The U.S. failed in every possible way at their home Ryder Cup.

Bethpage was supposed to be the great equalizer. A municipal course where everyday golfers grind it out, hosting a Ryder Cup that would finally swing momentum back to the Americans. Instead, the U.S. team delivered one of the most comprehensive failures in recent Ryder Cup history, losing 15-13 to Europe in a defeat that went far deeper than the final scoreboard suggests.

When Your Stars Forget How to Shine

The numbers tell a brutal story. Scottie Scheffler, the world’s best player, went 0-4 in the first four sessions—the first player to suffer that ignominy since 1967. Patrick Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau combined for just three points across five sessions. One-third of the American roster went home winless. Even Michael Jordan, watching from the gallery, summed it up perfectly during Saturday’s bloodbath: “We got problems.”

Captain’s Calls That Missed the Mark

Keegan Bradley’s captaincy will be dissected for years. The decision to soften Bethpage—trimming rough to public-course heights and leaving greens “soft as day-old butter”—turned the Black Course into a birdiefest that played directly into Europe’s hands. Bradley later admitted the mistake, saying he should have trusted his gut. Pairing decisions didn’t help either, with the Harris English/Collin Morikawa duo ranked dead last by analytics and going 0-2.

The Crowd That Couldn’t Be Controlled

Bethpage’s famously passionate galleries crossed the line into embarrassment. What should have been electric home-field advantage devolved into ugly heckling, particularly directed at Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. The PGA of America failed to adequately staff marshals to control the chaos, and the uninspired American play gave fans little to cheer for and everything to jeer against. Justin Thomas admitted it: “We weren’t giving them enough to cheer for.”

Sunday’s Mirage of Hope

The Americans nearly pulled off the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history on Sunday, winning or halving all but one singles match. For 40 glorious minutes, Bethpage felt like what it should have been all along. But Shane Lowry’s 10-foot birdie putt on 18 sealed Europe’s retention, and the moment evaporated. The comeback wasn’t a sign of American resilience—it was a reminder of how badly they’d dug themselves into a hole over the previous three days.

The Real Failure of Soul

This Ryder Cup was supposed to celebrate accessibility and passion, bringing elite golf to a true public course. Instead, it became a monument to missed opportunities—$750 tickets, underperforming stars, and a fundamental misunderstanding of what Bethpage could have been. As Captain Bradley said, there are no easy answers. With Adare Manor looming in 2027, the Americans have serious work to do.