LUKE DONALD will be hoping history repeats itself on Friday after Keegan Bradley opted to play foursomes first.
European captain Donald broke with his side’s home tradition by kicking off in Rome two years ago with alternate shot foursomes rather than fourballs.
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It worked a treat, too, as Europe raced into a stunning 4-0 lead after the Friday morning session.
Donald, 47, could even name the same four pairings that cleaned up at Marco Simone.
European heroics on the 18th hole in the afternoon fourballs ensured the hosts led 6 1⁄2 – 1 ½ after day one before the points were evenly shared on Saturday and Sunday.
However, Bradley will point to the success of Team USA four years ago as justification for his decision to start with foursomes on home soil.
The Americans won the two foursomes morning sessions by an aggregate score of 6-2 at Whistling Straits on their way to a thumping 19-9 victory.
In total, the last five first-day foursomes have been dominated by the hosts and set the tone for comfortable wins.
The US won the Hazeltine Friday foursomes 4-0 in 2016 while Europe have only dropped half a point from a possible 12 across 2014, 2018 and 2023.
But players walking to the first tee on Friday morning will not have to read the famous warning sign.
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The plaque reads: “The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers.”
Bethpage opted to remove it temporarily for the week, no doubt realising the 24 players in action are indeed highly skilled.
Ryder Cup 2025 – all the info
The Ryder Cup is back THIS WEEK as Team Europe hope to defend their crown on American soil
Luke Donald‘s team has travelled to New York ahead of the big start on Friday.
Europe has dominated the prestigious competition in the 21st century, winning eight of the 11 meetings since 2002.
But only two of those wins have come in the United States, with Team USA winning both the 2021 and 2016 competitions.
In fact, Team Europe has only won one of the four Ryder Cups held in the US – 2012 – since their win there in 2004 and Team USA enter as the odds-on bookies’ favourites.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Ryder Cup 2025…
WATCH THE RYDER CUP 2025 ON SKY SPORTS
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