The stars of the Europe team made a strong start in the 45th Ryder Cup and gave little pleasure to the great golf fan Donald Trump.
In front of the eyes of the US president and over 50,000 other viewers at the Black Course in the Bethpage State Park on Long Island/New York, the Europeans fought a 3-1 lead on the first day of the eternal comparison with the top people of the United States in the first four Foursome matches.
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 it 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.
Trump visit and a lot of security
The five-time major winner 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 list of Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley 5 & 3.
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 Fourball matches on Friday, and four Foursomes and Four Fourballs will also take place on Saturday before twelve single matches decide on the Ryder Cup on Sunday.
The already traditional patriotic atmosphere at a US venue had increased significantly after the fatal attack on the right-wing conservative US activist Charlie Kirk.
Among the droves of Golffans were many in creative, stars-and-stripes outfits. The security traffic was huge, after all, Golf fan Trump was also a large Kirk fan.