Europe dominates United States, ties best Ryder Cup start - ESPN

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — No matter how hard the Americans might have tried on Friday, the European team simply wasn't going to let them win a match on the opening day of the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

When it looked like the United States was finally going to capture its first full point in Friday's afternoon four-ball (best ball) matches, Norway's Viktor Hovland made a 26-foot birdie putt to tie things up with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

Then Spain's Jon Rahm carded eagles on two of the last three holes, including a 33-footer on the 18th, to secure another half-point from world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler and PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka.

Finally, when it seemed the Americans would get a victory from its last pairing on the course, U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark and Max Homa, England's Justin Rose made a 9-foot birdie on the 18th hole to take another half point.

After the Europeans went 4-0 in the Friday morning session for the first time in Ryder Cup history, they won one four-ball match and tied three others in the afternoon. Europe has a 6 ½-1 ½ lead, which matches its largest advantage after the first day since 2004. The Europeans won the Ryder Cup 18 ½-9 ½ at Oakland Hills Golf Club in Michigan that year.

It is only the second time the U.S. failed to win a match in a single day at the Ryder Cup; it gained just a half-point on a rain-interrupted Sunday in 2010. It is also only the second time a team has failed to win a match on opening day; Great Britain and Ireland went 0-4-0 on the first day in 1947.

Rahm was one of the European team's heroes on the first day. Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton defeated Scheffler and Sam Burns 4 & 3 in foursomes, then he made two big shots in