Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 Ryder Cup got off to a rough start as he and Russell Henley fell to Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick.
The pair never found their rhythm and the Swedes sealed a convincing 5&3 win, giving Team Europe an early point in New York.
Scheffler, who has struggled to make a real impact in previous Ryder Cups, was not able to shift that narrative here.
But it was Henley who took most of the blame. His game just did not seem suited to Bethpage Black, especially given his lack of length off the tee.
Henley later discussed where he felt things had gone wrong for the pair.
Russell Henley calls out his own play in partnership with Scottie Scheffler
After the round, Scheffler pointed to their struggles on the greens as a key factor, noting that they had chances they did not take advantage of. Henley agreed, but also said he needed to be better from tee to green.
“I didn’t capitalise on putts early in the round. They putted really well. They played great, gave themselves a lot of chances and just was a little sloppy.
“Didn’t make the putts I needed to and didn’t really keep the momentum going with the ball-striking on the back nine either. Hung in there as best I could, but they played great.”
Henley was left out of Friday afternoon’s fourballs session, and it is unclear if we will see him again before Sunday’s singles matches.
The course does not suit his game, and Europe will be eager to target him should he return to action later in the week.
Trouble finding right Ryder Cup partner continues for Scottie Scheffler
The comparison between Scheffler and Tiger Woods arises not only from Scheffler’s dominant 2025 season, but also from the historical difficulties Woods faced in Ryder Cup matches throughout his career.
Despite that, the Dallas native’s record in singles matches speaks for itself: two matches, two wins. He’s repeatedly shown he can handle high-pressure situations. What remains is finding him a fitting partner.
Pairing the world number one with Bryson DeChambeau has worked before. It may be unconventional to team up two stars in these formats, but it could help Bradley identify what kind of teammate fits best alongside the 29-year-old this time around.
Scheffler is already one of the steadiest iron players on tour and may benefit from being paired with a big hitter like Cameron Young too.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
