Why Fast Start Sets Europe Up for Ryder Cup Success
In the high-stakes world of the Ryder Cup, a strong opening can dictate the entire narrative—and Team Europe delivered just that at Bethpage Black. Their commanding 5½-2½ lead after Friday’s sessions underscores why a fast start is so crucial. By silencing the raucous New York crowd early and stacking up points in both foursomes and fourballs, Europe has positioned itself for a potential repeat of their 2023 triumph in Rome. History is on their side, with stats showing that frontrunners rarely relinquish their grip. As the competition heads into Saturday, this fast start isn’t just a boost; it’s a blueprint for success on American soil, where Europe hasn’t won since 2012.
The Power of a Fast Start in Ryder Cup History
Team Europe entered the 2023 Ryder Cup at Bethpage with one clear mantra: get off to a blistering pace. Captain Luke Donald emphasized this from the outset, knowing the psychological edge a fast start provides against a boisterous home crowd. And they didn’t disappoint. Sweeping the morning foursomes 3-1 and claiming 2½ points in the afternoon fourballs, Europe built a lead that echoes patterns from past victories.
Delving into the archives reveals why this momentum matters. The team leading after the second session has won each of the last five Ryder Cups. Stretch that further: in the past six instances where Europe held the advantage after the opening two sessions, they’ve lifted the trophy every time. Even more telling, the victors of the last five contests all dominated the opening foursomes. These aren’t flukes; they’re trends that highlight how an early fast start can snowball into Sunday glory.
Europe’s current perch is particularly promising. This marks the sixth time they’ve led after the first session, following triumphs or strong showings in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2023—winning four out of those five. Since 1991, teams securing at least three points in the opener boast a stellar 7-1 record in the overall event. And in the last 10 Ryder Cups, seven teams that led after day one went on to claim the cup. With 11 of the past 14 winners excelling in foursomes play, Europe’s dominance in that format on Friday positions them as heavy favorites. In essence, this lead makes the Ryder Cup Europe’s to lose—though, as a cautionary tale, they once blew a 6-2 advantage at Brookline in 1999, falling short by a single point.
Captains’ Strategies: Sticking to the Fast Start Formula
Luke Donald’s approach has been masterful, blending continuity with calculated risks. Fresh off defending their title from Rome, he stuck to his winning foursomes pairings for Saturday, a move that underscores confidence in his fast start blueprint. To win this morning was huge, Donald beamed, labeling the day incredible. His wildcard pick, Jon Rahm, repaid the faith tenfold, hauling in two points across both sessions and proving indispensable in Europe’s surge.
On the flip side, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley remains defiant, adhering to his plan despite the early setbacks. He retained three pairings, swapping only Justin Thomas for Cameron Young alongside Bryson DeChambeau after Young’s promising Friday performance. Notably, Bradley doubles down on Harris English and Collin Morikawa, who suffered a 5&4 drubbing to Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood in the morning. When pressed on analytics ranking that duo dead last among 132 possible U.S. combinations, Bradley shrugged it off: We’re not going to panic. We have a plan, we’re really comfortable with our plan. We’re really comfortable with those two players and we’re sticking to our plan.
This resolve is admirable, but the numbers favor Europe’s fast start momentum. As Bradley noted, only 28% of points are in the books—akin to the first quarter of a grueling match. Yet with three-quarters left, the U.S. faces an uphill battle to claw back, especially with stars like world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau winless on day one.
Taming the Bethpage Crowd: How Europe’s Fast Start Quieted the Roar
Much ink was spilled pre-event about the hostile reception awaiting Europe in New York. Collin Morikawa hoped for absolute chaos after a tame Thursday, but Europe’s fast start turned the tide. The morning session unfolded on a balmy day, with European blues dominating the scoreboard. Three straight wins came in just 11 minutes, all by wide margins, stifling the home crowd’s energy.
Afternoon fourballs brought more drama, with the final two matches stretching to the 18th. American fans tried to rally, willing their players across the line, but Europe snagged 1½ points from those clashes. Rory McIlroy summed it up: It’s been a great day for Europe, even after missing a key putt in the closer. Bradley spun the half-point salvage positively: That was big. We’ve still got three quarters to go. I’ve got a lot of faith in my boys.
By sunset, thousands of U.S. supporters who queued before dawn for prime grandstand seats trudged away disappointed. Frustration peaked during Scheffler’s pairing with JJ Spaun, as fans heckled: Come on Scottie, show up! and You’re the world number one, show us what you can do! Scheffler, fresh off two 2025 majors, and DeChambeau, the U.S. talisman, couldn’t deliver, while Rahm’s heroics lit up Europe’s path.
Bethpage’s first tee, while imposing, lacks the cauldron-like intensity of Rome’s Marco Simone, where towering stands overwhelmed the Americans—they didn’t win the opener in the first 12 matches. Here, the sweeping grandstand behind the tee feels more expansive, with cheers drifting down the fairway rather than enveloping players. Disco beats initially overshadowed fan chants as pairings emerged from the 100-yard tunnel, draped in flags. Bradley led with DeChambeau and Thomas as cheerleaders, and DeChambeau’s monster drive set a birdie tone. Yet Europe thrived, winning subsequent opening holes to fuel their fast start.
This resilience silenced the skeptics. Unlike Rome’s pressure cooker, Bethpage’s atmosphere allowed Europe to focus, turning potential distraction into dominance. It’s the strongest position they’ve held on U.S. soil in a generation, reigniting hopes of ending a 12-year away-win drought.
Looking Ahead: Europe’s Fast Start as the Path to Victory
As Saturday dawns, Europe’s fast start has transformed the Ryder Cup from a dogfight into a defense of destiny. With proven pairings and stars like McIlroy, Fleetwood, and Rahm firing on all cylinders, the visitors carry the weight of history. The U.S. will push back fiercely, but stats and sentiment point to Europe maintaining control.
In a tournament defined by momentum, this opening salvo has Europe primed for success. A fast start doesn’t guarantee the cup, but it tilts the scales dramatically—and at Bethpage, they’ve tipped them hard in their favor.
