Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 Ryder Cup campaign got off to a rough start, as he and Russell Henley suffered a heavy defeat in the opening foursomes.
In a surprising result for the home fans, Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick cruised to a 5&3 victory over the American pair.
That loss came after Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton had already put Europe ahead, with Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood quickly doubling that advantage.
Aberg and Fitzpatrick then added another point, putting Europe up 3-0 and leaving them just 11 points away from retaining the cup.
It was exactly the kind of start European captain Luke Donald would have wanted, while his opposite number Keegan Bradley now faces an early challenge to get his team back on track.
Scottie Scheffler responds to Russell Henley question after Ryder Cup foursomes defeat
Henley and Scheffler are close, and the world number one mentioned him while speaking about the loss.
When asked about their play, Scheffler said: “I felt like Russ and I did some good things.
“We just didn’t hole enough putts early. We had some chances. I think the putts just didn’t fall.”
“But overall, the guys we played, they played a really good round, and go back out this afternoon and see what we can do.”
Why Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley could not get going against Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick
Scheffler came into the tournament in exceptional form, with six victories already secured during the 2025 PGA Tour season.
Henley, who won once in 2025, had also shown strong form, ranking closely behind Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in the world standings.
On paper, their partnership looked promising, but that potential did not materialise during Friday’s second foursomes session.
It was Henley’s first Ryder Cup appearance, which may have played a role. The nerves were visible across both teams early on, given the occasion.
Poor weather conditions added another layer of difficulty. Heavy rain is not ideal for any player, but might have been a bigger issue for Henley given his shorter driving distance.
Scheffler also fell short of his usual standards. As world number one, expectations are always high and he is no stranger to pressure.
He went through a similar experience at the 2023 Ryder Cup when he and Brooks Koepka lost 9&7 to Aberg and Viktor Hovland during Saturday’s foursomes.
The week is still young at Bethpage Black. The Americans will need to respond quickly in Friday’s fourballs if they’re going to turn things around.
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