Ryder Cup Friday Four‑Ball Pairings Reveal Europe’s 3‑1 Lead

Friday's Four‑Ball Line‑Up

Team Europe captain Luke Donald and U.S. captain Keegan Bradley revealed the pairings for the Friday afternoon four‑ball session at Bethpage Black. The line‑up follows a dominant morning where Europe took three of the four foursomes points, giving them a 3‑1 edge. Here’s how the matches are set:

• Match 1 (12:25 p.m. ET): Jon Rahm & Sepp Straka (Europe) vs. Scottie Scheffler & J.J. Spaun (USA). Rahm, fresh from a solid morning round, partners with the steady Austrian Straka to take on world‑number‑one Scheffler.
• Match 2 (12:41 p.m. ET): Tommy Fleetwood & Justin Rose (Europe) vs. Ben Griffin & Bryson DeChambeau (USA). Fleetwood, who found rhythm with Rory McIlroy earlier, now links up with veteran Rose.
• Match 3 (12:57 p.m. ET): Ludvig Åberg & Rasmus Højgaard (Europe) vs. Cameron Young & Justin Thomas (USA). Åberg, who helped Europe dominate the morning, teams with Danish youngster Højgaard.
• Match 4 (1:13 p.m. ET): Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry (Europe) vs. Sam Burns & Patrick Cantlay (USA). McIlroy returns to the front‑line alongside fellow Irishman Lowry.

All four matches will be played on the same hole set, meaning each pair will try to post the best score on every tee. The afternoon will test how well the European pairings can keep the momentum, while Bradley hopes his men can find a rhythm after a rocky start.

What the Morning Results Mean

The morning foursomes handed Europe a comfortable 3‑1 lead – the first time the continent has held a Friday lead on U.S. soil since 2004. Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton beat Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas by 4&3, while Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick posted a 5&3 win over Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood delivered a 5&4 victory against Collin Morikawa and Harris English. The U.S.’ only point came from Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who edged Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland 2UP.

Those results tell a clear story: Europe’s top players performed strongly under pressure, and they built chemistry quickly. For the United States, the numbers are less encouraging. Scheffler, who entered the week as the heavy favorite, struggled to find a groove, and DeChambeau’s power game didn’t translate to the tight fairways of Bethpage. Bradley now faces a choice – keep his current pairings and hope they click, or reshuffle to spark a comeback.

Historically, the Ryder Cup often swings on the afternoon four‑ball sessions. A strong European showing could push the lead to 5‑1 or 6‑0, forcing the U.S. to play catch‑up on the final day. Conversely, an American surge in these matches could narrow the gap and keep the contest alive.

Fans watching from home are treated to a classic showdown: experience versus raw talent, strategic pairings versus individual brilliance. As the afternoon unfolds, every birdie and bogey will be scrutinized, and the pressure will mount on both captains. Whatever the outcome, the 2025 Ryder Cup is shaping up to be a memorable chapter in the tournament’s storied rivalry.