I know Bethpage Black — here are the five holes that will shape the 2025 Ryder Cup

A straight shot from the new tee box to the front of the green is about 360 yards, which is doable for a few of these players. This will be a fun hole to watch all week. 

Hole No. 4: Par 5, 517 yards

The fourth hole is an exemplary risk-reward par 5. It all starts with the tee shot to a winding fairway that swirves from right to left. Players will try to push their drives down to the edge of the fairway to set up a short approach shot, but that brings the deep bunker on the left side into play.

An accurate drive leads to a green-light approach shot, but a golfer must be precise on this one. Deep bunkers guard the front of the green, and the putting surface runs away from you to a tricky runoff area. Players who can hit high, soft long irons will have a distinct advantage on the most scoreable par 5 on the course. 

Hole No. 13: Par 5, 608 yards

The 13th hole is the only par 5 on the back nine and the longest hole at Bethpage Black. It will be reachable by only the longest hitters in the world. 

Avoid the deep bunkers to the left of the fairway, and bombers will be able to have a go at this green in two. If they do, they'll need to stay away from the awkward bunker sitting 30 yards short of the green. 

Hole No. 15: Par 4, 484 yards

When you walk across Round Swamp Road and lay your eyes on the 15th hole for the first time, you question why you ever took up golf. No. 15 is a beast of a par 4 with a narrow fairway working from right to left. Even if you hit the fairway off the tee, your work is just beginning. 

The approach shot, which could be as long as 200 yards, plays 30 yards uphill to a mountain of a green with two gargantuan bunkers staring you in the face. You can't even see the putting surface, so all you can do is swing as hard as you can and hope your ball can climb the mountain. Par will be a popular winning score at 15.

Hole No. 17: Par 3, 207 yards

The 17th hole is a fantastic par 3 with a skinny green guarded by five cavernous bunkers on all sides. This will be an exciting hole to watch at the Ryder Cup because players who step up to the tee losing in their match will be forced to go right at the pin, bringing the bunkers into play. 

Those who dare play aggressively on the 17th will become heroes by the end of the week.

How to watch

USA will broadcast the first round Friday; NBC will provide coverage on Saturday and Sunday. (All times Eastern.)

Thursday (Sept. 25): 4-7 p.m. (Opening ceremony on Golf Channel)
Friday (Sept. 26): 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (USA)
Saturday (Sept. 27): 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday (Sept. 28): 12-6 p.m. ET (NBC)