Day 2 at Bethpage Black: USA vs Europe in a tense Ryder Cup showdown
Day 2 of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is delivering the high-stakes drama golf fans crave. After a European push on Friday, the United States is trying to reboot its charge on home soil. The morning foursomes provided a host of momentum swings, with both sides trading blows as sets of matches unfold across the course in Farmingdale, New York.
Morning momentum: Cantlay-Schauffele vs Rahm-Hatton steals the show
One of the pivotal battles on the opening holes saw the Rahm-Hatton pairing carve out an early lead, only for Cantlay and Schauffele to bite back, tying the match with a timely par from Cantlay on the 7th after a shaky bunker play by Schauffele. The American duo answered the European onslaught, and the day’s first energy spike came as the U.S. matched Europe shot for shot in several front-nine holes. These are the kinds of moments that define Ryder Cup days on the big stage.
Europe’s two-pronged pressure: Fleetwood-McIlroy and Rahm-Hatton
Fleetwood and McIlroy have maintained a near-perfect start to the weekend, rarely losing in foursomes and extending their lead in the early going. A late long putt by Fleetwood on No. 2 helped push them ahead in their match, while Rahm-Hatton have answered consistently, ensuring Europe stays in control in multiple closely contested affairs. The results from these two pairs set the tone for the morning session and force the U.S. to climb from behind with decisive play on the back nine.
U.S. rallies: Young and DeChambeau leading the charge
Cameron Young has been a standout for the Americans, delivering a crucial par putt on No. 7 after a daring tee shot and following up with a wedge-in for a birdie on No. 3 to push the U.S. into a favorable position in their match. DeChambeau has complemented Young’s form in the early stages, pairing well with him to regain momentum in the trail matches. The on-course energy around Young’s approach play has become a talking point for Team USA as they seek to turn the tide on a day that started with Europe on the front foot.
Red returns to the board: a sign of life for Team USA
With Morikawa-English battling to stay within reach and Fitzpatrick-Åberg posting a few stumbles, the U.S. was able to capitalize on opportunities. A par at No. 7 by DeChambeau and Young kept the red banner visible on the leaderboard in their match, marking the first clear sign in some time that the Americans could flip a few matches their way. Meanwhile, Schauffele-Cantlay narrowed the margin on Rahm-Hatton after a key miss from Tyrrell Tyrrell on a 6-foot putt, signaling the start of a potential swing in the day’s exchanges.
Morning recap: who’s ahead, who’s clawing back
Early on, Europe held leads in several morning bundles while the U.S. began to chip away in others. The scoreboard showed Europe in control in two matches and in a tie or slight edge in several others, with the U.S. trying to flip the script late in the session. The teams’ depth and the pressure of the Ryder Cup format mean every hole is contested with heightened intensity, and Bethpage’s challenging layout is testing every shot and every decision.
What to watch in the afternoon
The afternoon schedule will be critical: the U.S. will look to turn momentum with two or three key points, while Europe will seek to extend its advantage in the two dominant pairings. Look for quick shifts on the back nine, clutch putts under pressure, and players adapting to the course conditions as the wind picks up. If the Americans can flip even a couple of the tight matches, Day 2 could swing back in their favor, keeping the Ryder Cup drama alive into Sunday.
Bottom line
Day 2 has delivered the kind of back-and-forth action that makes the Ryder Cup iconic—the tension of living up to the event’s history, the roar of the crowd, and the relentless pursuit of points by both teams. As more holes unfold this afternoon, the live updates will stay essential for fans following the United States and Europe battle on Bethpage Black.
