The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black has turned ugly for Team USA, as Europe surged to a commanding advantage on Day 2, deepening the host nation’s crisis.
A day that began with high expectations instead morphed into a nightmare: Europe claimed three of four morning foursomes and followed it up with another dominant performance in the afternoon four-ball session. The scoreboard now reads 11.5 to 4.5 in favor of Europe, leaving the Americans just 2.5 points from the brink of defeat.
Troubles for the U.S. extended beyond the scorecards. The atmosphere at Bethpage Black turned volatile, with fans heckling European players and security forced into a heightened presence. On multiple occasions, outbursts from the crowd disrupted play, and the tension spilled over into confrontations—most notably when Irish golfer Shane Lowry attempted to confront a spectator, only to be restrained by his caddie.
Adding to the drama, Rory McIlroy lost his composure during a round and yelled at American hecklers after being disrupted before a shot. His outburst drew international attention and prompted a public apology from broadcaster Sky Sports. Still, McIlroy responded on the course with clinical precision, helping his team build momentum at a time when the U.S. badly needed answers.
The American side, led by captain Keegan Bradley, also made history off the course: this is the first time in Ryder Cup history that U.S. players will be paid for their participation, taking home $500,000 each—$200,000 for personal use and the balance to charity and educational initiatives. While intended to modernize the competition, the decision has met mixed reactions, with critics arguing it undermines the spirit of the event.
Today’s result puts Team USA in a precarious position. Europe needs only a few strong wins in Sunday’s singles to clinch the Cup and hand the host nation a rare home defeat. For the Americans, what began as another bid to defend home turf has spiraled into one of their toughest challenges under pressure.
