Scottie Scheffler has the chance to write a new Ryder Cup story at Bethpage Black

Each time Scottie Scheffler plays a competitive round, it feels like something historic is imminent.

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That held true throughout 2025. Scheffler won the PGA Championship and The Open along with four other tournaments. He has sat atop the Official World Golf Ranking since 2023, and now heads to Long Island this weekend in an attempt to create another historic moment and help retake the Ryder Cup from Europe at Bethpage Black.

For all the history Scheffler writes, rarely is he the author of a story of redemption. That opportunity is now in front of the former Longhorn as he takes to the “Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers.”

“I don’t think it can be understated how difficult of a week Rome was for us,” Scheffler said Tuesday. “I think we could have done better for sure. That wasn’t how I expected the week to go. I think we learned from it, and we’re as prepared as ever this time.”

Scheffler downplayed the idea that his record-setting 9&7 loss as part of a larger 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 defeat at the hands of the Europeans in 2023 is functioning as motivation. However, he did say there are “always things you can learn from those experiences.” The lessons from that dismal week in Rome may be what’s needed to put the loss in the past and become a two-time Ryder Cup champion.

Scheffler is no stranger to the brand of pressure provided by the Ryder Cup. The crucible for the players is without equal. The weight of an entire country is on the shoulders of those teeing up for the U.S.A. American players, previously unpaid, now receive a decent stipend. But even with some spending money, the pride and pressure associated with playing for the red, white, and blue is unique in the sport of golf.

To be sure, good Ryder Cup play has not escaped Scheffler on home soil. Playing alongside Bryson DeChambeau in four-ball matches on Friday and Saturday in 2021 at Whistling Straits, the two Metroplex natives tied their first match then won their second. Scheffler won his Sunday singles match over Jon Rahm, 4&3.

But in 2023 at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Scheffler played a significant role in a disastrous Friday as part of a forgettable week. First, Scheffler and Sam Burns lost their Friday foursome 4&3. Then, Scheffler played Friday afternoon with Brooks Koepka in a four-ball match against Rahm and Nicolai Højgaard. The match was tied, but it was part of a day in which the U.S.A. did not win a single outing.

Saturday was worse. Scheffler and Koepka lost their foursome to Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland 9&7, the largest defeat in an 18-hole match in Ryder Cup history.

“In terms of the match with Viktor and Ludvig, do I carry anything from it?” Scheffler said. “No. I lost a point. It was a tough day. Came back the next day, played my best, ended up having a match with Rahm and we ended up losing the Cup.”

Fault did not belong to Scheffler alone for that team defeat. But except for Max Homa, no American, Scheffler included, recorded a quality week.

Team captain Keegan Bradley could rely heavily on Scheffler putting his Italian disappointment behind him in order to win and make it three consecutive Cups where America has emerged victorious on home soil.

It’s not uncommon for a player to appear in all five sessions, but recent captains have used discretion with regards to that tactic. Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth played in all five matches in 2016. Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and Justin Thomas did it in 2018. In 2021, Johnson was the only golfer to appear in all five sessions. Homa alone carried that mantle in 2023.

Scheffler was selected for three sessions in 2021 and four in 2023. Is five next?

“Well, I think you’ve got to take a temperature of how the week is going,” Bradley said Tuesday. “We certainly have guys that can go five in our team that we’re comfortable with. It doesn’t mean they will. I think we want to see how the flow is going, see how the energy is.”

Scheffler is already in elite company when it comes to the game of golf. With four majors, 24 wins, an Olympic gold medal, a FedEx Cup, and countless other honors, there are more people who swing the sticks chasing Scheffler than there are golfers pursued by Scheffler.

He already has one Ryder Cup win to his name. A second? Bradley believes that’s the type of thing an all-time resume needs.

“I think the only two things in the golf world that you are when you retire is either a major winner or a Ryder Cupper,” Bradley said. “No matter what happens, you look at that guy — I remember watching events as a kid and my dad saying, he’s a Ryder Cupper or he’s a major champion. That never goes away. That’s with you forever.”

Scheffler can not only become a two-time Ryder Cupper at Bethpage and put the memory of Rome behind him, he can craft a new story that will fall into a far more cherished category. It would be one that looks a lot different than the last time Scheffler put on his nation’s colors.

“These are the weeks when you look back on your career, these are the weeks that I remember the most,” Scheffler said. “I have some of my best memories of my whole life playing these tournaments. Like I said, I’m just excited for Friday to get started.”