The Ryder Cup is well and truly underway now after a big opening day at Bethpage Black and among all the winners, LIV Golf are among those who’ll be delighted.
Team Europe came out flying just like they did in Rome and ended the opening session 3-1 up.
In the afternoon, things were much more even as Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald made changes to their teams but in the end, Europe once again put more blue on the board.
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For Europe, a number of players were crucial, with Rory McIlroy once again leading the way.
However, in a turn of events that will delight the Saudi backers of LIV Golf, Team Europe – and Team USA to an extent – have seen their LIV players really shine.
Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau show that LIV Golf has its place in golf
Over the last few years since LIV Golf came along, we’ve heard so many stories and opinions on how it doesn’t prepare its players for the biggest events around.
Naturally, Bryson DeChambeau proved to be the outlier there when he won the US Open in 2024.
But on day one of the Ryder Cup, it’s the LIV players who have showed up and proved their worth.
The obvious standout is Jon Rahm, who alongside Tyrrell Hatton, hammered Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau in the opening foursomes.
Rahm then went on to partner Sepp Straka in the afternoon fourballs, once again winning comfortably, this time against Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun.
Likewise Hatton, helped steady the ship alongside Rahm and made some big putts and shots after a rocky start.
Finally, Bryson DeChambeau – despite losing out to Rahm and Hatton – has been a lightning bolt of energy and was trusted alongside rookie Ben Griffin in the afternoons.
Going into the weekend, DeChambeau will be vital for the Americans and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in all five sessions.
Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm prove they’re box office at Bethpage
LIV Golf pay huge money to have Rahm and DeChambeau onboard and so far at the Ryder Cup, the duo have proven just why.
DeChambeau’s energy, ability off the tee and passion are what makes him as a golfer and he’s doing LIV proud, despite the lack of points thus far.
As for Jon Rahm, it was just shot, after shot, after shot all day for him. He drove it well, played from the fairways well, and crucially, his putting was huge.
For LIV Golf, it’s going as well as they could hope right now and among the higher-ups, there’ll be some smug faces laughing back at those critics.
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