World No.1 was left bruised and broken in Rome as he aims to set the record straight with his team at Bethpage

07:15, 22 Sep 2025Updated 07:16, 22 Sep 2025

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 30: Scottie Scheffler of Team United States is consoled by his Wife, Meredith Scheffler after losing his match to Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg of Team Europe (not pictured) 9&7 during the Saturday morning foursomes matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 30, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Scottie Scheffler is the dominant force in golf and the best player at The Ryder Cup.

But, two years ago in Rome, he was beaten so badly he ended up sobbing at the side of a green.

Scheffler’s staggering demise and catastrophic Saturday in Rome left him sitting beside his wife Meredith in ruins.

Hunched over in the back of a golf buggy, instantly dumped from the afternoon’s play after a morning of misery and mishaps.

It was, without doubt, one of the biggest and most remarkable Ryder Cup wins of all time.

Pitched up with team-mate Brooks Koepka to face Scandinavian duo Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, this was a star-studded twosome.

Having failed to win a single match on day one in Italy, Scheffler and Koepka were trusted to land one at the kick-off off day two.

Two hours and 20 minutes later. Gone. Just 11 holes played. Europe victorious in a record 9&7 scoreline.

Scottie Scheffler

Hovland and Aberg back doing interviews and eating an early lunch. Scheffler left weeping like a baby in a cart.

There was nowhere to hide. While Patrick Cantlay took the stick of an entire crowd later that day for failing to wear a cap when out on the course, the World No.1 needed his to try and cover his face and hide the tears of pain. To no avail. The world saw it. It stung.

Being out on the course on Friday morning was an exhilarating mix of excitement and joy for any European who was lucky enough to be in attendance.

Saturday morning, though, just started to feel like humiliation for the States. The fact they made such a fight of it at one stage during the Sunday singles belies the fact that, for the first three sessions, the 44th Ryder Cup was a one-way avalanche.

Now Scheffler will be out to make amends, along with some of his team-mates. Interestingly, the precedent is right there with his opposite number.

While he leads the hosts, it is Rory McIlroy who sits at the top of the visitors’ tree with a Green Jacket on his back and a Grand Slam in his pocket following the first eight months of the 2025 campaign.

McIlroy was the one who was shedding tears the time before. Shattered and sickened by his performance at Whistling Straits as Europe was trounced, he broke down at the side of a green in dismay at letting down himself and his colleagues.

McIlroy felt he had not done his job and it crushed him. He begged for the next opportunity to make it right and took it in Rome.

Now it’s Scheffler who has the opportunity to change the liquid on his cheeks from tears to champagne.