Europe Steamrolls U.S. in Opening Foursomes Sweep at Ryder Cup
ROME — The struggles for the U.S. Ryder Cup team while playing in Europe are well-documented, a 30-year run without a victory in the biennial competition a big talking point this week at Marco Simone Golf Club
But the Americans might have challenged their own futility Friday morning, getting off to a dismal start that saw them fail to lead any match at any time and fall behind 4-0 in the foursomes format.
It was really a pitiful display. To call it a butt-kicking would be kind.
No matches made it to the 18th hole, and no matches were even tied beyond the fourth hole.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton began the domination for Europe in the Day 1 opening session with a 4 and 3 win in the first match.
Alessandra Tarantino/AP
The U.S. had openings but faltered each time. Three players found water hazards, nobody seemed able to make a big putt and the Europeans fed off their home course advantage and boisterous crowd to forge ahead with the afternoon fourball competition now becoming crucial for the Americans.
“It's been an unbelievable session," said Rory McIlroy, who alongside Tommy Fleetwood defeated Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele 2 and 1 in the session's final match.
"We switched the format this year to go foursomes first because statistically that's our better session. And all week, all we've been talking about is getting off to fast starts. Playing three-hole matches in practice, three holes, go again, three holes, go again, something that captain Luke's (Donald) drilled into us. We were ready to go from the first tee shot as obviously as you can see in how everyone played."
For the first time since 1989—a competition that the U.S. team rallied to tie in the end—the U.S. played an entire session without leading for at least one hole in any match.
It is only the fourth time in Ryder Cup history that a team began with a swept 4-0 session with each of the previous three times being foursomes and by the Americans. Each time, the U.S went on to win the Ryder Cup.
Only one team—Schauffele and Cantlay against McIlroy and Fleetwood—trailed by a few as one hole through the first nine.
Meanwhile, Europe’s Viktor Hovland holed a pitch shot from the fringe at the very first hole, ominously setting the tone for the Americans. That was the first birdie of the day. Jon Rahm hit the flagstick with his tee shot at the par-3 7th, his ball narrowly missing going in and stopping less than 2 feet way. And Rahm would save a par with partner Tyrrell Hatton at the 9th by chipping, banging his shot off the pin and in.
The U.S. now needs an afternoon rally. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth lead off in fourball, with Scheffler and Brooks Koepka to follow. Wyndham Clark will get his first shot in a Ryder Cup with Max Homa followed by Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.
Here is a summary of the matches so far.
Match 1: Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton (Europe) defeated Scottie Scheffler/Sam Burns (U.S.), 4 and 3.
Burns was a controversial captain’s pick for Zach Johnson and he did little to alleviate the chatter. A poor summer had him a question mark despite his WGC Match Play victory in March. Seen as a good partner for Scheffler—they did play together last year at the Presidents Cup—his inexplicable shot into the water at the par-5 9th with McIlroy having to play from the rough was a killer. The U.S. was poised to win the hole and get back in the match, but lost the next hole and were done.
Match 2: Viktor Hovland/Lucas Aberg (Europe) defeated Max Homa/Brian Harman (U.S.), 4 and 3.
The Americans went down two holes right away, then battled back with two consecutive birdies. But they bogeyed the 5th and never got closer. Hovland chipped in on the first hole and Aberg was solid in his first Ryder Cup experience.
Match 3: Shane Lowry/Sepp Straka (Europe) defeated Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa (U.S.), 2 and 1
The tone was set on the very first hole when Fowler missed a makeable par that would have meant a 1-up lead. By the turn, Fowler and Morikawa were 4 down, twice losing holes to pars. They tried to make it interesting by winning two holes on the back nine but lost to another par on the 14th. Needing to make a putt from the fringe to tie, Morikawa left it short. At least they got the match to the 17th hole.
Match 4: Rory McIlroy Tommy Fleetwood (Europe) defeated Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (U.S.), 2 and 1
The Americans' best foursomes team was struggling but had a chance to tie the match at the 15th. So what happens? With Fleetwood staring at a 25-footer for par, Cantlay runs his birdie putt to win the hole 6 feet past. Fleetwood then makes the unlikely par putt, and Schauffele misses his. Instead of winning the hole to tie the match, the Americans lose to go 2 down and can’t catch up.
Here are the afternoon fourball matches:
12:25 p.m. (6:25 a.m. ET): Tyrrell Hatton/Viktor Hovland (Europe) vs. Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas (U.S.)
12:40 p.m. (6:40 a.m. ET): Jon Rahm/Nicolai Hojgaard (Europe) vs. Brooks Koepka/Scottie Scheffler (U.S.)
12:55 p.m. (6:55 a.m. ET): Justin Rose/Robert MacIntyre (Europe) vs. Max Homa/Wyndham Clark (U.S.)
1:10 p.m. (7:10 a.m. ET): Rory McIlroy/Matt Fitzpatrick (Europe) vs. Collin Morikawa/Xander Schauffele (U.S.)