28/09/2025

theSun on Sunday SEPT 28, 2025

SPORTS 12

No USA Ryder Cup panic

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YOUNG SHINES IN DEBUT

the world, you have a day that maybe it wasn’t his best, normally you bounce back,” Bradley said. “We’re not worried about Scottie Scheffler. He has been in great spirits in the team room. He’s eager to get back out there tomorrow.” DeChambeau said the “experience was great” but his results left him “pretty disappointed.” DeChambeau’s goals are simply make more putts and improve his iron play. “I felt like I was clutch when I needed to be,” he said. “But there were so many putts that just didn’t go in for us that went in for them.” –AFP

punches and we’ve got to do the same tomorrow.” Bradley told his golfers after a disappointing day to remember the event is only 25% complete. “The message to the team is things just got started. We still have a long way to go,” Bradley said. “We can just turn this thing around in one quick session. You go out and you try to win one session, then you try to win the next one. You don’t need to get all four points in one session.” Bradley has no worries about Scheffler despite a day of struggles. “When you’re the number one player in

UNITED STATES captain Keegan Bradley said his team will not panic after falling three points behind Europe on day one of the Ryder Cup. “We’ve got a long way to go and our boys are still in great spirits and excited to get back out there,” Bradley said. “We feel really confident about this lineup. “We’re sticking to our plan. We’re not going to panic and make those sort of mistakes. We’ve got to just go out there tomorrow and make a few more putts and it’ll be a whole different story.” American Sam Burns said: “We’ve got to come out and fight hard. They’re all great players and they’re going out throwing

Ryder Cup rookie Cameron Young got to play the hero in his home state of New York yesterday, as he helped the US team to a point in an otherwise dismal opening effort for the Americans at Bethpage Black. Young left the course with something to smile about after combining for seven birdies in 13 holes with Justin Thomas in a 6&5 fourballs win over Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard. “I’ve been looking forward to this so much over the past few weeks. “Obviously much longer than that, ever since I got the call to be on the team,” said Young. “It’s a lot of emotions. It’s excitement. “It’s some nerves. “But I had a great partner to kind of walk me through the day, and thankfully we’ve played some good golf.” Young was the first American to win his debut Ryder Cup match by six or more holes since Phil Mickelson in 1995, putting the 2022 Open Championship runner-up in rare air. “It’s pretty special. I love this place, and this is a team we worked really hard to make. We’re just super grateful,” he said. “To have the opportunity to play today alongside him in front of these fans is pretty special.” Ryder Cup star Xander Schauffele’s father, Stefan, has decided to boycott the tournament this weekend due to his distaste for Rory McIlroy’s behaviour during the last event. Stefan, aged 60, expressed his dissatisfaction in July that the Ryder Cup has become increasingly toxic, leading to his decision not to attend in September to support his son. The German-born maverick, who has been Xander’s coach for much of his career, told The Times: “Do I miss the PGA Tour? No. I’m not going to the Ryder Cup either.” “I’m afraid of what’s going to happen in New York. “I was there (at Whistling Straits) when they called Shane Lowry’s wife a w**** in front of him. I couldn’t believe my ears. “Then I saw what happened in Rome. “That was utterly disgusting claiming this money bull***t and Rory (McIlroy) behaved disgustingly in my opinion when he confronted Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava]. “It’s only going to get worse. It’s ruined my appetite for the Ryder Cup. It becomes unwatchable.” SCHAUFFELE’S FATHER BOYCOTTS TOURNAMENT

Europe grab control Ryder Cup opening day spoils Trump’s visit, McIlroy misses putt

