Ryder Cup live: Europe take first three points in stunning start at Bethpage Black
Europe scored the first three points as they quietened the home crowd to make a stunning start to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton first came from behind to beat Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3 in Friday’s opening foursomes match.
The heavyweight ‘Fleetwood Mac’ pairing of Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy then overcame Collin Morikawa and Harris English 5&4 in match three.
Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick were also in fine form as they saw off world number one Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley 5&3.
Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland found the going tougher against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay and were trailing by one after 13 holes.
Earlier, Jon Rahm got the 45th Ryder Cup got underway amid a raucous atmosphere in New York on Friday.
The Spaniard had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot at Bethpage Black as Europe began their defence of the trophy they won comprehensively in Rome two years ago.
The match had begun in a fiery atmosphere with the crowd, whipped up prior to the start by US captain Keegan Bradley, in good voice in the 5,000-capacity grandstand at the first tee.
Rahm – addressing the ball amid the cacophony – hit a wayward first shot, but DeChambeau, treated to relative silence, smashed a superb straight drive.
That enabled the American pair to win that first hole, but the Europeans settled as the crowd began to disperse around the course.
Rahm and Hatton were booed, and it seemed nerves were evident as the Spaniard – addressing the ball amid the cacophony – hit a wayward shot as play began at 7:10am local time (12:10pm Irish time).
DeChambeau, treated to relative silence in comparison, followed by hitting a superb straight drive, and the American