- by Masivuye Mzimkhulu
- on 26 Sep, 2025
USA Practice Groupings Reveal Possible Pairings
The buzz around Bethpage Black this week has been anything but quiet, even though the first full‑round practice was held without spectators. Captain Keegan Bradley used the quiet to shuffle his top‑ranked squad into three distinct groups, each seeming to showcase a different tactical angle.
Ryder Cup 2025 could see the power‑driving Bryson DeChambeau paired with the precision of Justin Thomas, a combo that might excel in four‑ball play where distance and accuracy both matter. Their Wednesday 9:45 a.m. group also included Ben Griffin and Cameron Young, giving Bradley a chance to see how a high‑flight player and a steadier iron‑player interact under pressure.
The 10:00 a.m. slot paired Harris English with Russell Henley, while the world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and JJ Spaun rounded out the group. This mix of a dominant driver‑and‑putter with a more conventional shot‑maker could hint at a foursomes partnership that balances risk and safety.
Finally, the 10:15 a.m. quartet of Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele reads like a masterclass in consistency. All four have shown an ability to keep scores low under tough conditions, suggesting Bradley might lock them together for the most critical matches.
- DeChambeau, Griffin, Thomas, Young – power meets precision
- English, Henley, Scheffler, Spaun – mix of styles
- Burns, Cantlay, Morikawa, Schauffele – consistency crew
Golf insiders say these groupings aren’t random; they’re a live scouting report. Bradley can see who talks, who respects each other's games, and who thrives when the pressure spikes on the infamous 16th and 17th holes.
Europe’s Strategic Sessions Offer Clues
Across the pond, Captain Luke Donald’s Europeans have been equally deliberate, even taking a pre‑Ryder Cup trip to New York to fine‑tune their approach before landing at Bethpage. Their Wednesday line‑ups started a half‑hour earlier than the Americans, perhaps to carve out extra practice time on the toughest parts of the course.
The 9:30 a.m. group – Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka – blended seasoned major winners with a rising star. Rahm’s aggressive play alongside Hatton’s steady ball‑striking could signal a foursomes pairing that aims to seize early leads.
At 9:45 a.m., Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Robert MacIntyre and Rory McIlroy took to the green. Three of these men have proven they can win match‑play formats, and pairing them together could be a test of who best complements McIlroy’s comeback instincts.
The final 10:00 a.m. grouping mixed youth and experience: Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Rasmus Hojaard and Justin Rose. Aberg’s fresh perspective paired with Rose’s veteran savvy might be a trial run for a late‑day comeback strategy.
- Hatton, Lowry, Rahm, Straka – experience + youth
- Fitzpatrick, Hovland, MacIntyre, McIlroy – proven match‑play talent
- Aberg, Fleetwood, Hojaard, Rose – youth meets veteran savvy
Analysts note that Europe’s practice groups are focused on chemistry as much as course knowledge. Donald wants to see who can communicate on the fly, who can keep a steady rhythm when the wind whips over the 18th, and who can adapt when a partner’s ball lands in a tricky bunker.
Both captains are also using these sessions to experiment with specific hole strategies. The brutal 9‑hole stretch from the 12th to the 18th at Bethpage Black demands precise shot‑selection; grouping players with complementary strengths gives each captain a preview of who can execute under that pressure.
Home‑field advantage gives the United States a slight edge in total practice time, but Europe’s coordinated, purpose‑driven sessions show they won’t be easy opponents. As the Opening Ceremony draws near, fans will be watching every swing, every high‑five, and every strategic whisper for the first real clues about the line‑ups that could decide the fate of the 2025 Ryder Cup.