Ryder Cup: Why it's critical to win the first day

Duncan Perkinson • September 23rd, 2025 5:05 pm

Photo: AP

The biannual Ryder Cup starts Friday night (11.10pm NZ time) and the opening day will be critical, with it historically a tell-tale factor as to who will be crowned champions come Monday morning.

This year the tournament is being hosted at Bethpage Black Golf Club in New York state.

Europe is the defending champion having lifted the trophy at Marco Simeone Golf Club, near Rome two years ago.

The host team has won the past five Ryder Cups. The last time a visiting team won was in Illinois in 2012 when Europe came from four points behind on the final day to win 14 & ½ to 13 & ½. That famous Ryder Cup is better known as “The Miracle at Medinah”.

That stinging loss is vividly remembered and will serve as inspiration for this year’s American captain, Keegan Bradley as he was part of that losing American team in 2012.

Bradley famously promised that he would never open his suitcase from that tournament, until he is part of a Ryder Cup winning team and this is his first chance since being a player on losing American teams in both 2012 and 2014.

While the quality of the American team is high, the players are relatively inexperienced compared to the European team. Bradley has chosen four rookies on Team USA: JJ Spaun, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young and Russell Henley.

Young is the only New Yorker in the American team. He’s a long-hitter and now that he has got the monkey off the back by finally breaking through to win a PGA Tour tournament in August’s Wyndham Championship, he could be the rookie to follow.

Europe captain Luke Donald has kept a virtually unchanged team from the 2023 side he steered to victory. The only change Donald has made is Rasmus Højgaard, who replaces his twin-brother Nicolai.

All twelve of the USA players are ranked within the World’s Top 25. Their average world ranking going into the tournament is 11, while the European’s team combined average world ranking is 25.

While this latter figure is inflated by Jon Rahm (No. 73) and Tyrrell Hatton (No. 25) playing on the LIV tour, the quality across the board of the American team cannot be doubted.

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The format of the Ryder Cup is pairs golf over the first two days. followed by all twelve players in singles action on Monday (NZ time).

Saturday and Sunday (NZT) sees the captains choosing eight players in the morning for foursomes (alternate shot) and fourballs (better-ball) in the afternoon.

There are eight points available on each of the two days. Come Monday there are twelve points available in the singles matches, when every player will tee it up.

The importance of the first day cannot be overstated. Over the past five Ryder Cups since 2014, the team that has “won” on Friday has gone on to lift the trophy.

Pairings from the team captains are important and a tone for the entire tournament is quickly set.

In Rome, Team Europe finished the first day with a 5-point lead and that never wavered from that point on.

The boisterous crowd at New York will play a major part and with President Donald Trump expected to attend, this could easily create even more of a patriotic fervour than in previous years.

Golf fans at tournaments right across the States this year have been vocal every time Keegan Bradley has been in contention and chants of “USA, USA” have followed him throughout the season.

One of the key questions of the week will be whether the European team, with their undoubted experience, will be able to handle the lion’s den?

While Ryder Cups have not been close in the four previous editions, the average margin for the final score being 6 and ½ points, the experience and consistency of the European team players and captains should counter this.

The bookies have set the USA as favourites paying $1.67 versus Europe at $2.50, but looking more closely at the markets, there are some interesting betting opportunities, outside of the head-to-head betting.

Suggested Ryder Cup Bets at TAB

USA to win by 1-3 points at $4.50 & USA to win by 4-6 points at $5.50
$4/$6 split = $10 total bet pays $18 or $33.

USA to win the first day by 5-3 at $6.50 & USA to win the first day by 5 & ½ - 2 & ½ at $10.00
$6/$4 split = $10 total bet pays $39 or $40.

Cameron Young top rookie at $3.75
$10 total bet cost pays $37.50

All TAB odds are current at the time of publishing - R18, please gamble responsibly.

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