A Decade of One-Sided Contests
The last five Ryder Cups have been dominated by the host nation. Since Paul McGinley’s Europe triumphed at Gleneagles in 2014, the scorelines have rarely been close.
- 2016 (Hazeltine, USA): Europe faltered under Darren Clarke, as the Americans rode the wave of their home crowd.
- 2018 (Le Golf National, France): Thomas Bjorn’s side roared back, winning convincingly on French soil.
- 2021 (Whistling Straits, USA): A record-breaking American victory, with Padraig Harrington’s team overwhelmed 19-9.
- 2023 (Marco Simone, Italy): Europe regained the Cup, but the victory only underscored how different things look on European soil.
The lesson has been simple: on home ground, the Ryder Cup is rarely close.
Team USA: Rankings Tell the Story
Looking at the world rankings, the numbers are stark. Team USA boasts eight of the world’s top eleven players. Every member of their twelve-man squad sits above Shane Lowry, currently ranked 24th.
For Europe, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm remain the talismans, but Rahm’s drop in the rankings — now outside the top 70, influenced heavily by LIV Golf factors — leaves McIlroy shouldering much of the burden. Other key names like Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick hover just inside the top 30.
The American edge is not only numerical but also cultural: PGA Tour players thrive on PGA Tour courses. Bethpage Black is no exception. Known for its brutal length, unforgiving rough, and raucous New York galleries, the course feels tailor-made for an American squad built on power and depth.
Beyond the Numbers: Momentum and Mindset
Form and momentum also weigh heavily. U.S. players like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa arrive in prime shape, posting strong finishes throughout the season. For Europe, consistency has been more elusive, with too much riding on McIlroy’s shoulders and the question marks surrounding Rahm.
Psychology may be the real battleground. Europe thrives on camaraderie and the underdog spirit — the magic formula that carried them to glory at Medinah in 2012 and in Rome in 2023. But replicating that unity on hostile ground has been Europe’s Achilles’ heel. They have not won on U.S. soil since 2012, and the weight of history looms large.
What Could Tip the Balance?
- Course setup: If Bethpage plays as brutally as expected, it favors American bombers. But if the rough thickens and fairways narrow, Europe’s precision players could find a way in.
- Pairings and captaincy: Luke Donald must maximize every ounce of European chemistry, leaning into pairings that create spark rather than just logic.
- The crowd factor: The New York galleries will be loud, partisan, and unrelenting. For Europe, silencing the crowd early could be as valuable as any birdie.
Europe’s Continuity — and Its Challenge
This year’s European team brings continuity, with captain Luke Donald retaining his role after leading Europe to glory in 2023. Veterans like McIlroy, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood provide experience, while younger stars such as Rasmus Højgaard represent the future.
But history is not kind. Europe has not won in America since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012, when Jose Maria Olazabal’s team turned a 10–6 deficit into a 14.5–13.5 triumph. Only McIlroy and Rose remain from that side, but Olazabal himself returns as a vice-captain, perhaps to channel the memory of Seve Ballesteros and that extraordinary comeback.
The Heat of Rivalry
The Ryder Cup is not just about golf; it’s about passion, confrontation, and national pride. Past American editions have carried their share of controversy:
- 1991, Kiawah Island (“The War on the Shore”): A fiery atmosphere defined by patriotism, gamesmanship, and disputes between Seve Ballesteros and Paul Azinger.
- 1999, Brookline (“The Battle of Brookline”): Infamous for premature celebrations and hostility, with Colin Montgomerie enduring hours of abuse before Payne Stewart’s iconic gesture of sportsmanship softened the blow.
- 2016, Hazeltine: Rory McIlroy’s duel with Patrick Reed electrified the event but highlighted how volatile the crowd can be.
- 2023, Marco Simone: Rory’s post-round confrontation with caddie Joe LaCava provided another reminder of how emotions run hot.
The Ryder Cup is part sport, part theatre — and sometimes, part battlefield.
McIlroy’s Moment
Rory McIlroy enters Bethpage not only as Europe’s leader but as golf’s man of the moment. Having completed the career Grand Slam with victory at the Masters and winning the Irish Open, he has set his sights on what he calls the toughest prize of all: a Ryder Cup victory on foreign soil.
For McIlroy, this Ryder Cup is more than a contest; it is a personal challenge to cement his place alongside Europe’s greatest leaders.
Can Europe Rewrite the Script?
On paper, Team USA has the firepower, the rankings, and the home advantage. But Ryder Cup history has shown that passion and belief can bend statistics. Europe’s continuity, experience, and echoes of Medinah may yet provide the spark.
Bethpage Black will not be kind to visitors — but if Europe is to break its Stateside curse, this weekend in New York could be the moment to do it.