Friday’s biggest hero, the biggest fool from Bethpage

It was Friday night at the Ryder Cup, which meant we played eight games of the three-day 28-game event. Europe opened its lead from 5.5 to 2.5 on Day 1, which means we are assembling a roundtable for writers: Who gets credit?

1. One day, who is the hero of the Ryder Cup? Here is the capture: no duplicate name.

Sean Zak, Senior Writer (@sean_zak): It’s a quiet guy, no one is talking about: Jon Rahm. People forget that Rahm lost his first two games in Paris in 2018 in the first two games of his Ryder Cup career. He has since scored 8-1-3, with his only defeat by Scottie Scheffler in Whistling Straits Singles. Now, he has played Schefller six times in the last three cups and has the best player since Tiger Woods? Ram didn’t get the love he deserved in Rome, and I was worried he might not get it again.

James Colgan, News and Featured Editor (@jamescolgan26): I wasn’t surprised by the glory of Rory McIlroy at Friday’s Ryder Cup. Jon Rahm wasn’t surprised either. But I’m not sure if I’ve considered Tommy Fleetwood correctly. He played the best golf ball in his life, and I’m not sure I’m better off playing in any environment than Friday’s 36 holes and blocked the shots at a fill of one to three feet on the 18th.

Senior writer Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier): It’s Rory McIlroy. He missed the match-winning putt on 18 on Friday evening but he did everything right until then, beating the doors off the Europeans in the morning and hanging in through a chippy crowd and a charging Patrick Cantlay down the stretch — including must-make birdie putts on 16 and 17. Plus, he’s serving as the blast shield of sorts, taking about as many hurtful heckles as the rest of his team combined.Rory is open to how much the incident means to him. Now he is giving birth.

Alan Bastable, executive editing (@alan_bastable): Luke Donald is certainly worth a nod. He was a lead for the Roman Americans, and it seemed that he was here again on Long Island. I don’t know if he’s promoted to “hero” status, but also provided props to Cameron Young, who hitched the ride in the afternoon with Justin Thomas who seemed to be inconsistent with the format and made Aberg and Hojgaard flourish. Let you wonder if Young New York roots and all his Bethpage experiences should be played twice today.

2. One day, who is the biggest fool in the Ryder Cup? Again, no repetition.

Korgen: Well, it’s Scottie Scheffler. The best players on both sides scored 0-2-0 on Friday, continuing surprisingly bad games in the team game. Once, he walked away 18 games without a bird. On this golf course? In these cases? To borrow money from local remarks, please forget it! Two weeks ago, Schefler ended his 20-stroke streak. If they have any chances on the weekend, Americans need more opportunities. (Although I will admit, back-to-back birds will encourage me to close things!)

Zak: James is right, but no repetition! So I’ll take his morning teammate Russell Henley, who might be a Ryder Cup rookie, but third in the world. He has been one of the six best golfers on the planet for the past 12 months. He shook on the stage. He shrank and did not give Scheffler any cooperation with him. American horses need to be horses. They are not now.

Desir: Bethpage Black is a little stupid as a game golf course. I don’t know, man-there is only zero fire in this place. It was wet and was obviously out of control of the tournament organizers. But I don’t think players are facing risks. The rough cut is so short and the green is so soft that there is little punishment, which means there is a lot of dart throwing and then a bunch of matches becomes a match. Europeans almost bogey in the four! Credits to them. I just long for something more compelling.

Riderable: The first tee experience. Don’t get me wrong, the clumsy stalls are packed with liveliness and are full of energy on Friday mornings, but the horizontal structure (from the 18th green to the first tee) lacks a certain amount of intimacy and cohesion. When it comes to chanting scriptures and carnival, half of the stands seem to have no idea what the other half is doing. I missed the Colosseum vibe created by the wraparound booths we saw in the past Ryder Cup.

3. Suddenly he was summoned to the captain’s room. Are you telling Keegan Bradley and the U.S. leadership?

Zak: I told Keegan that it is OK for players not to participate in three games. Everyone’s feet were wet Friday. They don’t have to compete on Saturdays. Xander Schauffele shouldn’t be sitting. Harris English doesn’t have to go back there on Saturday. You are now in dump mode. Every little bit is important.

Korgen: I’ll be more specific: I told Keegan Collin Morikawa and Harris English to sit down until you watch a more competitive game. Those guys are completely overmatched on Friday.

Desir: You don’t even consider sitting at another meeting at Cameron Young. Also check the charter to see if the captain can stand out.

Riderable: I have no idea. I think I’d tell Keegan what to say to his team, like: “Great moments are born from a huge opportunity. That’s what you’re here on Saturday, boys. That’s what you win here. If we were in eight games. Eight games. ’em’em’em 10 times, they might win nine games. But tomorrow won’t win nine games.

4. Tell me one interesting thing you saw or heard during Friday class.

Zak: A pair of athletic psychology for Team USA will see the boys on Saturday morning and then fly to Athens to play for the Alabama-Georgia game as they all work with those soccer teams. They will then fly back to Long Island on Saturday night to help the boys prepare for Sunday’s singles. It was a weekend.

Korgen: I’ve witnessed the softest Bryson Deschamps Fort I’ve ever seen on a large golf course in two years! Of course, he’s still Bryson, but I was surprised to see him spending a lot of time in the crowd. I think if we want this to close on Sunday, we need to see more performers.

Desir: Rory’s most sadness of all players to date – fans chanted “F-You, Rory!” by 7 o’clock – but by the end of the afternoon, it seemed to draw strength from it. We can study the pole lobe after stroke, but he didn’t miss the shot.

Riderable:18 Military sniper behind green dropped my chin. The sharpshooter is part of Trump’s security team, but still seeing his rifle perched on a tripod inhabiting there, which is not the action I’d expect to see.

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