Nothing like having a Friday-evening quarterback, err, captain like me, to share five things that we learned post-golf on day one of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Items that coulda or shoulda or woulda made a difference. It’s unavoidable to wonder what might have been, when what appears obvious now, was so shrouded by the mists of autumn, 24 hours back.

Friday was a long day for this writer, so without going into detail, this edition of five things we learned will be pithy in comparison with the usual effort. Not worse, just pithy. Each point is a salient one, and worth your time and ponderance. With that endorsement, have a quick read of five things that we learned on Friday at the 2025 Bethpage Black Ryder Cup.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Scottie Scheffler of Team United States plays his shot on the sixth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)

1. Jon Rahm can win with anybody; can Scottie Scheffler win with somebody, please?

Jon Rahm led Europe on day one with two, lead-off victories. He partnered Tyrrell Hatton in the morning to a decisive 4 & 3 victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, then rode herd with Sepp Straka in the afternoon, to a 3 & 2 win in a tilt with the current Open and US Open champions. Rahm is poised to become Europe’s spiritual leader, in the same manner that previous Spaniards Jose Maria Olazabal and Severiano Ballesteros did. He is a workhorse, and should show in all five matches this year.

Scottie Scheffler, paired with Russell Henley in the morning and J.J. Spaun in the afternoon, won a total of three holes in two matches, while losing eleven holes. Future captains, take note: Scheffler may not be the guy to pair with Ryder Cup rookies. Not saying anything beyond the essential fact that Scottie is 0-2 this year, and 2.5-0.5 in 2021, and 1-3. in 2023. Team golf is hard, even for the world number one player. Of his 3 Ryder Cup points, half have come in singles (a win and a draw.) Scheffler will once againmatch with Henley in Saturday morning foursomes; perhaps they have solved the mystery of how to make more birdies.

If the press cannot find topics for stories, shame on them. RCBPB 2025 is high Broadway drama at its finest, minus the music and the dance.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Jon Rahm of Team Europe hits his shot on the 12th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)

2. Captain Keegan isn’t afraid to mix up his dance cards, but should mix them more

Bryson DeChambeau will partner Cameron Young in foursomes on Saturday morning. Here’s hoping that the third guy is the charm for the big guy. BDC is 0-2 thus far, and has failed to provide the spark that Team America needs. In contrast, Young co-authored the 6 & 5 mauling of Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hjogaard on Friday afternoon. He is probably a bit stung from sitting out on Friday morning, and probably itching to continue to prove his worth on a course that feels like home.

Saturday morning foursomes will see the return of Scheffler-Henley (yikes), English-Morikawa (uh-oh) and Schauffele-Cantlay (phew). It’s a risky play, to be sure, as two of the three duos were outmatched by their European counterparts in brace number one. Scheffenley and Englikawa will need to demonstrate improved performance and partnership, or the host side will find itself once more behind the the eight ball at the four-ball.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States hits out of the bunker on the seventh hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)

3. Winning holes with birdies

That’s precisely what Team Europe does. It might sound simplistic, but the visitors won 16 holes over four matches in foursomes on Friday morning, with birdies. In the afternoon, they claimed another 11 holes with birdies. Only the Young-Thomas slaughterhouse produced zero birdies for the blue. It doesn’t matter if the old world gets under par with accurate approach shots, chip-ins, or long putts; they get it done and the USA needs to find the secret sauce, or the Sunday singles won’t matter.

In Friday foursomes, the Red, White and Blue won a total of five holes in three matches. That’s abysmal. The fourth pairing, Schauffele and Cantlay, won six holes on their own, eclipsing the combined efforts of six of their teammates. Their recipe for success needs to be memorized and rehearsed by version 2.0 on Saturday morning.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe hits his shot on the 15th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America)

4. Compel yourself to peak

This might be the unmentioned difference between the two sides. The Europeans, at least on day one, have proven themselves able to will themselves to successful play. Team USA, in contrast, arrives with all the platitudes and sigils that tendy people use, but seems to have little backing, with a few exceptions. Team Europe is like a small, authentic town, steeped in history and camaraderie, while the Americans resemble a golden-age, Hollywood set: pretty paint jobs of facades with nothing behind the shell.

Europe understand that the Ryder Cup is not a singles competition, and that it is every bit a singles competition. Its shots do not stray, do not waver. Each strike is decisive, accurate, and effective. Mentally, Europe is at another level, and the host squadron must summon all of its accuity to equal or surpass on day two.

Another part of this is the been there before essence of Europe’s teams. 11 of 12 team members are in their second or more playing, with only Rasmus Hojgaard making his debut. Squadron USA has four rookies in Spaun, Henley, Young, Griffin, but its veterans aren’t playing like veterans. Moikawa and Thomas should be team leaders, but they honestly don’t look good enough to deserve their selections. If you can’t help, at least don’t hinder. So far, that’s what Scheffler, Morikawa, Thomas, and DeChambeau, multiple major winners all, have done.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Viktor Hovland of Team Europe hits his shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)

5. What is needed?

Foremost, a decisive victory by Young-DeChambeau in the first match with Fitzpatrick and Aberg. It’s achievable. Match two pits two European titans (MackyWood) against English and Morikawa. If ever an upset was needed, this is the match. Patty Ice and Xander will need to replicate their day-one foursomes victory, only this time, they will face two barrel chests in Rahm and Hatton. The USA needs to win a stage, or the afternoon will be quite depressing. Down by 5.5 to 2.5, the host team needs to close the gap in the AM, and further reduce it in the PM. The current hole is quite deep, and Captain Bradley and his staff are tasked with contriving a method to narrow the breach.

How is this done? Hit fairways and greens, and give your duo nine birdie putts on the outward half. Keep the ball in play, in front of you. Get back to the most basic element of the game and work forward from there. Reduction of mistakes forces the opponent to match your precision, or fall by the wayside. No need to take risks at any point. Stay the course. On Friday, Team USA fell by the wayside with much regularity and little apparent direction toward improvement. Saturday must be better, or the singles matches will be a formality.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Patrick Cantlay of Team United States hits his shot on the ninth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)