Ben Coley previews the opening foursomes session wiht the Ryder Cup almost upon us. Get his verdict on all four matches.
Following Friday’s foursomes draw, the key takeaway in terms of top-scorer markets is that while we knew both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy woudl feature, and who they’d be paired with, they are not against each other. Both have landed seemingly good draws, in fact, more on which later.
Had they met each other then the result would’ve been that at least one of them has to drop points. As it is, that will happen instead to Jon Rahm or Bryson DeChambeau, second-favourites in their respective markets. There seems a good chance that Scheffler and McIlroy both end the morning with their positions in those top team scorer markets even stronger than they are now.
Friday’s foursomes announcement improved our position on Viktor Hovland slightly, now 8/1 from 11/1 to be the top European, although given that we all knew he’d play that does seem a little peculiar. Personally I’m surprised he’s not with Ludvig Aberg, but perhaps we’ll see that pairing later in the week.
DeChambeau/Thomas vs Rahm/Hatton (1210 BST)
And so keegan Bradley is going to make full use of the brilliant, polarising, powerhouse Bryson DeChambeau, who pairs up with Justin Thomas. This is a big change for Thomas, who has been so used to playing with a close friend in Jordan Spieth, but the chance to hit wedges after DeChambeau drives is a mouthwatering one.DeChambeau didn’t feature in foursomes in 2021 so its seven years since he played the format for the USA, and Europe will draw hope from the fact that both these players can be erratic off the tee.
For Europe, while there are some surprises further along, this very much isn’t one. Jon Rahm will have teed off in match one of all four of his Ryder Cup appearances now and in LIV Golf teammate Tyrrell Hatton, he has a partner he knows, a close friend. That’s a fascinating difference in dynamic and so is the fact that Hatton and Rahm are both more reliable off the tee,if less explosive than DeChambeau.
The course set-up plays into DeChambeau’s hands and he’ll absolutely love being asked to hit first, which I suspect he will do. It would be peculiar, on a course where the difference between odd tee shots on evens is negligible, not to allow your pantomime villain, the longest driver in either team, to blast one off the first tee and set the tone for this Ryder Cup.
This is a tough match to call but while the upside to the US pairing is notable, if they’re both slightly off with their tee-shots, Europe will capitalise. On balance, I’d give them the edge and I’m not surprised the early 5/4 was taken, but there’s no bet at this stage. Perhaps wait and see if DeChambeau can almost drive that first green and put the US ahead, then consider siding with Europe in-play.Verdict: Europe 2&1
Scheffler/Henley vs Aberg/Fitzpatrick (1226 BST)
Europe’s practice groups did give us a big clue: Ludvig Aberg didn’t play with Viktor Hovland all week and their record-breaking partnership from 2023 has,for now at least,been separated. Perhaps that’s a data-led decision and we’ll see them in fourballs instead; it would be curious and surprising, much having been made of their compatibility, not to have them together at some stage.
For now, Aberg plays with Matt Fitzpatrick, whose Ryder Cup record (1-7-0) would worry some but evidently not the captain and his support staff. Fitzpatrick has certainly been one of the best European players of the last five m
Ryder Cup 2025: USA Predicted to Edge Europe in Key Matchup – MacIntyre/Hovland vs. Schauffele/Cantlay
This analysis focuses on a crucial match in the 2025 Ryder Cup: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (USA) versus Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland (Europe).The prediction leans towards a narrow 1-up victory for the American pairing, despite concerns surrounding Schauffele’s recent absence from competition.
The pairing of Schauffele and cantlay, historically strong, faces its first test in over a month. While Cantlay’s form is considered slightly underwhelming, the primary concern centers on Schauffele, who struggled upon returning from a break during the recent Ryder Cup in Rome. https://www.rydercup.com/
Conversely, the European duo of MacIntyre and Hovland presents an fascinating dynamic. MacIntyre is playing this format for the first time, while Hovland is paired with a new partner following his previous collaboration with Aberg.The pairing appears strategically designed to leverage their individual strengths – MacIntyre’s driving and Hovland’s iron play – but also carries the risk of amplifying weaknesses. Recent performance data indicates MacIntyre’s iron play has been inconsistent, and Hovland’s driving has also fluctuated.
Despite these concerns,both European players are recognized for their ability to perform under pressure.Hovland, in particular, is viewed as a potential future star of the competition. However,the analysis suggests that the data-driven approach to pairing may have led Europe to a suboptimal choice in this instance.
The outcome of this match, along with the top match, is anticipated to be pivotal in determining the overall session result. The prediction is a 1-up win for the USA,perhaps squaring the session.
Safer Gambling:
We are committed to supporting safer gambling practices. Bets should only be placed by individuals 18 years or older and within their financial means.
If you are concerned about your gambling habits, resources are available:
* GamCare: 0808 8020 133 – https://www.gamcare.org.uk/
* BeGambleAware: https://www.begambleaware.org/
* Gambling Therapy: https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en
Ryder Cup: Related links: https://www.rydercup.com/
Date of Analysis: September 26, 2025.