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Smylie Kaufman calls out Scottie Scheffler’s shocking start to the Ryder Cup

Originally posted on HITC | By Jordan Harris | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 12:14 PM ET

Given everything that has gone on in the two years since the 2023 Ryder Cup, it appeared almost impossible that Scottie Scheffler would struggle at Bethpage Black like he had done in Rome.

Scottie Scheffler failed to win any of his four matches at Marco Simone two years ago. And of course, the world number one and Brooks Koepka lost 9&7 on Saturday morning.

But Scheffler has won 16 times worldwide since then, including three major championships. And when he won at the Procore Championship earlier this month, it appeared to send out an ominous warning to the Europeans.

Scottie Scheffler’s opening day at the Ryder Cup draws criticism

On Friday, Scheffler lost both of his matches in New York. Alongside Russell Henley, he fell 5&3 to Matthew Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Aberg in the morning foursomes. In the afternoon, he and J.J. Spaun lost 3&2 to Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka.

Scheffler didn’t make a birdie until the 13th hole of the second match. By that time, all three of his playing partners had already done so, and Europe were three up.

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Smylie Kaufman spoke on The Smylie Show about how surprised he was that Scheffler couldn’t get any control over either match.

He said: “That was shocking, not seeing him make a ton of birdies this afternoon, because I thought he did play well this morning, just never really had opportunities to just build momentum and it just sucks the life out of you when you just feel like you can’t grab any momentum in the matches.”

Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley’s costly decision

Henley and Scheffler’s early struggles came as a surprise. The pair had built a strong partnership during the Presidents Cup, both among the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour and ranked inside the world’s top three.

But they ran into trouble against a European pairing that not many would have seen coming together until very recently.

Henley made several uncharacteristic mistakes, but Kaufman suggested their biggest issue might have come before play even started on Friday morning.

“I think the big mistake in that match was Scottie Scheffler teeing off on the even holes. To me, it was a huge advantage from a distance standpoint Russell Henley teeing off on the odds, at times, there was a 30 to 40 yard advantage, but when Ludvig and Russell were hitting on these odd holes, it just always felt like the Europeans were at such a statistical advantage,” he said.

Kaufman continued: “Tons of long irons, the course played extremely long, tons of long irons. And I’m so used to Scottie Scheffler having such a big advantage off of the tee, but when he’s playing from Russell Henley’s ball, there was just no advantage.”

Scheffler wasn’t alone in his struggles – Patrick Cantlay also found it tough going. But with Europe taking control early again this year, American fans are growing concerned about what lies ahead for their team.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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