Going for it? Bryson DeChambeau said Ryder Cup’s 1st hole is 'definitely drivable'

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Rory McIlroy sparked conversation last week during Team Europe's scouting trip to Bethpage Black about whether it was possible.

And on the eve of the 2025 Ryder Cup, it's more of a question of how many players will, in fact, try it.

The par-4 opening hole measures 397 yards, but it's only about 365 yards on a direct line to the front of the green. Throughout the week in practice rounds, numerous players have teed off before blasting balls down the hill, not aiming for the fairway but rather right toward the green. With rough less penal this week than it was in the 2019 PGA Championship, golfers are more willing to take risks off the tee, and it starts with the opening tee shot.

Bryson DeChambeau famously drove the first green in the 2021 Ryder Cup during Sunday Singles and made the eagle putt. At Bethpage Black, the hole is a bit longer, but DeChambeau's eyes aren't glancing toward the fairway.

"I think the first hole is definitely drivable if it's downwind," he said. "Crosswind, into the wind, you have to have close to 200 ball speed to get there. But if it's downwind, I could definitely get the front edge if the conditions aren't too soft."

DeChambeau is one of the longest hitters in the game, as is McIlroy, so their attempting to drive the green isn't too egregious. Jon Rahm knows the driver is the club off the tee; it's just picking the right line depending on the conditions.

"Depends on the wind," Rahm said. "Downwind — maybe not in the morning, but if it gets straight downwind, it can get fairly close. The rough isn't so high that you can — makes you think about having to hit the fairway, right. So you can afford to miss the fairway, be so close to the green and have a good chance of hitting it close. If it's into the wind, it's a driver regardless, and downwind, it will most likely being a driver."

The opening hole is a sharp dogleg right with trees blocking the view of the green from the tee. However, if winds are blowing from the south or southwest, look for players to aim a bit more right and risk coming up short in the rough.

Ben Griffin, who has played in practice rounds with DeChambeau this week, believes it would be easy for the two-time U.S. Open champion to find the putting surface.

"If I gave him 10 balls in the right conditions if he knows he can get it there, he's going to hit three probably on the surface or on the fringe, and five are going to be in a bunker or on the green, and then add another two that are going to be like 20 yards left and maybe one or two right," Griffin said. "I don't know. Maybe one bad one. But he's hitting it pretty good right now. I played a lot with him, and he's pretty confident."

Will every player aim at the green off the first tee? Nope. In fact, there's a good chance it only happens once or twice throughout the three days of Ryder Cup competition.

But fans perched in the grandstand behind the tee or those waiting by the green are in for a treat, whether it's DeChambeau, McIlroy or someone else who attempts to spark their team from the first shot. Even if it is a 365-yard shot right from the get-go.

"That's nothing, right?" DeChambeau joked. "Just a normal long drive shot."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Will Bryson DeChambeau try to drive the first green at the Ryder Cup?