Early Scenes from Bethpage Black

Balls are in the air at Bethpage Black—Ryder Cup week is officially underway. To be honest, I don’t remember the last time I was this excited for a golf tournament, and I have feeling it’s going to be a LONG week before we get to 7:10 a.m. Friday when the first foursomes match of bienniel event fires the starting gun.

After Luke Donald had his squad at Bethpage last week for a scouting trip, Keegan Bradley’s lineup went out early Monday morning to start its preparation, led by the world’s best player, Scottie Scheffler.

The Texan will undoubtedly be looked at as the leader of this team, and he needs to respond accordingly after a tough showing in Rome. He went a winless 0-2-2 that included a 9-and-7 thumping at the hands of Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland. However, during his Cup debut in 2021 at Whistling Straits, Scheffler went 2-0-1, including a Sunday Singles victory over then-World-No. 1 Jon Rahm.

Hopefully, the rowdy, pro-American New York crowd can get him back on track.

Ryder Cup: How to Watch | Team USA, Team Europe

Here’s a look at the pairings Bradley sent out on practice day No. 1.

Bryson DeChambeau, Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas, and Cameron Young

Harris English, Russell Henley, Scottie Scheffler, and J.J. Spaun

Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele

Both teams will be on the course on Tuesday, with Team Europe playing 18 holes starting at 9:30 a.m., and Team USA playing nine holes off No. 1 at 10:30 a.m.