Monday, September 29th, 2025 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition
Europe wins Ryder Cup on U.S. soil for first time since 2012
– by Adam Schupak / Golfweek
Per Adam: “There were only 37 living competitors of European Ryder Cup teams past and present who had ever won on U.S. soil, including current players Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, who had been part of the victorious side in 2012, the last time Europe tasted victory on this side of the pond. Well, make it 47 after Europe withstood a furious rally by the Americans in the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black to win 15-13…”
B&B POV: No one will ever say that the 2025 Ryder Cup wasn’t epic.
The Euros emasculated the Americans Friday and Saturday in epic, record-breaking fashion. Then, the Americans on Sunday nearly pulled off the greatest comeback in the history of the event, eventually losing a close one.
Finally, the American fans acted like the biggest jackals in the history of sport, embarrassing every respectable golf fan who attended the event in person or watched on TV—an epic failure in maintaining public decorum. In the end, the event had more highs and lows than any other sporting event this author has ever witnessed. Congrats to Rory, Rahm, Tommy, and the rest of the boys from across the pond.
Ryder Cup grades: Report card for players, captains, fans, venue
– by Josh Sens / GOLF
Per Josh: “Ryder Cups are won and lost as a team. But teams are composed of individuals. How did those individuals perform this week? In keeping with GOLF.com tradition, it’s time to issue a report card for all 24 competitors at Bethpage Black. And because captains, fans and the venue also played a part in the competition, we’re assigning grades for them, too…”
B&B POV: It’s hard to argue against the Ryder Cup grades dolled out by Golf.com. With that, our only counter would be the B- given to Bethpage. We’d have given the venue a straight-up F. We are lumping into Bethpage’s grade the event company that managed security, parking, and the idiot cheerleaders who riled up the fans on Saturday and Sunday with the “Fuc* Rory McIlroy” chants.
Here’s a concept for four years from now, when the Ryder Cup returns to the US in ‘29: Focus on rooting for your own team versus cussing out the Europeans, who countered the nonsense with brilliant focus and play.
What’s in the Bag (WITB) Presented by Worldwide Golf – Ryder Cup 2025: The Battle of the Flatsticks
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
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Per Thomas: Forget booming drives and laser-like irons—this 2025 Ryder Cup came down to which squad putted better. On Friday and Saturday, the competition wasn’t even close. The Euros whooped on the Americans, seemingly making every legacy-defining, momentum-changing putt. Leading the way was Justin Rose, who putted magically with his trusty Scotty Cameron. His flat stick performance was as good as any golfer’s over two days in the history of the competition. Hell, it might have been the best in the history of the game, let alone the PTSD-inducing caldron that is the Ryder Cup.
Ryder Cup 2025: Rory McIlroy endured hell at Bethpage—and came out the other side a deserving winner
– by Joel Beall / Golf Digest
Per Joel: Rory McIlroy slipped away from the back of the 18th green at Bethpage Black on Sunday, a man who needed a moment to himself. He’s an emotional lad, McIlroy. It was just yesterday that he buried his face in Shane Lowry’s shoulder steps away from here, a cathartic release of anger and hurt and relief that comes from surviving the abuse 50,000 tried to inflict.
B&B POV: The vitriol hurled at Rory McIlroy and his family at the Ryder Cup was unconscionable—equal parts bizarre and frightening. It wasn’t just heckling; it was hostility that felt bigger than golf, a reflection of the toxic “us vs. them” energy that has been bubbling across the U.S. for far too long.
Golf should be a refuge—a place where competition is fierce but joyful, where the game connects people instead of dividing them. The Ryder Cup is supposed to be a celebration of passion and rivalry, not a stage for venom. Sadly, Bethpage wasn’t that sanctuary last week. Not even close.
Ryder Cup 2025: U.S. team broke itself with the Keegan Bradley debacle, but the fix is easier than it seems
– by Shane Ryan / Golf Digest
Per Shane: “Following Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black, there are people who will point to the strong European play on Friday and Saturday as an explanation for how the U.S. was humbled on its own soil, ending the decade-long era of the home blowout. American captain Keegan Bradley is one of them…”
B&B POV: The PGA of America, especially the brain trust that oversees the U.S. Ryder Cup squad efforts, needs to select the right captain to prepare and support our boys so they are competitive in the ‘27 competition at Adare Manor in Ireland. Can we pull off an upset in two years? Possibly. At the very least, will we be more competitive during the team sessions? We have to be. Getting more or less blown out two Cups in a row is unacceptable. Our pick for the next captain: Tiger Woods — and get him to commit to captaining the ’27 and ’29 teams.
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