Across every Ryder Cup, pressure transforms ordinary shots into career-defining moments. At Bethpage Black in 2025, we saw it again — short game brilliance under the heaviest spotlight. From Jon Rahm’s chip-in birdie to Shane Lowry’s nerveless putt, the Cup was decided not by towering drives, but by the calm of players’ minds inside 100 yards.

Rahm’s Chip: Belief Over Lie

On Friday, Jon Rahm faced a brutal chip from thick rough, ball perched awkwardly near a bunker. For most golfers, this is where doubt creeps in. Rahm? He trusted his process. A clean strike, perfect weight, and the ball found the bottom of the cup for birdie.

That moment wasn’t about mechanics. It was about focus. As sports psychologist Bob Rotella reminds us:

“You cannot hit a golf ball consistently well if you think about the mechanics of your swing as you play.”

Rahm visualized, trusted, and executed — a masterclass in letting belief conquer pressure.

Lowry’s Six-Footer: Nerves of Steel

By Sunday, Shane Lowry stood over a six-foot putt that meant more than just his match. Make it, and Europe retains the Ryder Cup. Miss, and momentum swings back to the Americans. Under that kind of weight, most golfers tighten up. Lowry rolled it in like it was a Tuesday practice round.

Rotella has long said, “Attitude always wins over ability.” In that putt, Lowry showed the right mindset — calm, fearless, and decisive.

Hatton’s Half-Point: Every Stroke Matters

Tyrrell Hatton’s halved match with Collin Morikawa delivered the clinching half-point for Europe. It wasn’t one towering drive that sealed it, but steady recoveries, gritty short game play, and the mental discipline to treat each shot as its own battle.

In match play, that’s everything: you don’t need to be perfect for 18 holes — you need to be relentless for one shot at a time.

The Lesson for Every Golfer

The Ryder Cup teaches us what weekend golfers often forget: the short game is as much mental as it is mechanical. When nerves rise, you can either let doubt cloud your swing or you can trust your process.

Here’s how you can build that mental edge:

• Pressure Drills: Practice with consequences (make 5 chips in a row to “win” the hole). Simulate the nerves.

• Small Targets: As Rotella says, “lock your eyes and mind into the smallest possible target.” It sharpens focus.

• Reset Quickly: Missed shots aren’t disasters — they’re chances to recover. Treat every green miss as an opportunity, not a failure.

• Confidence Bank: Keep track of successful saves. Build proof that you can execute when it counts.

Key Takeaway

At Bethpage in 2025, the Ryder Cup reminded us that golf’s greatest battles are won between the ears and inside 100 yards. Rahm’s chip, Lowry’s putt, Hatton’s half — they weren’t just shots, they were statements of composure.

If you want to lower your scores and win your own pressure matches, don’t just train your wedges — train your mind.

➡️ Next in Inside the Scoring Zone: A 7-Day Mental Game Plan to Build Short Game Confidence.