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Inside Bethpage: Aon’s Guide to the 2025 Ryder Cup
Editor's Note: This article is written in partnership with Aon.
Since its inception in 1936, Bethpage Black has been the ultimate test for golfers of every skill level. Following a major renovation in 2002, the New York City-area public course has played host to golf’s biggest stages, including two U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship. However, this fall marks its greatest test yet - the venue’s first professional team event – the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Make no mistake, this legendary layout is a bear — renowned as one of golf’s hardest challenges. An infamous first-tee sign even warns that it’s meant only for highly skilled golfers. Ryder Cup players can expect Bethpage to play long — both in terms of yardage and grass. With thick rough and severely undulating greens, navigating each hole will require risk-reward decisions at critical times throughout the spirited three-day match. That starts at the tee. The best drivers historically grab a significant advantage at Bethpage Black: At the 2019 PGA Championship, the top 10 finishers picked up 73 percent of their shots gained from tee to green. However, that same event also recorded the fourth-most approach shots from 200+ yards of any tour event that year, and players missing greens were able to get up-and-down only 48.8 percent of the time, thanks to extremely demanding putts.
To give fans an idea of what to expect from the “extremely difficult course,” check out the below Bethpage Course Insights series presented by Aon, featuring longtime caddie and Aon Ambassador Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay.
Jumping out to an early lead in match play has proven to be crucial. Since 1985, the Ryder Cup team that wins the first hole has gone on to win its match 62 percent of the time, and at the 2023 Ryder Cup, the first team to take a lead won 68 percent of the time.
By the 10th tee, any Ryder Cup team that’s down by one has gone on to win the match only one-third of the time. If down by two at that point, the comeback rate plummets to 18 percent.
Clinching a match can be tough. At Bethpage Black, three of the final five greens — Nos. 14, 15 and 17 — rank among the toughest 5 percent in the world. That’s key, as 91 percent of all Ryder Cup matches have come down to the final stretch. Thus, captains and team members need to analyze the data so that they can make more intelligent decisions that help close out the matches.
When asked for his advice if he were on the bag at Bethpage Black, Bones told Golf Digest, "Length off the tee will be a key factor at Bethpage Black. It’s a big golf course, and in match play, it carries added weight from a psychological standpoint. If you can consistently put the pressure on your opponent by hitting it past them and playing second into the green, that can set the tone. At the same time, Ryder Cups are often decided on the greens, particularly in that 10–20-foot range. Those are the putts that keep momentum going or flip a match entirely on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My advice would be to get aligned early in the week on a clear strategy off the tee (where we’re taking on calculated risk, where we’re deciding to play safer) and then trust that approach to give ourselves the best chance to convert those momentum-shifting putts."
If you want an even deeper dive into the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black statistics, explore the full Course Insight Guide and see how Aon is helping shape better decisions on golf’s biggest stage — and beyond. For more information on Aon’s partnership with the Ryder Cup, see here.