Reveal Friday Morning Foursome Pairings for Ryder Cup 2025

The highly anticipated 2025 Ryder Cup kicks off Friday morning at Bethpage Black in New York, with both Team USA and Team Europe revealing their Friday foursomes pairings in what promises to be a fiercely competitive start. Captains Keegan Bradley (USA) and Luke Donald (Europe) have set their strategies, and the opening matches are loaded with star power and strategic nuance. The first session’s pairings reflect both continuity and bold new combinations. For Team Europe, Donald has opted to reunite Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, whose partnership was pivotal in Europe’s victory two years ago in Rome. This duo went 2-0 in foursomes in 2023 and will again anchor Europe’s lineup. Equally formidable is the pairing of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who have yet to lose together in this format. Donald’s decision to split up Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg and Norway’s Viktor Hovland—previously an undefeated pair—signals a tactical shift, as Åberg partners with Matt Fitzpatrick and Hovland teams up with Robert MacIntyre. For Team USA, the headline is the explosive opening duo of Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas. Bradley believes DeChambeau’s “X-Factor ability” and Thomas’s Ryder Cup experience (7-4-2 record) can set an immediate tone, especially with the home crowd behind them. The second American pairing, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, is designed to maintain early momentum; Henley makes his Ryder Cup debut alongside the steady Scheffler, who is seeking to erase memories of a heavy defeat in Rome. Here are the Friday morning foursomes matchups (all times ET): – 7:10 a.m.: DeChambeau/Thomas (USA) vs. Rahm/Hatton (EUR)
– 7:26 a.m.: Scheffler/Henley (USA) vs. Åberg/Fitzpatrick (EUR)
– 7:42 a.m.: Morikawa/English (USA) vs. McIlroy/Fleetwood (EUR)
– 7:58 a.m.: Schauffele/Cantlay (USA) vs. MacIntyre/Hovland (EUR) Both captains have emphasized the importance of a strong start; history shows that the team leading after Friday has gone on to win the last five Ryder Cups. The Americans, who have won the past two home events, are hoping to maintain that trend, while Europe is seeking its first away win since 2012 at Medinah. There are notable absences in the opening session: experienced European Justin Rose (7-2-1 in foursomes) and U.S. rookies Cameron Young and J.J. Spaun will sit out. Donald highlighted the depth and flexibility of his squad, stating, “Players evolve, their profiles change, and you’re looking at personality matchups. We have so many options that it’s really quite fun for me as a captain.” Weather could also play a role, with scattered showers in the forecast, but the course is expected to remain playable. Preparation has been meticulous—Team Europe completed 54 holes in practice, while Team USA tailored their approach for maximum readiness. From a betting perspective, the opening matches are tightly handicapped. According to DraftKings, Rahm/Hatton are slight favorites over DeChambeau/Thomas (-120 vs. -105), while McIlroy/Fleetwood are heavily favored against Morikawa/English (-180 vs. +140). The closest match on paper is Hovland/MacIntyre vs. Schauffele/Cantlay, with odds nearly even. As the action begins, all eyes will be on the chemistry of these pairings and whether recent history’s trend of dominant home performances can be broken. For live coverage, updates, and in-depth analysis, follow The Athletic’s Ryder Cup live blog and the official Ryder Cup news portal.