EUROPE spoiled the party and took a big step toward retaining the Ryder Cup on foreign soil by grabbing a 5½ to 2½ lead over the US yesterday at Bethpage Black where President Donald Trump paid a visit to support the home team. The party atmosphere that many American fans showed up early for was short-lived as Europe took the morning foursomes session 3-1 before taking the afternoon fourballs 2½ to 1½ to leave plenty of blue on the Bethpage Black scoreboard. “We’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time now. So to have got off to a good start feels great,” Englishman Tommy Fleetwood said after going 2-0 on the first day. The Europeans, who are seeking their first away win in the biennial event since 2012 and require 14 total points to retain the trophy, have won each of the last six Ryder Cups in which they led after Day 1, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Not even the arrival of Trump, who was on hand to watch the afternoon matches get underway and even emerged from his secure area to fist bump American golfer Bryson DeChambeau at the first tee, was enough to spark the home side. Even Scottie Scheffler was far from his dominant self as the American joined Tiger Woods and Ian Woosnam as the only players ranked No. 1 in the world to lose twice on the first day of a Ryder Cup, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Justin Thomas, the

alone, it’s a team. I’ve been really fortu nate to have really good teammates,” Rahm said. Scheffler sank a 22-foot birdie at the par-four 15th to threaten a late come back but Rahm, who was lights out with his putter, responded seconds later with a 20-footer to maintain their cushion before they secured the point on the next hole. “We gave ourselves plenty of opportu nities,” said Scheffler. “It really just came down to me not holing enough putts.” Fleetwood, who was playing alongside fellow Englishman Justin Rose, birdied the 14th to build a 1UP lead and then added another from 18 feet two holes later en route to a 1UP win over DeChambeau and Ben Griffin. The day’s final match, which pitted Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Ireland’s Shane Lowry against Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns, came down to the last hole after the Europeans let a 2UP lead slip over a two-hole stretch on the back nine. McIlroy had an 11-foot putt at the last to secure a full point for Europe but could not get his putt to drop and they settled for a tie. “It’s been a great day for Europe,” said McIlroy. “We have come out of the gates really strong like we wanted to. Yeah, we should be really proud of ourselves.” History is not in the host’s favour, especially considering that under the current 28-point format, the only team to overcome a 5½ to 2½ deficit or worse to win a Ryder Cup was the 1999 American squad captained by Ben Crenshaw. “We’ve only played 28% of the points. This is first quar ter. We’ve still got three quar ters to go,” said US captain Keegan Bradley. “I’ve got a lot of faith in my boys.” – Reuters shots were jeered, but Europe’s shotmaking success kept American supporters somewhat chastened. Donald said he was unaware of an obscene gesture McIlroy appeared to make leaving the 11th green that was posted on social media. The captain was aware his team won the first three matches for the first time on US

6&5 fourballs win over Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard. Jon Rahm, who teamed with Tyrell Hatton to beat DeChambeau and Thomas 4&3 in foursomes, led off the fourball matches with Sepp Straka and did most of the heavy lifting in a 3&2

win over Scheffler and Ryder Cup rookie JJ Spaun. “We can’t do this

heartbeat of the American side, did his part as he and Ryder Cup rookie Cameron Young, playing in his home state and on

Tommy Fleetwood. – AFPPIC

a course where he won the New York State Open as an amateur in 2017, com bined for seven birdies in 13 holes in a

Donald excited team handled raucous crowd well

soil, but cautioned against too much celebrating. “To create a little bit of history with the three matches and how they were won was great. “History is nice to accomplish,” Donald said. “It doesn’t mean anything unless we get 14.5 points on Sunday. – Reuters

“You just look at some of the putts these guys holed when it mattered, it’s pretty gratifying for a captain. “It gets loud, and the guys handled it with absolute class and poise. To be prepared for an away Ryder Cup you have to deal with that. I thought they dealt with it amazing.” Europe’s missed putts and errant tee

AS MUCH as Europe captain Luke Donald enjoyed the domination his players showed against the United States on first day of the Ryder Cup, he was just as pleased with how they handled the hecklers. The visitors handled the pressure of a New York crowd with mental toughness that showed the benefits of preparation. “A lot of mental resilience,” said Donald.