Europe Sweeps Opening Session In Ryder Cup To Put USA In 4-0 Hole

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy Ryder Cup — In front of a delighted crowd at Marco Simone, Europe gave the United States a rude welcome and a stark reminder of why it has been 30 years since they last won the Ryder Cup away from home by sweeping the opening session for the first time.

This defeat on Friday morning was so comprehensive that no match reached the 18th hole.

Jon Rahm made a 30-foot putt from off the second green and launched a tee shot at the par-3 seventh that struck the bottom of the hole. On the first hole, Viktor Hovland moved his team by chipping off the tight grass of the fringe, over a ridge, and into the cup.

Rory McIlroy delivered the final dagger, a tee shot to 2 feet on the par-3 17th hole, as he and Tommy Fleetwood, dubbed “Fleetwood Mac” for this Ryder Cup, dealt Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele their first defeat in foursomes.

Luke Donald, captain of Europe, appeared to be a visionary by beginning the match with foursomes, the more difficult format of alternate shots. Europe has always begun the Ryder Cup at home with four balls since 1993, the last time Europe suffered a home loss.

He believed his team was statistically superior in foursomes and desired a quick start. According to McIlroy, Donald had Europe compete in three-hole competitions during practice to instill a sense of urgency.

Europe has always begun the Ryder Cup at home with four balls since 1993, the last time Europe suffered a home loss.

Whatever the strategy, it nearly succeeded.

According to McIlroy, Luke has instilled in us the importance of getting off to a quick start, which has dominated our conversations all week. As evidenced by how everyone played, we were prepared from the first tee shot.

U.S. captain Zach Johnson also had a plan for the five sessions, only this beating was so meticulous it brought to mind what heavyweight Mike Tyson once said of Evander Holyfield. “Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth.”

The Americans were indeed wounded. They never held the advantage in any of the four contests.

Johnson’s strategy included benching Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who had a 3-1 record outside of Paris in the previous Ryder Cup in Europe. PGA champion Brooks Koepka and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark were also seated. The bench has a combined 11 career home runs.

“This was only the initial occurrence. It will be necessary to make adjustments across the board. We will be okay. “I’m not concerned,” Schauffele said. “I am not concerned. Our team is robust. These young men will be greedy in their upcoming matches.”

The Americans had to maintain parity in the afternoon fourballs, which featured four new partnerships for both teams and guaranteed participation by all 12 players.

Schauffele and Cantlay were 5-0 in foursomes at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, and their match appeared to be a nail-biter. Europe was leading by one when it lost its position on the 15th hole, and McIlroy made a par putt from 20 feet with a wedge. Cantlay had 25 feet to make an eagle.

Cantlay’s putt rolled about 4 feet past the hole, and then the momentum shifted: Fleetwood made the largest putt of the match, while Schauffele missed the 4-footer. Instead of the match being tied with three holes remaining, Europe was two up and on the verge of gaining another point.

Europe Sweeps Opening Session In Ryder Cup To Put USA In 4-0 Hole

“Waiting for a moment like that all day,” Fleetwood stated. It’s just another one of those Ryder Cup instances, and that’s why we’re playing.

Scheffler struck the first tee shot, but not before a spectator yelled, “You stink, Scottie!” as he prepared to swing. Typical of the Ryder Cup, there was much hissing, and Europe heard far worse at Whistling Straits and Hazeltine.

Scheffler and Sam Burns’ partnership record at two cups plummeted to 0-3-1, and they could experience Rahm in his entirety.

At the turn, Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were two strokes ahead but in trouble: shin-high rough on the left, more rough on the right, and still short of the green after three shots on the par-4 10th. Rahm had to get it up and down from 70 feet away to have any hope of not losing the hole. Then he buried the chip, forcing Scheffler to sink a putt from 8 feet to avoid falling further behind.

Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka won 4-and-3 against Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler to earn Europe’s other point. Europe led by four strokes at the turn, while the United States managed only one birdie and four bogeys.

Morikawa stated, “Giving away holes is the worst feeling, and we did it far too often.” “And we still dropped as low as 17.” We were engaged in combat, but nothing was penetrating.”

SOURCE – (AP)