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Friday at the Ryder Cup: Five things we learned
Nothing like having a Friday-evening quarterback, err, captain like me, to share five things that we learned post-golf on day one of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Items that coulda or shoulda or woulda made a difference. It’s unavoidable to wonder what might have been, when what appears obvious now, was so shrouded by the mists of autumn, 24 hours back.
Friday was a long day for this writer, so without going into detail, this edition of five things we learned will be pithy in comparison with the usual effort. Not worse, just pithy. Each point is a salient one, and worth your time and ponderance. With that endorsement, have a quick read of five things that we learned on Friday at the 2025 Bethpage Black Ryder Cup.
FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Scottie Scheffler of Team United States plays his shot on the sixth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)
1. Jon Rahm can win with anybody; can Scottie Scheffler win with somebody, please?
Jon Rahm led Europe on day one with two, lead-off victories. He partnered Tyrrell Hatton in the morning to a decisive 4 & 3 victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, then rode herd with Sepp Straka in the afternoon, to a 3 & 2 win in a tilt with the current Open and US Open champions. Rahm is poised to become Europe’s spiritual leader, in the same manner that previous Spaniards Jose Maria Olazabal and Severiano Ballesteros did. He is a workhorse, and should show in all five matches this year.
Scottie Scheffler, paired with Russell Henley in the morning and J.J. Spaun in the afternoon, won a total of three holes in two matches, while losing eleven holes. Future captains, take note: Scheffler may not be the guy to pair with Ryder Cup rookies. Not saying anything beyond the essential fact that Scottie is 0-2 this year, and 2.5-0.5 in 2021, and 1-3. in 2023. Team golf is hard, even for the world number one player. Of his 3 Ryder Cup points, half have come in singles (a win and a draw.) Scheffler will once againmatch with Henley in Saturday morning foursomes; perhaps they have solved the mystery of how to make more birdies.
If the press cannot find topics for stories, shame on them. RCBPB 2025 is high Broadway drama at its finest, minus the music and the dance.
FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Jon Rahm of Team Europe hits his shot on the 12th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)
2. Captain Keegan isn’t afraid to mix up his dance cards, but should mix them more
Bryson DeChambeau will partner Cameron Young in foursomes on Saturday morning. Here’s hoping that the third guy is the charm for the big guy. BDC is 0-2 thus far, and has failed to provide the spark that Team America needs. In contrast, Young co-authored the 6 & 5 mauling of Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hjogaard on Friday afternoon. He is probably a bit stung from sitting out on Friday morning, and probably itching to continue to prove his worth on a course that feels like home.
Saturday morning foursomes will see the return of Scheffler-Henley (yikes), English-Morikawa (uh-oh) and Schauffele-Cantlay (phew). It’s a risky play, to be sure, as two of the three duos were outmatched by their European counterparts in brace number one. Scheffenley and Englikawa will need to demonstrate improved performance and partnership, or the host side will find itself once more behind the the eight ball at the four-ball.
FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States hits out of the bunker on the seventh hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)
3. Winning holes with birdies
That’s precisely what Team Europe does. It might sound simplistic, but the visitors won 16 holes over four matches in foursomes on Friday morning, with birdies. In the afternoon, they claimed another 11 holes with birdies. Only the Young-Thomas slaughterhouse produced zero birdies for the blue. It doesn’t matter if the old world gets under par with accurate approach shots, chip-ins, or long putts; they get it done and the USA needs to find the secret sauce, or the Sunday singles won’t matter.
In Friday foursomes, the Red, White and Blue won a total of five holes in three matches. That’s abysmal. The fourth pairing, Schauffele and Cantlay, won six holes on their own, eclipsing the combined efforts of six of their teammates. Their recipe for success needs to be memorized and rehearsed by version 2.0 on Saturday morning.
FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe hits his shot on the 15th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)
4. Compel yourself to peak
This might be the unmentioned difference between the two sides. The Europeans, at least on day one, have proven themselves able to will themselves to successful play. Team USA, in contrast, arrives with all the platitudes and sigils that tendy people use, but seems to have little backing, with a few exceptions. Team Europe is like a small, authentic town, steeped in history and camaraderie, while the Americans resemble a golden-age, Hollywood set: pretty paint jobs of facades with nothing behind the shell.
Europe understand that the Ryder Cup is not a singles competition, and that it is every bit a singles competition. Its shots do not stray, do not waver. Each strike is decisive, accurate, and effective. Mentally, Europe is at another level, and the host squadron must summon all of its accuity to equal or surpass on day two.
Another part of this is the been there before essence of Europe’s teams. 11 of 12 team members are in their second or more playing, with only Rasmus Hojgaard making his debut. Squadron USA has four rookies in Spaun, Henley, Young, Griffin, but its veterans aren’t playing like veterans. Moikawa and Thomas should be team leaders, but they honestly don’t look good enough to deserve their selections. If you can’t help, at least don’t hinder. So far, that’s what Scheffler, Morikawa, Thomas, and DeChambeau, multiple major winners all, have done.
FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Viktor Hovland of Team Europe hits his shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)
5. What is needed?
Foremost, a decisive victory by Young-DeChambeau in the first match with Fitzpatrick and Aberg. It’s achievable. Match two pits two European titans (MackyWood) against English and Morikawa. If ever an upset was needed, this is the match. Patty Ice and Xander will need to replicate their day-one foursomes victory, only this time, they will face two barrel chests in Rahm and Hatton. The USA needs to win a stage, or the afternoon will be quite depressing. Down by 5.5 to 2.5, the host team needs to close the gap in the AM, and further reduce it in the PM. The current hole is quite deep, and Captain Bradley and his staff are tasked with contriving a method to narrow the breach.
How is this done? Hit fairways and greens, and give your duo nine birdie putts on the outward half. Keep the ball in play, in front of you. Get back to the most basic element of the game and work forward from there. Reduction of mistakes forces the opponent to match your precision, or fall by the wayside. No need to take risks at any point. Stay the course. On Friday, Team USA fell by the wayside with much regularity and little apparent direction toward improvement. Saturday must be better, or the singles matches will be a formality.
FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Patrick Cantlay of Team United States hits his shot on the ninth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)
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...
Zachs Johson
Sep 28, 2025 at 9:23 am
Similar to the disaster team that Zach Johnson lead over the cliff, Keegan seems to be doing the same. Instead of picking the top 12 qualifiers, let’s choose 6 of my buddies and see how that works out. What Luke Donald has done is being overshadowed by the mediocrity of Keegan and his team. Luke Donald is obviously better at being a captain of a team, and Keegan seems to be indifferent about it all. Hopefully he takes his indifference to the worst Ryder Cup captain hall of fame. I hope the EU wins every singles match on Sunday.