalent of ten match points, and wrest the Ryder Cup from European hands.

With this installment of five things we learned, I’m going to take a bit of an introspective look, something along the lines of Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live, back in an earlier day. The USA may be good enough and smart enough, and people may like its team, but it has trouble winning. What are some things that have gone sideways this week, and what might be done to rectify those missteps? Let’s take a look at five of them.

1. USA #1 golfers can’t win with a partner

Team USA has had two, longstanding world #1 golfers over the past thirty years. Both Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler had trouble winning with a partner. Woods was nine wins, nineteen losses, and tie with his partners. Scheffler is 0-4 in 2025 alone, having lost each of his four matches. He and Bryson are the only Team USA players to compete in each match. Bryson hasn’t fared much better, holding a 1-3 record thus far. In a moment of exasperation, the two were paired on Saturday afternoon, and they went down to defeat by 3 & 2.

In contrast, European leaders Rory McIlroy (3-0-1) and Jon Rahm (3-1) have exemplary records with very different partners. The Ryder Cup dating app has matched McIlroy with Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, while Rahm has found relationship success with Tyrrell Hatton and Sepp Straka. Would these matches have remained if roles were reversed, and Side Red had taken the early lead? Impossible to speculate, but my suspicion is yes.

Over the past matches, Europe has had less player turnover than USA. That’s a very USA thing, ironically. It’s the USA that has been more egalitarian, welcoming as many as four debutantes each year to the team. The Ryder Cup, established as an exhibition match, appears to be just that for Team USA, and something more for Team Europe.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Cameron Young and Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States pose with Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick of Team Europe on the first hole tee box during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

2.   Keep the Captain around

Team Europe has experimented with multi-term captaincies. Tony Jacklin did the job for four consecutive matches. Bernard Gallacher held the title for three consecutive playings. This is all since 1980, just 45 years ago. Luke Donald is in his second consecutive cycle, and sometimes, it’s the right thing to do. Keegan Bradley is a fellow who seems to love wearing the Red, White, and Blue of Team USA, and if he wants the job again in Ireland, it should be his. He’ll be wiser, for all the trappings and nuances that wisdom includes and brings. Heck, if he’s playing well and wants to be a playing captain, let him try that out. It’s an exhibition, right? Not like Team USA has the secret sauce that won Space Jam.

Bradley has passion, and he has been wise enough to listen to his team when making selections for this year’s squad and pairings. He has my vote for another chance to helm Side USA in two years.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Team United States Captain Keegan Bradley reacts on the first hole tee box during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

3. Grow some course competitive familiarity

Bethpage Black may represent something familiar to American golf fans, but the last time it held a major professional event was 2019, for the PGA Championship. Few of the American side played Bethpage Black in 2019. In contrast, guys like Fleetwood, Lowry, Fitzpatrick, and McIlroy were there for Team Europe. Adare Manor, site of the 2027 matches, does not host a regular DP Word Tour event. Fortunately for both sides, the J.P. Mcmanus Pro-Am is contested there each year. Time to lobby for a few more spots in that coveted, unofficial event. Get to know the course, and take the proper approach.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Tommy Fleetwood of Team Europe chips onto the green on the fourth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)

4. Find guys like this

Cameron Young was made for this year’s event. No matter what happens in his Sunday singles match with Justin Rose, he’ll leave Bethpage Black with at least a 2-2 record. There’s no bravado to Young, no outlandish bellows nor beatings of the chest. He shows up, he shuts up, and he grinds. He has the caddie mentality of being a part of the machine, not the entire machine. J.J. Spaun and Ben Griffin are similar to Young, but they did not have the Bethpage knowledge (state federation high school title and NY state open title) that Young gained as an amateur. Keep the quiet grinders. There’s no need for churlish, outlandish acts of desperation, in a sport that despises them.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Cameron Young of Team United States putts on the sixth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)

5. Sheath the driver and bless the putter

Every golfer, amateur and professional, can play intelligent, savvy golf by backing off from the big stick. Hitting approach shots from the short grass, as often as possible, give more opportunity to hit the ball closer to the hole. Knowing when to hit a choked-up driver, or something less, is the mark of an advancing competitor. No one can determine when the putter is going to cooperate. Many of the golfers in this year’s event, have utilized the services of the world’s top putting coaches. Why are some putting better than others? Fortune and fate. Something beyond our knowledge-scape has seized control of their flat sticks, and decreed that the ball will find its home, at the bottom of the cup. For Team USA, finding a local enchantress or warlock in County Adare might be the best alternative prescription for success, two years from now. With that last, tongue-in-cheek remark, enjoy the final day of Ryder Cup 2025. Success to all 24 competitors.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Cameron Young of Team United States putts on the sixth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Team United States fans cheer on the first tee of the Black Course during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. P

    Sep 28, 2025 at 2:23 pm

    Sheath the driver indeed!! Both Scottie and Rors are STILL playing the Qi10 and not the 35, tell TM to quit trying to pump something out every year just because, since it’s clear that they can continue with what works and sell more of those based on the best 2 players of the world.

