Russell Henley posts lengthy statement after disappointing Ryder Cup performance

Russell Henley has posted a message of defiance on social media despite being left hugely disappointed to take just half a point individually during USA's loss to Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Henley, 36, was making his debut appearance on the United States Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in New York last week.

The World No.3 was hotly tipped to be a major thorn in Luke Donald's European team, especially when it came to light he would paired with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler in both of the foursomes sessions.

But Henley looked nervy in both matches, especially on Friday morning when missing multiple short putts early to send European duo Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Aberg into a commanding lead, one the Americans failed to peg back losing heavily 5&3.

Scheffler and Henley played a little better together in the Saturday foursomes, but were still beaten by Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland 1up. 

Henley was benched for both fourballs.

That may have already been part of Bradley's plan, but as officially the second highest-ranked American player on the team you have to believe Henley's form in the foursomes was a reason why he never featured in the Saturday fourballs when the hosts badly need points. 

Henley went 0-2 on Friday and Saturday and the stars and stripes trailed by a record seven points heading into the final-day singles.

The Ryder Cup already looked over at 11.5-4.5 in favour of the Europeans, who just needed to get to 14 points to retain the cup. 

But a late surge from the Americans saw them get within touching distance of the impossible. 

The Ryder Cup then very much came down to Henley's match against Shane Lowry.

USA had incredibly pulled to within three points (13.5-10.5) and there was a still a sea of red out there with four more points left.

Henley, at long last, was back in decent form - just like so many of his peers on Sunday. 

The American had reeled off eight birdies during his match against Lowry, but only took a 1up lead down the last such was the equal performance of the Irishman. 

Henley had a chance to seal the deal from 10 feet but narrowly missed his birdie putt. 

Lowry, on the same line and a few feet closer, then converted his putt on the left edge to tie the match and capture the crucial 14th point to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe. 

Jose Maria Olazabal, one of Europe's vice-captains, considers had Henley held on to win this match then USA would have gone on to win the Ryder Cup. 

A gutsy effort from Henley to come up against Europe's best performer on Sunday, but the ending just about summed up his week.

Few people, including ourselves here at GoflMagic who tipped Henley to be one of the top scorers at Bethpage, thought Henley would leave Bethpage with just half a point. 

Henley was one of three American players to end the week with just 0.5 points, joining Harris English and Collin Morikawa, who also lost both of their foursomes matches together before tying their singles matches.

English got his half a point under the controversial envelope rule as a result of Hovland pulling out on Sunday.

Morikawa and English were also ranked the 132nd out of 132 best possible pairings for foursomes by Data Golf on the eve of the Ryder Cup, which made Bradley's decision to put them together twice rather comical. 

The only player to earn less points at the 2025 Ryder Cup was Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard, who lost both of his two matches. 

Henley has since taken to Instagram to reveal huge disappointment at his Ryder Cup debut. 

"I’m still trying to process everything from this past weekend," wrote Henley.

"My first Ryder Cup was a mixture of amazing moments with my teammates but also bitter disappointment. Congratulations to the European team. What a performance! They deserved every bit of that win. 

"Sunday was one of the more special rounds of my life... 8 birdies in Sunday singles would typically get it done, but Shane matched me eye for eye the entire day. Only fitting that it ended in a tie. I have so much respect for him as a competitor!"

Despite sadness at losing the Ryder Cup on home turf, Henley concluded things with a message of defiance as he looks ahead to 2026 where he will go in search of landing his first major title and making a second straight US Presidents Cup team. 

"Keegan and the co-captains did a great job preparing us and put in so much hard work behind the scenes," continued Henley.

"I am so thankful for their hard work and it was the honor of my career thus far to play alongside those 11 men. 

"I am really looking forward to some family time and working on my farm for the next couple of months before I start getting ready for 2026 and beyond. 

"To everyone who has reached out with a kind word of encouragement to me, from the bottom of my heart- thank you. 

"I know I’ll come back stronger next year because of this experience."

Scheffler also had a week to forget at the Ryder Cup and entered the record books for all the wrong reasons. 

He became the first player since 1969 to start a Ryder Cup week 0-4.

The World No.1 lost both of his foursomes alongside Henley 5&3 and 1up, and he also lost both of his fourballs matches alongside JJ Spaun and Bryson DeChambeau both 3&2. 

Scheffler played better on his own on Sunday taking care of McIlroy 1up, but ending the week 1-4 was not what many expected for a player who has won six times in 2025. 

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"Representing Team USA at the @rydercupusa was a great honor," wrote Scheffler, whose Ryder Cup career record now stands at a lowly 3-6-3, which equates to a 38% strike rate. 

"There’s nothing like the pride of competing alongside such incredible teammates. 

"Thank you for everyone that came out to cheer us on this past week - it’s something I’ll never forget. 

"A hard fought week and a major congratulations to Team Europe."

What did you make of Scheffler and Henley's performances at the Ryder Cup? 

Did Henley let Scheffler down in both of the foursomes? 

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