Washington , USA– August 26, 2025
With the 2025 Ryder Cup just a month away, the United States has officially announced the format for the prestigious golf tournament, a strategic decision that could be key to their efforts to reclaim the cup from Europe. US Captain Keegan Bradley confirmed that the competition will begin on the first two days with a morning session of foursomes (alternate shot), followed by an afternoon session of four-ball (best ball). The event will conclude, as is tradition, with 12 singles matches on Sunday.
The decision to lead with foursomes marks a continuation of a format that has served the Americans well in recent history. It is the third consecutive Ryder Cup where this structure has been chosen, and the 13th time since 1981. This is a format the Americans have selected on eight occasions, holding a historical record of 9-3-1 when they have done so. The United States will hope to replicate their success at the 2021 Ryder Cup in Wisconsin, where they went 6-2 in the foursomes format on their way to a dominant victory.
Headlines of the Report
* Format Set: The US team has opted to start both Friday and Saturday with foursomes (alternate shot) matches, followed by four-ball (best ball) in the afternoon.
* A Familiar Strategy: This marks the third straight Ryder Cup with this format, a choice that has historically favored the Americans, who hold a 9-3-1 record when it is used.
* Key Venue: The tournament will be held at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, a venue known for its difficulty and a sign at the first tee that reads, “The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers.”
* Automatic Qualifiers Set: The six automatic qualifiers for the US team have been confirmed: Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Bryson DeChambeau.
* Captain’s Picks Loom: Captain Bradley still has six captain’s picks to round out his 12-man squad, a decision that will be announced this week.
The announcement of the format comes as US Captain Keegan Bradley is preparing to make his six captain’s picks, which will be announced on August 27. These picks will complete the 12-man team, which already includes six automatic qualifiers based on points. With Europe holding the cup after their 2023 victory in Rome, the stakes are high for the Americans on their home soil. The strategic format choice, combined with the home-course advantage at the notoriously difficult Bethpage Black, sets the stage for a tense and dramatic showdown on September 26-28.
