Europe Dominates Ryder Cup, Building Record Lead at Bethpage Black
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Europe seized a commanding lead at the Ryder Cup on Saturday, delivering a stunning display of golf that left the American team reeling and a boisterous New York crowd silenced. the European squad established a new record for the largest lead after four sessions, finishing the day with a score of 11.5 to the USA’s 4.5. The impressive performance came amidst reports of heightened security measures due to increasingly unfriendly fan behavior.
“I didn’t imagine this,” a visibly impressed European captain Luke Donald stated.”Every time the Americans came at us, we came back. The resiliency and confidence they have is really, truly amazing.”
The day was marked by extraordinary play from the Europeans, who seemed to thrive under pressure – and even because of the intense atmosphere. Rory McIlroy, a target of particularly vocal abuse from the gallery, famously responded to hecklers with a defiant “shut the f— up!” before sinking a crucial birdie putt to secure a point for his team.
The pattern held throughout the day: the louder the crowd, the more clinical Europe’s performance became. With only 12 singles matches remaining on Sunday, Europe needs just three wins to clinch the Ryder Cup, a feat looking increasingly likely. No team in Ryder Cup history has overcome a deficit of more than four points on the final day.
The American team struggled to find its footing. World number one Scottie Scheffler endured a particularly tough tournament, becoming the first player to go 0-4 under the current Ryder Cup format. A telling moment came on the 10th hole, where a near-miss from Scheffler resulted in his shot landing deep in the rough, epitomizing the Americans’ frustrating day.
“I’m seeing what looks like to be ancient putting. They’re making everything,” conceded U.S.captain Keegan Bradley. “They’re a great team. They’re great players. They’re a tough team to beat.”
While J.J. Spaun and Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Young managed to secure points for the U.S., they were isolated victories in a sea of blue. A
