Even for the great Scottie Scheffler, the reigning world No. 1 golfer, it was a surprise test. This was set in motion on opening day of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Expected to run roughshod over the field, Scheffler had an off day, going winless in both of his matches on Friday.
For the first time, Scheffler competed in the morning foursomes alongside Russell Henley. They were no match for the formidable pair of Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick, falling 5&3. The loss ended a brutal day for the U.S. team that entered the week with many considering them heavy favorites, including the world’s current top golfer, Scheffler. It was more of the same in the afternoon four-ball session, where he was paired with J.J. Spaun, and his issues were compounded.
Were these just Scheffler’s own performance being well shy of what you would expect from him, especially on the greens. Several failed chances in the putting surface marked his outing, continuing to leave him scratching his head often. In fairness to him, he did acknowledge the team’s opportunities and take ownership for the team’s continued shortcomings in not cashing in.
“We just didn’t hole enough putts early. We had some chances,” – Scottie Scheffler
Even after such a dismal performance, U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley said he never lost confidence in Scheffler’s ability to recover. With that loss, the captain reminded them that things don’t always go as planned and to re-focus team spirit.
“We are not worried about Scottie Scheffler,” – Keegan Bradley
Phrase four Bradley recognized the specific tests on offer in a Ryder Cup, insisting that players need to rise to the intense, pressure cooker atmosphere.
“Listen, we knew this was going to be difficult. We knew this was going to be tough,” – Bradley
Scheffler’s all-time record in Ryder Cup play is 2-4-2. In fact, he hasn’t won a full point victory since 2021, when that tournament took place at Whistling Straits. Consider the pressure of being the number one player in the world already. Bradley remains hopeful as he focuses on performing better in the upcoming tournament.
Scheffler’s having trouble when it counts most. The U.S. team, having lost the last Ryder Cup, is hell bent on getting the trophy back. As Bryson DeChambeau and other players made clear, performing at such a high level is extremely taxing. They noted that it was usually luck that helped their opponents succeed.
“I felt like I was clutch when I needed to be, but … there were so many putts that just didn’t go in for us that went in for them. Luck is on their side right now,” – Bryson DeChambeau
As Day 1 comes to a close, the U.S. team will need to regroup and prepare for more matches right around the corner. Players are anxious to take advantage of their unique skill sets and get back on track in the Cup.
Leave a Reply