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Europe retains Ryder Cup: Five things we learned on Sunday
If there is breath in the body, there is hope. Team USA awoke on Sunday morning, knowing that it had to do the impossible and win ten of twelve singles matches outright to dethrone the European side as Ryder Cup champions. Samuel Ryder was a seed merchant in England, and he sewed the seeds for an impressive international exhibition, back in the roaring 20s of the previous century. Team USA sent out two of its strongest golfers (Cameron Young and Justin Thomas) in the day’s first two matches. Captain Keegan Bradley hoped that the pair would sew the seeds of an improbable comeback victory. Young and Thomas did their job, and for a large part of the afternoon, Team USA gave the adoring faithful hope.
In the end, Shane Lowry did what Shane Lowry does. He made birdie at the last to secure a half point with Russell Henley. Down two holes with four to play, Lowry won two, and Henley none, and the match was halved. It was the second half-point won by the visiting squad on the day. At daybreak, it was announced that Viktor Hovland would be unable to compete on Sunday. His absence gave Europe a free half point to begin the fifth and final round. Matt Fitzpatrick earned another half for his draw with Bryson DeChambeau, and Ludvig Aberg dispatched former USA stalwart Patrick Cantlay, by 2 & 1.
Unlike Saturday, when there was little to learned from the lethargic play of Team USA, and there was nothing new to be gleaned from Team Europe’s relentless march to victory after victory, Sunday provided a window for the souls of a proud dozen Americans, who would not go gently into that dark night. On that poetic note, let’s run down the five things that we learned on Sunday of Ryder Cup Bethpage 2025.
1. When Team USA finds its rhythm, it excels
Rhythm is precisely what wins competitions, no matter the sport. For some unknown reason, Team Europe finds its rhythm quicker and extends it longer in partner matches. Since these make up more points (16) than do the individual matches (12), the boys in blue and gold begin each Ryder Cup session with an advantage. Team USA demonstrated on Sunday that embarrassment is a strong motivator. If only it could have discovered this motivation on Friday morning. Bethpage 2025 would have been even more scintillating than it was.
One might ponder the notion that European golfers genuinely appreciate the good play of their opponents. In contrast, do the Americans get angry and frustrated when their fellow competitor outplays them? It doesn’t mean that the Europeans want to lose regular-season events. It simply means that they are able to recognize and applaud good play, better than the fellows from the USA. If Team USA gets better at saluting wondrous play throughout the year, perhaps it will be more comfortable in partner play.
2. Sometimes, what you do best doesn’t come through in the clutch
If you look at the latter parts of the video below of Shane Lowry’s cup-clinching putt, you see Russell Henley near the front of the green, watching helplessly as the individual match hangs in the balance. Moments before, Henley had a 10-foot putt to secure a half point at least, and he missed. Henley is one of the most gifted, natural putters since Ben Crenshaw, yet he missed from just over three yards. More moments before, Henley had recovered from a left-side, fairway bunker to give himself a chance, in heroic fashion. Great drivers miss fairways, great ironmen sail wide of putting surfaces, and great bunker players fail to get up and down in two shots. Henley will rise again tomorrow, and will continue to putt the eyes out of the hole. Come 2027, he may get another shot at a putt of such magnitude in Ireland.
3. Supplement cheers of You-Ess-Ay with some songs
I give the fans ringing the eighth hole loads of credit for their efforts to change up the tired U-S-A chant. The group on the starboard side of the green began the cheer with a hearty YOU and was followed by those behind the green with ESS. Finally, the patrol on the port side of the putting surface finished it off with a strong AAYYY. The angry quickness of USA USA USA was naturally defused by the pauses between each letter.
USA faithful, let’s take it a step further in future Ryder Cups. Are you telling me that you cannot come up with lyrics for songs that celebrate and serenade the American squad? What about Forever Young for Cameron? Howza bout Benny and the Jets for Ben Griffin? Try on Pink Sammy Club for Sam Burns. You get the idea? Put the lyrics on social or a site, and folks can sing along without much rehearsal.
I planned to plug in the video of the Guardians of the Cup, Euro superfans, but honestly, they’re not really on key. No one questions their enthusiasm, but we all need a bit more rehearsal if we’re a small group.
4. Let’s discuss the injury half-point
I’m certainly not saying that Harris English was going to take a full point from Viktor Hovland. Since Hovland’s neck worsened over the week, thanks to two foursomes matches, the following codicil was invoked:
3.d) When the Captain’s lodge their team selection for singles play, they must provide a sealed envelope containing the name of one player who is regarded as having been paired with a player who, through illness, injury or other emergency reason, has to withdraw from the other side. Such pairing is regarded as a tied match. If this requires the re-pairing of a match, this will be done down the order of the play.
Here’s my thinking: Hovland knew that he had neck issues. He knew that a bulging disc had been an annoyance for the past four months. That’s quite different from the car accident on Thursday evening of the 1991 matches at Kiawah Island. Pate bruised ribs and was ineffective in the one match that he played. He was an American stalwart, and his injury hurt the USA side immensely. In the case of a true accident, invoke rule 3.d. When it comes down to something that Team Europe knew about and could have replaced, I call shenanigans. English deserved a full point. I’d have written the same thing if the roles and scores had been reversed.
5. What was great and what do we have to anticipate in 2027?
Five great things from Bethpage Black: European cohesion; short rough that allowed players to hit the green from off the fairway; a massive course that did not allow cheers to truly intimidate or exhilarate opponents and teammates; New York City energy, when it is positive; success from rookies and aged veterans alike.
Five things that we need at Adare Manor in 2027: American humility that allows cohesion to enter the room (think Ted Lasso, people); a magnificent, majestic, manicured piece of the emerald isle, that charms us and challenges us in our thinking; some new European faces (11 of 12 guys returned, and the one guy you swap out is the identical twin of the guy you swap in?); some American players who take up the mantle, in a way that we haven’t seen since Fleetwood and McIlroy and Lowry and Rose…oh, wait; a match that comes down to the final golfers, after the first two days of partner play have been completely, precisely, halved.
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Joey5Picks
Sep 30, 2025 at 6:03 pm
Europe didn’t “retain”the Cup. They WON it, 15-13.
P
Sep 30, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Make it full qualification via points during the season ONLY, no more stupid captain’s picks EVER.
Then, neither side nor anybody in the pundits corners can complain about who’s on the team – they would have EARNED their way on by their play during the points process
BobbyG
Sep 29, 2025 at 10:13 am
If you want to win, play better. Europe played better golf and won.
Steve
Sep 28, 2025 at 8:56 pm
Mr. Montesano’s musings about Hovland’s withdrawal is a little tasteless, considering Victor played Thursday and Friday, and only on the range was it determined he could not play.
Suggesting there was something untoward isn’t how the Europeans play the game.
Shame on you for casting aspersions.
BD57
Sep 28, 2025 at 8:23 pm
Euros typically host on courses where their Tour plays every year (understand that won’t be the case in 2027).
We host on courses the Euros see as often as we do (of course, they whacked us at Jack’s place in 1987).
Might make sense to play at one our our places sometime. How ’bout a Ryder Cup at Harbour Town? At Colonial? At Pebble?
Skippy
Sep 29, 2025 at 11:08 am
Yeah but most of their guys see the PGA Tour courses as often as we do….