Rupert Bell: Europe Must Strike Early To Silence Boisterous Bethpage Black Crowd
Experienced British broadcaster and TalkTV's sports correspondent Rupert Bell is back on The Panel to give us his thoughts and tips on this week's much-anticipated Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
The talkSPORT regular has crossed the Atlantic to cover the biennial clash between Europe and the United States, who are the 8/11 favourites on betting sites to win back the trophy they lost in Rome two years ago.
He will be bringing exclusive insight into the two teams, with video reactions before and after each day’s play.
Here, Rupert gives us the first of three preview blogs in the build-up to Friday when one of the greatest contests in sport gets under way.
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Europe Must Handle Intensity
Few sporting events carry the drama and passion of the Ryder Cup.
I’ve been lucky enough to witness Europe’s triumphs on American soil, at Oak Hill in 1995 and Medinah in 2012, and both remain among the most extraordinary sporting occasions I’ve ever covered. That’s what makes this week so special. Winning away is brutally difficult!
Bethpage Black is the latest and perhaps the sternest test. The course is long, punishing and unforgiving, while the New York crowd will be louder and more partisan than anything Europe has experienced before.
The Ryder Cup in the States always delivers a bucket load of intensity, but here it could go to another level.
Momentum is everything in this contest. If Luke Donald’s side end day one ahead, the Americans will feel the weight of expectation and the home fans could grow restless.
But if Europe find themselves chasing, the task becomes infinitely harder.
Donald has prepared shrewdly, ensuring his players had quiet practice rounds last week before the big crowds arrived, helping them learn the course without distraction.
He has blended youth and experience well, but there are still question marks. Matt Fitzpatrick, for all his quality and good form, has a poor Ryder Cup record. Sepp Straka has had a turbulent season on and off the course. Europe will need both firing.
Rasmus, Tyrrell, Shane, Rory, Ollie and Jon enjoying the break between practice and Ryder Cup week ⛳
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 22, 2025
📸: Shane Lowry | #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/1HEfYHqJGh
US Taking Chance On Rookies
The contrast in experience is also striking. The Americans have named four rookies (Russell Henley, Cameron Young, Ben Griffin and JJ Spaun), while Europe only bring one (Rasmus Hojgaard).
Normally that tilts the balance in Europe’s favour, especially given how steep the Ryder Cup learning curve can be.
Bethpage’s hostile environment will be a baptism of fire for US newcomers, and if Europe can capitalise early, those rookies could find the occasion overwhelming.
Keegan Bradley, making his debut as captain, will demand fire and fight, but head-to-head this contest looks much closer than the world rankings suggest.
Pulled up to Bethpage. Prep starts now. 🏆#GoUSA pic.twitter.com/NQ4g7Sr7a0
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 22, 2025
When all is said and done, I believe Europe can win this Ryder Cup battle at 7/4 with SpreadEx.
However, I think it will be a close encounter and am leaning towards the Europeans to win 15-13 which can be backed at 12/1 on golf betting sites.
It’s a scoreline that captures how tight I expect it to be.
"Europe can win this Ryder Cup battle"
Europe can gain the early initiative, weather the storm of a US fightback and just hold their nerve on Sunday.
For those looking at the correct score market, a 15–13 victory for Europe looks a very fair price.
It reflects the sense that this will not be a runaway for either side, but a contest decided by a couple of key matches and perhaps one clutch putt late on.
Rupert Bell's Ryder Cup Tips:
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