Europe has stellar first session at Ryder Cup
GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, ITALY ❯❯ Europe swept the opening session of the Ryder Cup for the first time in its history, a beating so thorough that none of the foursomes matches reached the 18th hole.
And then somehow it got even worse for the Americans.
Right when they were on the verge of escaping Friday with a manageable deficit, Europe delivered one punch after another on the 18th hole at Marco Simone. It left the Americans without a single win on opening day for the first time in Ryder Cup history, and it gave Europe a record-tying lead in its bid to regain the cup.
Three fourballs matches came to the 597-yard closing hole, all of them looking like a red American point on the board.
And then Viktor Hovland made a 25-foot birdie putt. Jon Rahm made a 35-foot eagle putt that slammed into the back of the cup. Justin Rose finished it with an 8-foot birdie putt, all those matches ending in a tie.
For a moment, it looked like the day would end with Europe holding a 5-3 lead.
Instead, it was 61/2-11/2. The five-point lead matched the biggest margin after one day, last done by Europe at Oakland Hills in 2004 when it handed the Americans their worst loss.
“Historic day,” European captain Luke Donald said “But we want it to be an historic week. So the job is certainly not done. We will all celebrate an amazing day, but we'll be back tomorrow morning with the goal of trying to win tomorrow morning's session.”
U.S. captain Zach Johnson could only offer hope that the tide would turn. He offered no excuses other than a mysterious mention of a bug going through the U.S. team.
“It did not go in our favor today. Doesn't mean it can't tomorrow or Sunday,” Johnson said. “Tip my cap to the European team for playing great golf. Our time's coming.”
Europe needs only to win eight points from the remaining 20 matches to extend its winning streak at home that dates to 1993. Donald pushed all the right buttons by starting with foursomes, which he considered a European strength that would give him a hot start.
And then he let his stars do the work. Rory McIlroy was the only player to win both his matches, even if he rode the amazing play of Matt Fitzpatrick in fourballs. Fitzpatrick won five straight holes on the front nine in the only fourballs match that ended early.
Rahm twice holed big shots off the green in foursomes with Tyrrell Hatton and hit the pin with his tee shot on a par 3. In the afternoon, he made two eagles over the last three holes.
Hovland got this shot-making clinic started in the morning when he chipped in from 45 feet, off a tight lie on the fringe and over a ridge. He ended his day with that big birdie, a putt that paused ever so briefly before taking one final turn into the cup.
Europe had the stars, all the pivotal shots and a delirious home crowd pushing them along the way. It was a rude welcome and a harsh reminder to the Americans why it has been 30 years since they last won the Ryder Cup away from home.
The American stars fell flat. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay lost their foursomes match to McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood. The American tandem had been 5-0 in foursomes at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth were undefeated in fourballs in three previous Ryder Cup matches. They had to settle for a a halve when Hovland made his big putt.