    Reply Report comment

  2. B k

    Sep 28, 2025 at 11:54 am

    Justin thomas is a hypocrite cu11t. He goads the crowd into a frenzy and then ask the crowd to quiet down like he’s nice guy.

    Reply Report comment

  3. Makex

    Sep 28, 2025 at 9:56 am

    2.5 points required for Team Europe (not 3.5). Right?

    Reply Report comment

  4. mg

    Sep 28, 2025 at 8:47 am

    Only the PGA could destroy a Tillinghast design. Shame on you. A Sony open pitch and putt Ryder cup.

    Reply Report comment

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News

2026 PGA Championship betting odds

Published

1 day ago

on

May 12, 2026

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Scottie Scheffler leads the betting ahead of the second major championship of the year, with the World Number One a +345 favorite to get his hands on a second PGA Championship.

Rory McIlroy who won the Masters back in April is a +800 shot to complete half of the calendar slam at Aronimink Golf Club this week, while Jordan Spieth can be backed at +5900 to become a career grand slam winner.

Here is the full betting board for the 2026 PGA Championship courtesy of DraftKings.

Scottie Scheffler +345 – (Check 0ut his WITB here)

Rory McIlroy +800 – (Check out his WITB here)

  • Jon Rahm +1300 
  • Cameron Young +1500
  • Bryson DeChambeau +1700
  • Xander Schauffele +1850
  • Matt Fitzpatrick +1950
  • Ludvig Aberg +2000
  • Tommy Fleetwood +2600
  • Collin Morikawa +3500
  • Brooks Koepka +3900
  • Justin Rose +4300
  • Russell Henley +4600
  • Si Woo Kim +4700
  • Justin Thomas +4800
  • Robert MacIntyre +5300
  • Patrick Cantlay +5300
  • Viktor Hovland +5400
  • Tyrrell Hatton +5500
  • Jordan Spieth +5900
  • Sam Burns +6000
  • Hideki Matsuyama +6200
  • Adam Scott +6400
  • Rickie Fowler +7000
  • Chris Gotterup +7400
  • Patrick Reed +7400
  • Min Woo Lee +7800
  • Ben Griffin +8000
  • Sepp Straka +8400
  • Shane Lowry +9000
  • Akshay Bhatia +9200
  • Maverick McNealy +9200
  • Joaquin Niemann +9200
  • Jake Knapp +9200
  • Jason Day +9600
  • Kurt Kitayama +10000
  • J.J. Spaun +10000
  • Harris English +10500
  • Nicolai Hojgaard +11000
  • Gary Woodland +11000
  • David Puig +11000
  • Michael Thorbjornsen +12000
  • Jacob Bridgeman +12000
  • Keegan Bradley +12500
  • Corey Conners +14000
  • Alex Fitzpatrick +15000
  • Sungjae Im +15500
  • Sahith Theegala +15500
  • Harry Hall +15500
  • Alex Noren +16000
  • Thomas Detry +16500
  • Marco Penge +16500
  • Kristoffer Reitan +17000
  • Alex Smalley +17000
  • Wyndham Clark +17500
  • Sam Stevens +17500
  • Keith Mitchell +17500
  • Daniel Berger +18500
  • Ryan Gerard +20000
  • Nick Taylor +20000
  • Rasmus Hojgaard +21000
  • Dustin Johnson +21000
  • Pierceson Coody +23000
  • Aaron Rai +24000
  • Jordan Smith +24000
  • Angel Ayora +24000
  • Bud Cauley +25000
  • Matt McCarty +26000
  • Jayden Schaper +26000
  • Brian Harman +27000
  • Taylor Pendrith +27000
  • Ryan Fox +27000
  • J.T. Poston +27000
  • Cameron Smith +29000
  • Ryo Hisatsune +29000
  • Michael Kim +29000
  • Max Homa +29000
  • Denny McCarthy +29000
  • Tom McKibbin +30000
  • Rico Hoey +32000
  • Matt Wallace +32500
  • Ricky Castillo +33000
  • Haotong Li +33000
  • Michael Brennan +34000
  • Max Greyserman +36000
  • Stephan Jaeger +37500
  • Christiaan Bezuidenhout +37500
  • Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +39000
  • Aldrich Potgieter +40000
  • Andrew Novak +42000
  • Patrick Rodgers +42500
  • Daniel Hillier +42500
  • Max McGreevy +46000
  • Billy Horschel +48000
  • Chris Kirk +48000
  • Ian Holt +49000
  • Casey Jarvis +49000
  • William Mouw +50000
  • Steven Fisk +50000
  • John Parry +50000
  • Nico Echavarria +52500
  • Garrick Higgo +52500
  • John Keefer+55000
  • Matthias Schmid +57500
  • Austin Smotherman +57500
  • Sami Valimaki +60000
  • Andrew Putnam +60000
  • Lucas Glover +62500
  • Daniel Brown +62500
  • Jhonattan Vegas +75000
  • Emiliano Grillo +80000
  • Mikael Lindberg +85000
  • Adrien Saddier +100000
  • Bernd Wiesberger +100000
  • Elvis Smylie +110000
  • Stewart Cink +130000
  • Kota Kaneko +130000
  • David Lipsky +150000
  • Chandler Blanchet +150000
  • Andy Sullivan +150000
  • Joe Highsmith +180000
  • Adam Schenk +200000
  • Travis Smyth +200000
  • Davis Riley +225000
  • Martin Kaymer +400000
  • Brian Campbell +400000
  • Padraig Harrington +450000
  • Kazuki Higa +450000
  • Jordan Gumberg +450000
  • Ryan Vermeer +500000
  • Austin Hurt +500000
  • Tyler Collet +500000
  • Timothy Wiseman +500000
  • Shaun Micheel +500000
  • Y.E. Yang +500000
  • Michael Block+500000
  • Mark Geddes+500000
  • Luke Donald+500000
  • Bryce Fisher+500000
  • Jimmy Walker +500000
  • Jason Dufner +500000
  • Jesse Droemer +500000
  • Jared Jones +500000
  • Garrett Sapp +500000
  • Francisco Bide +500000
  • Zach Haynes +500000
  • Paul McClure+500000
  • Derek Berg +500000
  • Chris Gabriele +500000
  • Braden Shattuck +500000
  • Ben Polland +500000
  • Ben Kern +50000

