Scheffler’s Shocking Ryder Cup Woods Nightmare
The golf world has long marveled at Scottie Scheffler’s unparalleled dominance, but the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black has thrust a different narrative into the spotlight: a struggling Scheffler whose team-play woes are drawing eerie parallels to Tiger Woods’ infamous Ryder Cup struggles. As the reigning world number one, Scheffler has built a legacy of individual brilliance—claiming multiple majors, stacking PGA Tour victories, and leaving competitors scrambling in his wake. Yet, in the high-pressure cauldron of team competition, this struggling Scheffler has faltered spectacularly, sparking intense discussions about whether the game’s elite solo artists can truly thrive in the Ryder Cup’s collaborative frenzy. Just like Woods, whose solo genius often clashed with the demands of partnership, Scheffler’s early setbacks at Bethpage are raising questions: Can he break free from this pattern, or will the struggling Scheffler continue to mirror the lone wolf’s enduring legacy?
Why a Struggling Scheffler Echoes Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup Struggles
Bethpage Black, with its notoriously tough layout and electric atmosphere, has turned subtle comparisons into outright symphonies of scrutiny. Scheffler’s opening day was nothing short of catastrophic: a resounding defeat in Friday’s foursomes session, followed by another loss in the afternoon fourballs. Across his Ryder Cup career, he’s now 0-3 in alternate-shot formats, managing to win just three out of 41 holes in this demanding style. Becoming only the third top-ranked player to drop both sessions on day one is a jarring departure for a golfer whose name is synonymous with unrelenting success.
Golf analyst Alex Miceli captured the bewilderment perfectly during his commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live: His foursome play is just atrocious, and there’s really no explanation because you see the guy winning tournament after tournament. At 29 years old, this four-time major champion boasts undeniable solo prowess, but the team setting reveals vulnerabilities that echo Woods’ own paradoxical journey. Tiger, the 15-time major winner who revolutionized the sport in the late 1990s and beyond, similarly dazzled in isolation but floundered in partnerships, winning just 39% of his Ryder Cup matches overall.
Scheffler’s rocky Ryder Cup road began at his 2021 debut in Whistling Straits, where he sat out foursomes but suffered losses in fourballs and singles alternatives. Fast-forward to 2023 in Rome, and the troubles intensified: paired with Sam Burns, they fell 4&3 to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. The very next day, alongside Brooks Koepka, they endured a brutal 9&7 drubbing from Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg, leaving a visibly emotional Scheffler fighting back tears on the course. Now, at Bethpage in 2025, the script repeats with a 4&3 loss next to Russell Henley against Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick. This stretches to five consecutive foursomes defeats for American world number ones, a streak that harks back to Woods’ dismal 2010 performance and Dustin Johnson’s 2018 heartbreaks.
Woods, golf’s timeless icon, dominated the individual stage like few others, but his team record remains a blemish on an otherwise flawless resume. He helped secure just one U.S. Ryder Cup victory and posted a subpar win rate, particularly in foursomes where he managed only four wins in 14 attempts, suffering nine losses. Experts point to Woods’ hyper-focused, self-reliant approach as the culprit—the same intensity that powered his solo conquests often collided with the shared decision-making required in team play. He fared much better in singles (4-2-0), where he controlled every aspect of his game.
Scheffler, the down-to-earth Texan with a reputation for humility, embodies a similar archetype. Despite his team-oriented persona—always gracious and collaborative—he excels when flying solo. In his two Ryder Cup singles appearances, he’s undefeated: a victory over Rahm in 2021 at Whistling Straits and a hard-fought half against the same opponent in 2023. Before the tournament, Scheffler brushed off the Woods comparisons, saying, I’d like to think that I’m not difficult to pair with people. I’ve had different partners over the years and had some success. I would definitely not put myself in that category of Woods-like struggles. Yet, the scoreboard tells a different story, portraying a struggling Scheffler who radiates brilliance alone but struggles to synchronize in duos.
The Pressure of Expectations on a Struggling Scheffler
It’s not just about personal style; deeper team dynamics are amplifying the challenges for this struggling Scheffler. Teammates often buckle under the weight of partnering with a superstar, and Scheffler’s quiet dominance—marked by laser-like drives and approach shots—sets an unattainably high standard. Since 1999, the entering world number one has won only 38% of their Ryder Cup matches, highlighting the event’s psychological pitfalls.
Miceli dissected this mental tug-of-war: They put a lot of pressure on themselves, and as much as Scheffler says he doesn’t think about it, I think that’s garbage—he thinks about all of it. Unlike Woods, who often shrugged off team complexities, Scheffler grapples with the subtle expectations of leadership. He thinks he needs to lead but doesn’t want to be seen leading, Miceli noted. It’s a huge conundrum. This internal conflict, masked by Scheffler’s easygoing demeanor, may explain why the struggling Scheffler falters when success hinges on collective effort rather than individual flair.
The blame doesn’t fall solely on Scheffler, either. In Friday’s foursomes, his partner Russell Henley—a debutant and world number four (excluding LIV Golf participants)—struggled to match the moment. Despite Scheffler’s superior ball-striking, the pair couldn’t pierce Europe’s airtight defense. As former European Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson observed on BBC Radio 5 Live: Scheffler and Henley certainly failed to fire, but the European performance was perfect. They made the Americans earn everything, and they really couldn’t come up with the goods.
A brief late surge offered a glimmer of optimism, but it proved too little, too late. Afterward, Scheffler remained stoic: We did some good things. We just didn’t hole enough putts early. We had some chances—I think the putts just didn’t fall. His putting, a consistent Achilles’ heel despite his elite ball game, plagued the fourballs session too. Teamed with J.J. Spaun, they lost 3&2 to Rahm and Sepp Straka; a flurry of late birdies fell short, with Scheffler again pointing to missed opportunities on the greens.
Europe’s advantage stems from a rich tradition of magnetic leaders, from Seve Ballesteros’ fiery passion to Rory McIlroy’s contemporary inspiration, creating a seamless team bond. The U.S., loaded with individual talents like Woods in his era or the current struggling Scheffler, often lacks that intangible cohesion, turning star power into a double-edged sword.
Redemption Awaits: Can the Struggling Scheffler Overcome His Foursomes Curse?
Undeterred, U.S. captain Keegan Bradley is doubling down on Scheffler and Henley for Saturday’s foursomes, banking on their established friendship to spark a turnaround. Scottie’s in great spirits, Bradley assured, despite the team trailing by three points. A strong showing from the struggling Scheffler could shatter the Woods parallels and fuel a dramatic U.S. resurgence.
This saga of a struggling Scheffler serves as a poignant reminder that even the sport’s apex predators face trials in team environments. Yet, given his track record of bouncing back from adversity, fans can anticipate a fierce response from the world number one. As the Ryder Cup intensifies at Bethpage Black, whether Scheffler surges forward or the echoes of past struggles persist, one thing is clear: his compelling narrative—woven with frustration, resilience, and raw talent—continues to enthrall golf enthusiasts worldwide.
Ultimately, the story of a struggling Scheffler isn’t one of outright failure; it’s an invitation to growth and adaptation. From the challenging fairways of Bethpage to the horizons of future Ryder Cups, his path promises more riveting developments, solidifying his place as one of golf’s most captivating figures.
