To practice or not to practice?
US team captain Keegan Bradley gave his players the choice of whether to practice one final time before the Ryder Cup officially gets underway on Friday.
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The players, of course, chose to practice, using the session for last-minute adjustments and final preparations on a rainy and wet day at Bethpage Black.
On the flip side, Team Europe captain Luke Donald set the pairings and schedule for his team’s final practice himself, sending his players out in pods of four, taking a more structured approach.
On Golf Channel, Arron Oberholser remarked that it’s ‘just one more thing’ that could tilt the advantage to the team that traveled across the pond, however small it may seem.
Oberholser expressed concern, but the argument proved meaningless, as both sides spent Thursday out practicing.
Members of Team USA, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau, spent the final day of practice playing what appeared to be true alternate shot with a single ball.
Thomas teed off on the odd holes and DeChambeau on the even holes. There was a massive crowd that followed the two Major champions.
Bradley himself seemed to enjoy the final day of practice, as he was seen running up to the 18th green, waving the American flag and pumping his fists in the air.
This drew a big cheer from the grandstand as chants of “U-S-A” broke out. Even the course DJ joined in, blasting “Free Bird” before switching to “Born to Run.”
Home-field advantage can make all the difference in the Ryder Cup, especially in foursomes and that’s good news for the Americans.
According to Elias Sports, the home team has won the foursomes in each of the last nine Ryder Cups.
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Bradley was running with the American Flag during the practice round on Thursday
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Thomas (left) and DeChambeau (right) got in some last minute work
Team Europe had the upper hand in 2006 in Ireland (3–1–4), 2010 in Wales (4–3–1), 2014 in Scotland (6–0–2), 2018 in France (6–2–0), and 2023 in Italy (7–1–0).
On the flip side, Team USA had the upper hand in 2008 in Kentucky (3–2–3), 2012 in Illinois (5–3–0), 2016 in Minnesota (5–2–1), and 2021 in Wisconsin (6–2–0).
Since 2006, the home team has dominated the foursomes with a 45–16–11 record—Team Europe going 26–7–7 at home, and Team USA 19–9–4 on their turf.
The crowd at Bethpage Black is expected to be raucous, providing plenty of juice and support for the home team.