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

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News

How much each player won at the 2026 Truist Championship

Published

2 days ago

on

May 11, 2026

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Kristoffer Reitan held his nerve at Quail Hollow on Sunday to claim his first PGA Tour victory and the $3.6 million winner’s check that came with it. The Norwegian fended off a packed leaderboard on a dramatic final day, with Rickie Fowler and Nicolai Højgaard both taking home $1.76 million for their runner-up finishes.

With a total prize purse of $20 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 Truist Championship.

1: Kristoffer Reitan, $3,600,000

T2: Rickie Fowler, $1,760,000

T2: Nicolai Hojgaard, -$1,760,000

4: Alex Fitzpatrick, $960,000

T5: Tommy Fleetwood, $730,000

T5: Sungjae Im, $730,000

T5: J.J. Spaun, $730,000

T8: Ludvig Aberg, $600,000

T8: Harry Hall, $600,000

T10: Patrick Cantlay, $500,000

T10: Matt McCarty, $500,000

T10: Cameron Young, $500,000

13: Justin Thomas, $420,000

T14: Min Woo Lee, $360,000

T14: Chris Gotterup, $360,000

T14: Nick Taylor, $360,000

T17: Alex Smalley, $310,000

T17: Gary Woodland, $310,000

T19: Austin Smotherman, $242,100

T19: Rory McIlroy, $242,100

T19: Keegan Bradley, $242,100

T19: Sudarshan Yellamaraju, $242,100

T19: Kurt Kitayama, $242,100

T24: Patrick Rodgers, $156,643

T24: Pierceson Coody, $156,643

T24: Adam Scott, $156,643

T24: Andrew Novak, $156,643

T24: Harris English, $156,643

T24: J.T. Poston, $156,643

T24: David Lipsky, $156,643

T31: Brian Harman, $114,416.67

T31: Viktor Hovland, $114,416.67

T31: Alex Noren, $114,416.67

T31: Tony Finau, $114,416.67

T31: Nico Echavarria, $114,416.67

T31: Corey Conners, $114,416.67

T37: Sam Burns, $82,187.50

T37: Maverick McNealy, $82,187.50

T37: Akshay Bhatia, $82,187.50

T37: Taylor Pendrith, $82,187.50

T37: Matt Wallace, $82,187.50

T37: Andrew Putnam, $82,187.50

T37: Bud Cauley, $82,187.50

T37: Lucas Glover, $82,187.50

T45: Justin Rose, $60,000

T45: Daniel Berger, $60,000

T45: Ryo Hisatsune, $60,000

T48: Denny McCarthy, $50,000

T48: Aldrich Potgieter, $50,000

T48: Webb Simpson, $50,000

T48: Michael Kim, $50,000

T52: Mackenzie Hughes, $45,187.50

T52: Max Homa, $45,187.50

T52: Brian Campbell, $45,187.50

T52: Jhonattan Vegas, $45,187.50

T52: Matt Fitzpatrick, $45,187.50

T52: Chandler Blanchet, $45,187.50

T52: Jordan Spieth, $45,187.50

T52: Jacob Bridgeman, $45,187.50

T60: Xander Schauffele, $42,500

T60: Robert MacIntyre, $42,500

T60: Ricky Castillo, $42,500

T63: Ben Griffin, $41,250

T63: Sepp Straka, $41,250

T65: Ryan Gerard, $40,250

T65: Si Woo Kim, $40,250

67: Ryan Fox, $39,500

68: Jason Day, $39,000

69: Sahith Theegala, $38,000

70: Sam Stevens, $37,500

71: Hideki Matsuyama, $37,000

72: Tom Hoge, $36,000

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