On Saturday, Team USA captain Keegan Bradley benched Ben Griffin for both the foursomes and four-ball sessions, a move that stirred debate among fans and analysts. Bradley’s blunt response summed it up: “I hope he’s pissed,” he said, hoping Griffin would turn frustration into motivation for Sunday’s play.

In the Ryder Cup, four players must sit out each session, meaning even top performers sometimes get benched. These decisions are driven by strategy, pairings, and matchups rather than individual performance.

Keegan Bradley explained, “The hardest part about this captaincy is having to sit the guys because everybody is so good. You have to look at the data and send out a powerful group, send a message.”’

Ben Griffin’s Friday four-ball round was steady, with a card of 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, –, 3, –, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3, the dashes showing where Bryson DeChambeau’s score counted. The pair kept the match close throughout, highlighted by Griffin’s birdie on the par-3 15th. However, Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose delivered late birdies on 16 and 17, securing a 1-up win for Team Europe.

“But I know Ben Griffin is going to go out tomorrow — I hope he’s pissed off. He should be. I would be pissed. I sat a whole day Saturday in Gleneagles. It was one of the lowest moments of my career. Along with Phil, we sat.”

Keegan Bradley shared an emotional reflection while addressing his decision to bench Ben Griffin. He recalled the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland, where U.S. captain Tom Watson kept both him and Phil Mickelson out for the entire Saturday session. Europe went on to win 16½ to 11½, and Bradley’s experience of sitting during such a pivotal stretch helped him understand the frustration Griffin might be feeling now.

Before play began on Friday, Griffin spoke about what the week meant to him as he soaked in his first Ryder Cup experience. Calling it “one of the coolest weeks ever,” the PGA Tour rookie praised the team atmosphere under Bradley’s leadership, saying it’s unlike anything he’s been part of before. “I feel very calm, composed, and honestly really excited,” Griffin said. As he prepared for that electric walk through the tunnel to the first tee, he was ready to feed off the crowd’s energy and embrace the challenge of representing his country on golf’s biggest stage.

While much of the early attention centered on Ben Griffin’s benching, Team USA’s problems go far beyond one lineup decision. Griffin sat out both sessions on Saturday, a tough call by captain Keegan Bradley that sparked debate about strategy and pairings. But even more concerning has been the performance of the team’s biggest star — Scottie Scheffler.

When the World No. 1 Falters: Scheffler’s Historic 0-4 Start Adds to Team USA’s Troubles

Scheffler entered Bethpage Black as the world No. 1 and the player expected to lead the American charge, yet his week quickly unraveled. Over Friday and Saturday, he went 0-4, becoming the first American since 1967 to lose all four of his opening matches. No world No. 1 had ever started a Ryder Cup this poorly, making Scheffler’s slump both historic and shocking.

He and Russell Henley were routed by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg on Friday morning, then fell again alongside J.J. Spaun in the afternoon. Saturday brought more heartbreak, with Scheffler missing a key wedge shot on 18 to halve a match before losing 3&2 to Justin Rose.

While Europe’s stars like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm rose to the occasion, Scheffler’s putting faltered, and his confidence cracked. His failure to win a single point became the defining disappointment of the Ryder Cup for Team USA, leaving only his Sunday singles match against McIlroy as a final chance to restore some pride.