The stars of the Europe team made a strong start to the 45th Ryder Cup and golf fan Donald Trump gave little pleasure. Before the eyes of the US President and over 50,000 spectators on Black Course in the Bethpage State Park On the first day, the Europeans fought in the first four on Long Island/New York Foursome-Matches A 3-1 lead.
The European selection around captain Luke Donald needs 14 points as defending champion to win the cup played for the first time in 1927 for the eleventh time in the past 15 editions. Most recently, Europe prevailed in Rome with 16.5: 11.5.
“One step after the other. We are all going on together now, and then let’s see where this leads us”said the English world ranking southern Tommy Fleetwood.
Former master’s winner Jon Rahm (Spain) and Tyrrell Hatton (England) prevailed against the two-time US Open winner Bryson Decimbeau and the former world ranking Justin Thomas with 4 & 3. The five times major-Trory Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Fleetwood won 5 & 4 against Collin Morikawa/Harris English. The Swedish-English duo Ludvig Aberg/Matt Fitzpatrick defeated the world ranking of Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley 5 & 3.
Schauffele and Cantlay get the only point for the USA
After a 0: 3 intermediate stand, at least the two-time major champion Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay scored with 2-up against Robert Macintyre (Scotland)/Viktor Hovland (Norway) and thus prevented the US selection.
Afterwards there are four on Friday Fourball-Matches, on Saturday there are also four Foursomes and four Fourballs before twelve single matches decide on the Ryder Cup on Sunday.
The already traditional patriotic atmosphere at a US venue was further fueled by the tense political situation in the United States and by visiting the president. Many American golf fans had staggered in stars-and-stripes outfits, the security traffic was enormous.