HOW THE FOURSOMES PLAYED OUT
JOHN RAHM & SERGIO GARCIA beat BROOKS KOEPKA & DANIEL BERGER 3&1
Europe’s all-spanish pairing produced a superb fightback to claim Europe’s only point of the opening session. It came after a start to forget as Koepka and Berger won the opening three holes.
The Europeans reduced the deficit at the fourth but again found themselves three down after a bogey at the par-five fifth. Their recovery began as Rahm secured the sixth with a solid putt and Garcia did likewise at the eighth before brilliantly chipping in to take the ninth.
They maintained the momentum with success at the 12th and 13th. The Americans kept hopes alive by winning the 14th but, after a long delay at the 15th when a ruling went against a frustrated Koepka, the Spaniards closed the match out by winning at 16 and 17.
PAUL CASEY & TYRELL HATTON lost to DUSTIN JOHNSON and COLLIN MORIKAWA 2&1
Casey and Hatton were left with too much to do after an early battering that saw the Americans win six of the opening eight holes to move four ahead. Johnson underlined their superiority by chipping in at the third.
The European pair pulled one back when the Americans bogeyed the 11th and, after also taking the 13th, they suddenly
sensed an unlikely comeback when Casey remarkably holed a blind approach for an eagle at the 14th. The run was not to last as the Americans quickly hit back at the 15th and then held on.
VIKTOR HOVLAND & BERND WIESBERGER lost to JUSTIN THOMAS & JORDAN SPIETH 2 down
Hovland and Wiesberger went down to defeat on the 18th after letting a brilliant start slip. The European duo led by three after six but their advantage was cancelled out as Thomas and Spieth won three of the next four.
A birdie at 11 saw Hovland and Wiesberger edge back ahead but they then lost three in succession from the 14th. A birdie on the 17th ensured the match would go the distance but any hopes of snatching back half a point ended when Wiesberger found the creek that cuts through the final fairway.
LEE WESTWOOD & MATT FITZPATRICK lost to XANDER SCHAUFFELE & PATRICK CANTLAY 2&1
Another match that started brightly for the Europeans ended in disappointment. After early holes were shared, Westwood produced a superb approach to the fifth to allow Fitzpatrick to put Europe ahead.
Things took a turn for the worse as Olympic champion Schauffele and Fedex Cup winner Cantlay won four out of five holes around the turn. Westwood and Fitzpatrick rallied to win the 12th and 16th but the American success at the 15th kept things beyond their reach.
Score after Morning Foursomes:
USA 9 EUROPE 3