United States off to perfect start in Ryder Cup

The United States has lost eight of the last 10 Ryder Cups. So it was understandable that Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed weren’t conceding anything in Friday morning’s foursomes, including a 22-inch putt on the ninth. That forced Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose to putt out to win the hole, which they did.

But the message was sent: It’s on.

Playing foursomes in the morning, the United States took a remarkable 4-0 lead.

It’s the ninth time a team has swept a session. In the previous eight, the team either won or retained the Ryder Cup.

Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth celebrate their first win at the Ryder Cup. (AfP)
Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth celebrate their first win at the Ryder Cup. (AFP)

Morning foursomes matches:

Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed (US) def. Hendrik Stenson/Justin Rose (EUR) 3&2

Match note: The U.S. squad never trailed; look for more of this pairing.

Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler (US) def. Rory McIlroy/Andy Sullivan (EUR) 1 up

Match note: Sullivan had a lengthy birdie putt lip out on 16 to lose the hole, then one swing later on 17 plunked one into the water. And just like that, the U.S. went from 1 down to 1 up and eventually the victory.

Jimmy Walker/Zach Johnson (US) def. Sergio Garcia/Martin Kaymer (EUR) 4&2

Match note: The U.S. duo didn’t win a hole until the 12th, then rattled off five in a row, turning what looked like the Europeans’ best shot into a rout.

Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (US) def. Lee Westwood/Thomas Pieters (EUR) 5&4

Match note: Perfect pairing for U.S. captain Davis Love III. Like Spieth/Reed, look for more from this duo.

What does foursomes mean? Players play one ball, alternating shots

Shot of the morning: Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler made a mess of the front nine, so much so that on the par-4 sixth, Mickelson hit his drive out of bounds. Fowler followed with a drive that landed up against a fence on the right-hand side. That meant the left-handed Mickelson had to turn around and hit righty. Eventually they conceded the hole, putting them 2-down to Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan.

Then on the ninth, with McIlroy facing a makeable par putt, Fowler stood on the side of the green in two and did this:

Boom. Birdie, sparking a run of three straight winning holes for the American side, turning a two-hole deficit into a one-hole lead and eventually the victory.

What’s next? The afternoon competition is four-ball: Each player plays his own ball, with the lowest individual score on each team counting. The team with the lower score wins the hole.

Here are the afternoon four-ball matches:

Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed vs. Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson
J.B. Holmes/Ryan Moore vs. Sergio Garcia/Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Brandt Snedeker/Brooks Koepka vs. Martin Kaymer/Danny Willett
Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar vs. Rory McIlroy/Thomas Pieters