RAHM & HATTON STUN DECHAMBEAU & THOMAS IN FOURSOMES OPENER WITH ICE-COLD PRECISION

Bethpage Black, NY – Ryder Cup 2025 | Friday Morning Foursomes

By Jack Nicholas | JN Sport Correspondent

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton delivered an opening statement for the ages on Friday morning at Bethpage Black, combining precision, composure, and a touch of fire to dismantle the high-octane American duo of Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, 4 & 3, in the first foursomes match of the 2025 Ryder Cup.

In front of a raucous New York crowd, the American team brought the fireworks early. DeChambeau, ever the showman, marched to the first tee draped in the stars and stripes and promptly delivered a monster drive that nearly reached the green. Dechambeau followed with a 15-foot birdie putt to ignite the crowd and give the U.S. an early 1-up lead.

It would be their last.

Despite a patchy opening stretch, Rahm and Hatton weathered the American storm with steely discipline and sharp teamwork. The Spanish-English duo clawed back into the match with clutch shot-making and timely putting, capitalizing on several key U.S. mistakes.

“We knew the atmosphere would be loud, we knew they’d come out swinging,” Rahm said after the round. “But we stayed patient and trusted each other. That made the difference.”

Turning Point at The Turn

The momentum shifted for good on the par-3 8th hole. After Hatton placed a tidy tee shot to inside 15 feet, Rahm calmly rolled in the birdie to flip the match in Europe’s favor. From there, the partnership found its rhythm — and never looked back.

Hatton, in particular, came alive on the back nine, draining crucial birdie putts at 12 and 13. His putter, statistically one of the hottest on the course Friday morning, proved to be the silent assassin. While the Americans tried to swing momentum with sporadic moments of brilliance — including a gutsy birdie from DeChambeau on 14 — it wasn’t enough.

Thomas, who has historically thrived in Ryder Cup formats, was uncharacteristically flat, particularly on the greens. A costly miss from five feet on the 15th sealed the deal, handing Europe a 4 & 3 victory and the first point of the Ryder Cup.

Controlled Aggression vs American Power

This was a tale of two philosophies: the raw, crowd-fuelled power of DeChambeau and Thomas, versus the icy control and chemistry of Rahm and Hatton. The Europeans leaned into their experience, managing risk, recovering from tough lies, and thriving under pressure.

Hatton’s grit complemented Rahm’s flair to near perfection — a dangerous recipe for any foursome opponent.

“The trust is there. We know what each other’s strengths are, and we play to them,” Hatton said. “That’s what today was all about — managing emotions, managing shots, and doing it together.”

The Bigger Picture

As the sun climbed over Bethpage, Rahm and Hatton had not only secured the first full point for Europe — they’d made a statement. In front of a hostile U.S. crowd, against one of America’s most hyped duos, they remained unfazed.

It’s early days in the Ryder Cup, but this match could be looked back on as the tone-setter.

“The Americans wanted to come out swinging,” Rahm said. “We just swung back — and didn’t miss.”