Team Europe had an excellent first day of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, Italy. The European squad captured 6.5 of a possible eight points, to lead the United States 6.5 to 1.5. Just how dominant was the European squad on Friday? Well, the United States did not win a single match as they generated their point and a half from three tied matches in four ball play. It was the first time in Ryder Cup history that the United States went through an entire day of competition without winning a match.
The European stars were two of the top three players in the world. Rory McIlroy of Holywood, Northern Ireland won both of his Friday matches. First, he teamed up with Tommy Fleetwood of Southport, England to beat the American duo of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 2&1 in foursome play, and then teamed up with Matthew Fitzpatrick of Sheffield, England to beat Schauffele and Collin Morikawa 5&3, in fourball play. Rahm meanwhile eagled two of the last three holes to half a point in fourball play. He teamed up with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard as they tied the powerful American duo of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. Rahm won his foursome match with England’s Tyrrell Hatton, as they beat Scheffler and Sam Burns 4&3.
Europe actually won all four foursome matches. Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg and Norway’s Viktor Hovland teamed up to beat Brian Harman and Max Homa of the United States 4&3. Also Ireland’s Shane Lowry teamed up with Austria’s Sepp Straka to beat the American duo of Rickie Fowler and Morikawa 4&3.
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