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| Ryder Cup History Made: Team Europe Achieves 4-0 Lead Against Team USA in Rome with Friday Foursomes Dominance |
Team Europe made history with a remarkable start in their quest to reclaim the Ryder Cup, dominating the opening session by winning all four foursomes matches at Marco Simone Golf Club. This strategic move by Captain Luke Donald to begin with foursomes rather than the traditional fourballs paid off handsomely, giving Europe an unprecedented 4-0 lead and the first-ever sweep in the history of the event.
In the top match, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton showcased their prowess by defeating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and a struggling Sam Burns with a convincing score of 4&3. Meanwhile, Ryder Cup rookie Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland mirrored this feat, securing another 4&3 victory over Max Homa and Brian Harman.
Sepp Straka, making his Ryder Cup debut, partnered with Shane Lowry to dispatch Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa 2&1, further extending Europe's lead to 3-0. The morning session culminated in a stellar performance by Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, who also secured a 2&1 win over Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
This historic 4-0 lead after the opening session marked the first time Europe had ever achieved such a commanding start in Ryder Cup history. Additionally, it was the first time since 2006 that Team USA found themselves trailing heading into Friday afternoon, giving the hosts a substantial advantage as they aimed for a seventh consecutive home victory in the biennial contest.
Rahm and Hatton's victory was particularly notable, with Rahm's remarkable chip-in and clutch putting contributing to their dominant performance. After the match, Rahm expressed his confidence in Hatton, emphasizing their synergy on the course.
Hovland and Åberg's success was equally impressive, with Hovland's early birdie setting the tone for their commanding win. Åberg's precision and Hovland's consistency proved to be a winning combination.
Lowry and Straka's pairing showcased remarkable teamwork, highlighted by Lowry's precision approach and Straka's resilience. Lowry expressed his satisfaction with their performance and their strong start in the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy and Fleetwood's partnership delivered crucial points for Europe, with McIlroy's putting and Fleetwood's steady play making the difference. McIlroy underscored the importance of a fast start, which was clearly evident in their play.
Looking ahead to the afternoon session, Hovland and Hatton led Europe in the foursomes, facing Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. Rahm joined forces with Nicolai Hojgaard to take on Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose began their campaign against Max Homa and Clark, while McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick rounded out the matches against Morikawa and Schauffele.
The historic 4-0 lead in the morning session provided Team Europe with a significant advantage as they continued their pursuit of Ryder Cup glory.
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