Team Europe jumps to early 4-0 lead over USA in Ryder Cup

(Photo credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hit his tee shot on the par-3 17th hole just a meter away, helping Team Europe take a 4-0 lead over Team USA on the first day of the 44th Ryder Cup on Friday in Gypsy.

It is the first time in Ryder Cup history that the Europeans swept all four matches in one morning session.

McIlroy and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood put the finishing touches on a 4-0 lead by beating American duo Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 2 and 1 in Friday morning's foursomes session at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

The teams had gone back and forth over the last three holes, the Americans twice moving to just 1 under. The American team appeared poised to tie the match on the par-4 15th hole, but Fleetwood sank a 20-foot par putt and Schauffele shockingly missed a 5-footer to halve.

After Cantlay's first shot at no. 17 landed 20 feet away, McIlroy's sat still just 2 1/2 feet from the flagpole and received a rousing celebration from the European crowd. Schauffele missed his putt and Fleetwood tapped in the easy birdie.

"I've hit a lot of good shots in my time. It's right up there," McIlroy said.

Schauffele and Cantlay were America's scariest couple. They entered Friday 5-0 as teammates in foursomes play.

"Great to sweep a session," McIlroy said. "I can't remember the last time Europe did that. We can't get complacent at all. This is an incredibly long American team. Last week (at the Solheim Cup), the American girls went up 4-0 in the first session there and Europe could come back, so we're not taking anything for granted here. It's a great start, but we have to keep our foot on the pedal and keep getting points."

The American team never led in any of the four morning games.

Jon Rahm of Spain and Tyrrell Hatton of England defeated Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns, 4 and 3. Viktor Hovland of Norway and Ludvig Aberg of Sweden won four of their first six holes as they beat Max Homa and Brian Harman, 4 and 3. And Ireland's Shane Lowry and Austria's Sepp Straka were 4 up through nine holes en route to beating Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa, 2 and 1.

The Americans are the defending champions but have not won a Ryder Cup played in Europe since 1993. They will hope to bounce back in the afternoon sessions and earn points in the four four-ball (best ball) matches.

Hovland and Hatton will face Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who sat out the morning session for the Americans but have chemistry from their years-long friendship. Rahm and Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard will play Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and England's Justin Rose will duel with Homa and Wyndham Clark. And McIlroy and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick take on Morikawa and Schauffele.

--Field Level Media


https://nord.news/2023/09/29/team-europe-jumps-to-early-4-0-lead-over-usa-in-ryder-cup/?feed_id=47270

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