“Life is what happens between Ryder and Ryder“, was commented in a humorous yet melancholic tone on Sunday afternoon in the corridors of the media centre of Marco Simone. The moment Luke Donald lifted the cup that will stay two years in Europe, the countdown for the next one began. It is so, and if life is what happens between Ryder and Ryder, let’s talk about the 45th edition of the Ryder.
Whether it’s because of the American thirst for revenge or the European team’s desire to retain the crown and do so by winning on the enemy’s turf, the 2025 edition promises a tournament with many attractions. As Rory McIlroy said on Sunday, a few minutes after winning his fifth Ryder Cup: “The biggest challenge in golf is to win a Ryder as a visitor… and we will do it in 2025”. The Northern Irishman will do everything in his power to make it so and win his second Ryder on hostile territory after participating in the ‘Miracle of Medinah’.
There are still two years to go until the next Ryder… but where will it be held? An obvious answer is: in the United States. The alternating system of the venues means that it is now the Americans’ turn. The chosen venue for the Rome rematch couldn’t be more appropriate for the yanki team: Bethpage, Long Island, New York.
Let’s start with the latter. New York. If the atmosphere experienced at Marco Simone has been spectacular, prepare for the New York public. Noisier than any other and eager to recover the lost sceptre. It’s going to be absolutely thunderous. Start buying earplugs. The chants to Cantlay and Scheffler may be a joke compared to what happens on Long Island.
As far as golf is concerned, the course chosen for September 2025 is the black course of Bethpage, as we say, located in the district of Long Island about forty minutes from Central Park. A municipal course up to the standards of the greatest and composed of four courses. Opened in 1936, the Black Course of Bethpage State Park was designed by the legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast. Bethpage Black will join Oak Hill Country Club as the only New York courses to host a Ryder Cup. Although it has not hosted any Ryder previously, it has been the venue for several majors.
The last one, the PGA of 2019 in which Brooks Koepka won his fourth major and in which, by the way, was the last time Jon Rahm didn’t make the cut in a major. The other two majors that have been held there were two US Opens, in 2002 and 2009. The edition 21 years ago was Tiger Woods’ eighth Major and he was the only player to finish the tournament under par. Precisely, it sounds very strong in the United States that Tiger will be the captain in the next Ryder. In 2009 the victory went to the reborn Lucas Glover. It was also the chosen field in 2012 and 2016 as the venue for the Barclays (first tournament of the PGA Tour playoffs). A difficult and long course (6,823 meters) where a preparation is expected that will make things very complicated for the European team…
Two years to the next Ryder and we are already eager to be on the tee of hole one of Bethpage. Life is what happens between Ryder and Ryder…
