The sun had just risen over Bethpage early Monday morning, casting magnificent shadows across the first tee of the Black Course, where U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, his 12 players and their caddies stood, ready to embark on their first official practice rounds for the 45th running of these matches, which begin Friday.

It was about an hour before the 12 players would split off into three groups of four when Bradley introduced Chris Mascali, a 42-year-old lieutenant from Ladder 157 in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Mascali stood before Team USA on the first tee with his 8-year-old son, Joey, who’s named after Mascali’s father, Joseph.

Joseph Mascali was 44 — two years older than Chris is today — when he died on 9/11 as a member of the elite Rescue 5 unit on Staten Island. He was off that day and jumped into duty anyway, joining his ladder company on the call.