FARMINGDALE, NY (AP) — The European team proved Friday that it’s all about points, not style, in the Ryder Cup. Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood silenced the Bethpage Black crowd, reminding the Americans that playing on home soil wouldn’t make it any easier to win the 17-inch gold trophy.
The Europeans won both sessions, before and after President Donald Trump's appearance, and entered Saturday with a 5.5-2.5 lead. "It's a great day for Europe," McIlroy said. "We would have taken this in a heartbeat."
The two big American stars, Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau, lost both matches. Scheffler failed to reach the 17th hole in either of his losses, becoming the first number one since Tiger Woods in 2002 at The Belfry to lose both matches on the opening day of the Ryder Cup. Moreover, the Americans were fortunate that the deficit was not greater. McIlroy had a 12-foot birdie putt that drifted slightly left of the hole, moving him and Shane Lowry into a tie with Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns.
Trump made history by becoming the first US president to attend the Ryder Cup. He initially sat behind protective glass, but later made his way to the first tee for the afternoon session with DeChambeau. He left early, perhaps unhappy with what he saw.
An explosive start for Europe
U.S. captain Keegan Bradley arrived at the first tee about 90 minutes before the match began, trying to energize the crowd. The large grandstand surrounding the first tee and the 18th hole was packed in the darkness, and he took the microphone to shout, “Let’s go, guys!”
Bradley also lined up DeChambeau in the opening session, who had promised to bring energy and a tsunami of fans. With his driver, he launched the ball 344 yards over the trees, earning a birdie and the first point for the Americans. However, the Europeans responded emphatically, accumulating points for a 3-1 lead in foursomes and then adding two more wins and a tie in the afternoon.
“The morning was great, but it was just one part of a long run,” Rahm said. “We started well and we have to keep it going. That’s what we did.” Rahm finished the day with a 2-0 record, joining Tyrrell Hatton in foursomes and Sepp Straka in fourballs, highlighting his excellent putting.
Highlights and Challenges for the U.S.
In the fourball match, Rahm made five birdies of at least 9 feet, the most notable being a 20-foot putt on the 15th hole, just after Scheffler made a 25-foot birdie that briefly gave the Americans hope. The Spaniard is now unbeaten in 11 of his last 12 Ryder Cup matches, a streak that began with his victory over Woods in Paris in 2018.
Fleetwood, who recently won his first tournament in the U.S. by capturing the FedEx Cup at the Tour Championship, joined McIlroy in the morning and then one of his English heroes, Justin Rose, in the afternoon. His 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole—which DeChambeau couldn't match—was key to earning another European point.
“The score is what counts,” Fleetwood said. “We feel very prepared and have been waiting for this day for a long time. Getting off to a good start feels great. Their team is full of incredible players, so every game will be tough, and points are very important.”
The crowd atmosphere resembled that of a New York Yankees game, with occasional insults, but rarely a lasting surge of noise, as the Americans offered little to encourage. McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre had to pause their shots due to shouts from the crowd. Someone yelled, "Fore, right!" just as Rahm was about to hit his first shot.
Despite the jeers, Europe built its lead, which surely caught the attention of the Americans heading into another day of eight team matches. There were some standout moments for the U.S. Patrick Cantlay avoided a shutout in the opening session by partnering with new father Xander Schauffele for a two-up win in foursomes. He also nearly held Sam Burns to a victory in the final match, settling for a draw.
Cameron Young, who won the New York State Open at Bethpage Black during his college days, returned to his home state and, alongside Justin Thomas, recorded the fastest victory of the day, 6 and 5 in fourballs.
Still, the three-point deficit against a European team that's stronger than ever is a considerable challenge. "We've only played 281 points," Bradley said. "This is just the first quarter. We still have three more quarters to play. I have a lot of faith in my guys."
