MORNING FOURBALLS

Brooks Koepka & Tony Finau v Justin Rose & Jon Rahm USA 1 up

EUROPE never trailed until the final hole as USA stole a huge point in the opening match.

Four consecutive European birdies saw them go two-up after 10. But at all square on the last, Rahm found rough off the tee and Rose’s second went through the green into the water, leaving Koepka to win the hole with a par when the Spaniard missed from 12 feet.

Dustin Johnson & Rickie Fowler v Rory McIlroy & Thorbjorn Olesen USA 4&2

WAYWARD McIlroy was the only player in the morning session to fail to make a birdie as he let his rookie partner down. A third birdie from Olesen somehow gave Europe the lead at No.8 before the Americans took over. Johnson and Fowler combined to make four brides in five holes to go three-up after 13. World No.1 Johnson had a birdie putt to win on 15 before the humiliation was ended on the 16th when he hit into four feet and neither European could get down in two.

Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas v Paul Casey & Tyrrell Hatton USA 1 up

IN A rollercoaster encounter, Spieth started superbly as he one-putted the first three greens. He was fiveunder par after seven to take the USA three up before Casey led a superb fightback. When Hatton won No.13, the match was miraculously all square. But Hatton missed his birdie putt on 18 and Spieth knocked in his three-foot par putt to win the match.

Patrick Reed & Tiger Woods v Francesco Molinari & Tommy Fleetwood Europe 3&1

THE boos for pantomime villain Reed on the first tee turned to cheers as he dumped his second shot in the water. Open champion Molinari took the lead with a six-foot birdie and did not trail until Woods made his second birdie on No.8. Birdies from the Italian at 11 & 12 kept the match all-square until he and Reed both found water at 15 but Fleetwood drilled home a 15-foot birdie from just off the green. And the US Open runner-up then nailed another birdie on the 16th to go two up with two to play as tiring Woods went into the water. Molinari secured Europe’s first point by rolling in a birdie on 17.