Roy McAvoy on golf (via the motion picture Tin Cup)
“The critical opening phrase of this poem will always be the grip, which the hands unite to form a single unit by the simple overlap of the little finger. Lowly and slowly, the club head is led back. Pulled into position not by the hands, but by the body which turns away from the target shifting weight to the right side without shifting balance. Tempo is everything; perfection unobtainable as the body coils down at the top of the swing. There’s a slight hesitation. A little nod to the gods.”
“A nod to the gods?”
“Yes - gods - Make it STOP raining.”
WELCOME: To a special edition of PGA Tour Brunch, today bringing you a basic preview of the 2025 Ryder Cup being staged a driver and a nine iron from the humble childhood home of your Digital Sports Desk founder and columnist.
The 2025 Ryder Cup, the 45th edition of golf’s most intense team competition - pitting golfers from Europe against golfers from the United States of America - marks a pivotal moment for Team USA. Hosted at the formidable Bethpage Black Course on Long Island, New York - from September 26-to-28 - the Americans aim to reclaim the trophy lost to Europe in a (16.5 - 11.5) defeat at Marco Simone (Rome, Italy) in 2023.
As the home team, the USA enters with a significant “New York Minute” advantage: Their captain - Keegan Bradley - could’ve named himself as a player but unselfishly chose not to play and concentrate on the duties of a Ryder Cup Captain; Bradley graduated college from nearby St. John’s University and played Bethpage Black for near daily practice rounds as a collegian.
The course has changed - it’s been upgraded and made more difficult than it ever was or will be - but, the New York fans haven’t changed. They’ll always be brash, loud and obnoxious - and that’s just what their mothers say.
The Ryder Cup was originally staged in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1927 but it featured US golfers against those of Great Britain. Golfers from Ireland were added to the Brits in 1973 and then all of Europe was included in 1979.
The event was not contested in 1939, ‘41, ‘43 and ‘45 - World War II.
Additionally, the 2001 event was delayed until 2002 because of the 9/11 terror attacks and the 2020 event was pushed to 2021 because of the global pandemic. In ‘21, the matches were staged at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin and it was the last USA victory as Europe took the Cup in 2023 in Italy.
The inclement weather forecast for Long Island will be a major factor in this competition, with the Europeans usually having the edge in the rain.
The Opening Ceremony, originally scheduled for Thursday afternoon, was moved up a day to Wednesday, Sept. 24th and it was very well received. USA Captain Keegan Bradley was especially on point with his remarks, paying tribute to the New York area fans.
Here’s a breakdown of the tournament format and how the matches are structured:
Day 1 (Friday) and Day 2 (Saturday): Team Matches
Each of the first two days features eight matches, divided into two sessions of four matches each, using two distinct team formats:
Foursomes (Morning Sessions, 8 matches total over two days)
Structure: Two players per team form a pair, sharing one ball and alternating shots. One player tees off on odd-numbered holes, the other on even-numbered holes, and they alternate strokes until the ball is holed.
Scoring: The pair with the lowest score on a hole wins it. The match ends when one team is ahead by more holes than remain (e.g., 4-up with 3 holes left). If the match is tied after 18 holes, it’s halved.
Strategy: Foursomes demand precision and chemistry, as a single errant shot affects the pair. Captains often pair players with complementary styles (e.g., a steady player with a risk-taker).
Example: If Team USA’s Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa score a 4 on a par-4 hole against Europe’s Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm’s 5, the U.S. pair wins the hole.
2025 Note: The U.S., as the home team, chose to start with foursomes this year, leveraging their historical edge in this format (e.g., 6–2 at Whistling Straits in 2021).
Four-Ball (Afternoon Sessions, 8 matches total over two days)
Structure: Two players per team play their own ball, and the lowest score among the four players on a hole counts for the team. Each match pits two players from the U.S. against two from Europe.
Scoring: Same as foursomes—lowest score wins the hole, and the match goes to the team that wins the most holes (or halves if tied after 18).
