Ryder Cup 2025: US caddie apologises over ugly flashpoint at Bethpage Black

Scottie Scheffler's caddie Ted Scott has apologised for "responding to aggression with aggression" during a tense Ryder Cup match. 

Scheffler's looper was involved in a heated back-and-forth during the Saturday afternoon fourballs. 

The reigning Open champion played alongside Bryson DeChambeau and were up against Europe's Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose. 

Rose appeared to believe that DeChambeau's caddie, Greg Bodine, was encroaching on his line as he lined up a crucial 15-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole at Bethpage Black in New York. 

The European veteran, who is now a bona fide Ryder Cup legend after he helped Luke Donald's men clinch their first away victory since 2012, appeared to use an expletive when he asked Bodine to move. 

Rose sank the putt, sparking wild scenes, but the row escalated as the group walked to the next tee box, with European vice-captain Francesco Molinari also getting involved. 

It resurrected memories of what transpired two years ago in Italy when Rory McIlroy raged at several members of the US team following a similar incident. 

Scott has now addressed the moment, saying that the matter was resolved quickly. 

"I didn't sleep that great last night, you know, I had a lot of time to reflect on hole 15, the walk up to 16, and here's what I know, and here's the only thing I'm going to speak about, and that's my part in it," he told his Instagram followers. 

"When I saw aggression, I responded with aggression. My words were aggressive, and then another person came to me and touched me aggressively, and then I got even more aggressive, and I'm sorry for all of that. 

"You know, what does God teach me in the Bible? Something that's a very simple principle, but very difficult to do, and that's to speak the truth in love.

"What I should have done is defend what I thought to be the truth in a loving way, but I responded to aggression with aggression, and I'm sorry for that. 

"But what many of you don't know is that all of us players and caddies worked it out immediately. By the time we had walked off the next tee box, apologies were said, and we moved on.

"I looked each one of those men in the eyes, I told them what great players they were, and how well they had played, and congrats, told the caddies the same. 

"And Francesco Molinari and I had two chats, actually, and I told him that I loved him, and that I knew his character was not one of aggression, and I know he knows my character is not one of aggression. We all make mistakes, and I just want to take my part in it, and tell each of you fans that I'm sorry."

Rose and Fletwood ended up winning the match 3&2. Europe clinched a sensational 15-13 victory after a stunning US fightback on the final day.

Scott added: "I'm sorry for bringing something into the light that's evil, and that's my heart. My heart is evil many times. The Bible says, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and I'm nothing without Jesus. He's put me in this position. 

"I'm nothing without these great players. There's nobody who would even be listening to me if it wasn't for the guys that I've worked for.

"So, in a moment of humility and embarrassment, I just want to say that I'm going to keep trying to put Jesus first, keep trying to follow the King, apologize when I mess up, which I have done, and I will continue to do, and own up to my part in this story.

"I love you guys. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday. Hopefully this will speak to someone. See you guys."

For his part, Rose downplayed the flashpoint. 

"It was a shame that the match got to that point because it was actually a really great match,” said Rose.

"I was waiting to putt, the boys were obviously working on their read, obviously going through a lot of their sort of whatever, calculations and bits and pieces, so I sort of waited a few seconds and then I felt like they came up again.

"I was like, 'It's my putt, righ'’, or however I said it. Maybe I didn't say it as politely as I could have said it in the moment, but by no means was there any disrespect or anything like that, but obviously it was taken the wrong way.

"I don't think we should dwell on that, honestly. I said to the boys, 'If you want me to say, excuse me, please', then yeah, my bad, but it was an amazing match honestly. I think we got off to a great start.

"The quality of golf was exceptional. Tommy played incredible around the turn in the middle of the back nine, and it was an epic match to be a part of."

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