Ryder Cup 2025 live: Friday pairings to be announced as Rory McIlroy responds to Bryson DeChambeau

Europe’s top star Rory McIlroy was showered with boos as he walked the course during his practise round on Wednesday, a small taste of what’s to come once the Ryder Cup gets underway on Friday.

About a year ago, Luke Donald flew into New York with his right-hand man, Edoardo Molinari, to suss out the next Ryder Cup course. Word quickly got out that the European captain was in town, so by the time the pair walked to the first tee the next day for their reconnaissance of Bethpage Black, a pack of around two dozen grinning locals were waiting to greet them.

“On the first tee, from England!” shouted one, to much laughter. New Yorkers tend not to need microphones. “The former world No 1, captain of Team Europe, LUUUUUKE DONALD!”

It was the gentlest taste of what is to come: as if Donald needed reminding, the home fans won’t be shy when the Ryder Cup begins on Friday, on a golf course 45 minutes outside Manhattan.

Scottie Scheffler says the United States team are ready to “unleash” under-fire Bryson DeChambeau as they chase Ryder Cup glory this week.

DeChambeau is part of the US team trying to regain the trophy from Europe following their heavy loss in Rome two years ago.

The two-time US Open champion, who plays on the LIV Tour and rarely sees his team-mates, has come under criticism from outspoken Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, who says DeChambeau will be a “captain’s nightmare” and is more interested in pleasing his 2.3million YouTube subscribers.

Rasmus Hojgaard is the only fresh face in Europe’s Ryder Cup team but even that is proving confusing for his team-mates.

Hojgaard was an automatic qualifier for Luke Donald’s team and he ended up replacing his twin brother Nicolai, who is the only absentee from 2023.

The hostile welcome the European side are likely to encounter as they defend the trophy against the United States has been one of the major talking points in the build-up to the event in New York.

Poulter has spent a significant amount of his career playing in the US and four of his seven Ryder Cup appearances between 2004 and 2021 came in the country.

The 49-year-old told SPORTbible: “I don’t even know where to start. I mean, f****** ‘mashed potatoes’ and all that f****** b******* that you hear is madness. ‘In the hole, get in the hole! It’s a 600-yard par five, you f****** idiot’.

Tommy Fleetwood has urged his European team-mates to embrace “the most extreme atmosphere” in golf at the Ryder Cup this week.

Much has been made of the hostile reception the visiting side are likely to encounter as they take on the United States in front of a partisan and boisterous New York crowd at Bethpage Black.

Yet as one of the most experienced members of the team, with a significant American victory at last month’s Tour Championship under his belt, Fleetwood is not too concerned about what lies in store.

Justin Rose says he would be happy for Donald Trump to present Europe with the Ryder Cup on Sunday evening.

The golf-loving president is attending the opening day of action at Bethpage Black on Friday afternoon as the United States try to regain the trophy they lost in Rome two years ago.

While Trump is not currently due to be in attendance on Sunday night, he is not one to shirk the limelight and presented Chelsea with the Club World Cup in July and also attended the Super Bowl and the men’s US Open tennis final.

Rose said it would be a “great opportunity” if he did make an unscheduled visit to the trophy ceremony on Sunday.

Luke Donald has aimed another shot at Team USA over their decision to be paid at the Ryder Cup 2025 by emphasising how Team Europe are “fuelled by something money cannot buy”.

The United States players will be compensated for the first time ever in the biennial contest at Bethpage Black in New York.

But after Europe’s players snubbed the chance to be paid too, Donald opted to take a swipe at their rivals during the opening ceremony.

“The Ryder Cup means so much to each and everyone of us,” said European captain Donald in his speech at Wednesday’s opening ceremony. “It is unlike anything else in our sport.

Good morning and welcome to the Independent’s coverage of the Ryder Cup 2025 on what promises to be a wet and miserable day at Bethpage, New York.

Heavy rain is forecasted throughout Thursday, which caused the opening ceremony to be moved forward by 24 hours.

But Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald will announce their pairings still at 4pm ET (9pm BST) ahead of Friday morning’s foursomes.

We’ll also hear from a number of Europe and USA players, including Rory McIlroy and Bryson De Chambeau.