Strategy: Four-ball rewards aggressive play, as each player can go for birdies without relying on a partner’s shot. It’s a chance for big hitters or hot putters to shine.
Example: If Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood scores a 3 and his partner Viktor Hovland scores a 4 on a hole, while both U.S. players score 4s, Europe wins the hole with Fleetwood’s 3.
2025 Note: Europe often excels here, as seen in their 6–2 four-ball rout in 2023 at Marco Simone.
Each day, four foursomes matches and four four-ball matches are played, totaling 16 team matches across the two days. Each team’s 12 players are rotated strategically by the team captain, with some playing both sessions and others resting. The home team captain (U.S. in 2025) decided whether foursomes or four-ball goes first each day.
Day 3 (Sunday): Singles Matches
Structure: All 12 players from each team compete in individual head-to-head matches, making for 12 total singles matches. Each player plays their own ball against one opponent from the opposing team.
Scoring: Like the team formats, the player with the lowest score on a hole wins it. The match ends when one player is ahead by more holes than remain or halves if tied after 18 holes.
Strategy: Captains submit their lineup order blindly, aiming to stack early matches with strong players to set the tone or place anchors late to secure or overturn leads. Singles are high-pressure, as there’s no partner to lean on, and momentum can swing dramatically.
Example: If Xander Schauffele beats Ludvig Åberg 1-up after 18 holes, the U.S. earns 1 point. A 3-and-2 win (3 holes ahead with 2 left) also yields 1 point.
2025 Note: Singles often decide the Cup, as seen in 2012’s “Miracle at Medinah” when Europe overcame a 10–6 deficit by winning 8½ of the 12 Sunday points.
Key Details
Match Play Basics: Unlike stroke play (where total strokes over 72 holes matter), Ryder Cup matches focus on winning individual holes. Scores are relative only to the opponent in that match, not the field. A team can win a match with a high score if their opponent scores higher.
Points System: Each of the 28 matches (8 foursomes, 8 four-balls, 12 singles) awards 1 point to the winning team, ½ point each for a tie. The first team to 14½ points wins; a 14–14 tie means the defending team (Europe in 2025) keeps the Cup.
Captain’s Role: Captains like Keegan Bradley (U.S.) and Luke Donald (Europe) select pairings and lineups, balancing player form, course fit (Bethpage’s long, punishing layout favors power), and chemistry. They also use wild-card picks to finalize their 12-man rosters.
No Prize Money: The Ryder Cup is about pride, not cash—players compete for their team and continent, adding to the event’s intensity.
This format, unchanged since 1979 when Europe replaced Great Britain/Ireland, creates a pressure cooker unlike any other in golf. Foursomes test teamwork, four-ball showcases individual brilliance, and singles deliver raw, do-or-die battles. At Bethpage Black in 2025, expect the format’s blend of strategy and spectacle to amplify the drama, with every hole a potential turning point in the quest for the golden trophy.
With this missive being posted at Noon on September 25, it will be about four hours later (roughly 4:00pm ET) when the two team captains announce their pairings for each match of Friday morning. They will announce Friday afternoon matches at the conclusion of the morning round.
📺 TELEVISION COVERAGE OF THE 2025 RYDER CUP
(Coverage in the USA will be brought to you by NBC Sports)
Friday, September 26: (All Times Eastern)
7:00am to 6:00pm - USA Network
7:10am to 12:15pm - Ryder Cup site (Streaming) - Featured Matches
12:25pm to 6:00pm - Ryder Cup site (Streaming) - Featured Four-Ball
Golf Channel will do wrap-around coverage throughout the weekend
7:00am and Noon - Ryder Cup Radio via online streaming or Sirius XM/92
Link to Ryder Cup site - HERE
USA Team Preview - Link to Digital Sports Desk - HERE
Team Europe Preview - Link to Digital Sports Desk - HERE
Parting Putt | Opening Ceremony 2025
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