Tale of the Tape: Ryder Cup, Day 1

Europe overturned a 3-1 morning deficit with a clean sweep in the afternoon to take a 5-3 lead heading to Saturday. Here’s the tale of the tape from Day 1 of the Ryder Cup.

BEST MATCH

The opening Four-ball match between Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau and Justin Rose and Jon Rahm was the most intriguing on day one. The Americans sat behind the eight ball throughout the match but kept pace to allow for a late ambush. With three to play Europe was 1-up until Finau took full advantage of a lucky break. His shot into the par-3 16th was coming down short and dangerously close to water but it hit the wooden bulkhead and bounced hard, coming down three feet from the hole. The birdie squared the match. Then on 18 Rahm found deep rough and Rose found water allowing the USA to win 1-up.

BEST AMERICAN

Jordan Spieth. While he was part of a team that got pummeled in the afternoon Spieth was on song in the morning. Three birdies in the opening seven holes in his Four-ball match with Justin Thomas against Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton set the tone for their win. More importantly for Spieth his putter was working … although it did cool in the afternoon.

BEST EUROPEAN

Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari. The pair cannot be split as they played together to go 2-0 against 19 majors worth of talent. They beat Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed 3 and 1 in Four-ball before smashing Thomas and Spieth 5 and 4 in Foursomes. When clutch putts needed to be made … they made them.

BEST STAT

Europe’s 4-0 clean sweep was the first time in their Ryder Cup history they’d managed a whitewash in Foursomes. The dominance, with each win 3 and 2 or better was the most dominant session for any Ryder Cup team ever.

BEST USE OF HINDSIGHT

Perhaps sending out veteran Phil Mickelson in Foursomes, or alternate shot, was not a great plan. Le Golf National has been set up with tight fairways and extremely long rough and Mickelson ranked 192nd of 193 players in driving accuracy this season on the PGATOUR. At one stage in his match he tried to lay-up off the tee with an iron for accuracy … and duly hooked the ball into a water hazard. Mickelson is once again due to sit on the bench in Four-ball Saturday meaning Furyk will send him out in Foursomes again … or sit his veteran until Sunday’s singles. The latter might be the best idea.

ROOKIE REVIEW

USA

Bryson DeChambeau (0-1-0) – Was benched in the morning before being paired with a very out-of-sorts Phil Mickelson in alternate shot. The duo was 4-over at the turn and staring at 7-down. Eventually lost 5 and 4 to Sergio Garcia and Alex Noren.

Justin Thomas (1-1-0) – Teamed with good friend and fellow former FedExCup champ Jordan Spieth in both sessions. Rode Spieth’s form to a win in Four-ball but did contribute the deciding hole. Got smashed in Foursomes.

Tony Finau (1-0-0) – Showed some nerves in his lone Four-ball match in the morning but enjoyed highlights including a chip in eagle. Rode a lucky bounce to a win.

EUROPE

Tommy Fleetwood (2-0-0) – Was brilliant on the way to two victories with Francesco Molinari. Rode the emotions and the crowd near flawlessly.

Alex Noren (1-0-0) – Sat out the morning but then joined Sergio Garcia in a demolition job in Foursomes.

Tyrrell Hatton (0-1-0) – After a slow start helped Paul Casey claw their way back in Four-ball match only to fall short in the last few holes. Had an outside chance to be a hero on the 18th but couldn’t get it done.

Thorbjorn Olesen (0-1-0) – Tried his best to carry a very poor Rory McIlroy in his Four-ball match against Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler but his shoulders couldn’t handle the weight.

Jon Rahm (0-1-0) – Had moments of brilliance but also some clear nerves in his Four-ball debut with Justin Rose. They didn’t trail until after the 18th hole with Rahm’s loose drive a contributing factor.