Shutout.
Skunked.
Blanked.
Whatever you want to call it, the good old USA got off to a dream start Friday morning at the 41st playing of the Ryder Cup.
It didn’t take long for the American lead twosome — Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, to get their opponents in a frightening headlock. Spieth and Reed, perhaps American’s deadliest duo, won two of the first three holes from Europe’s strongest pairing — Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. After that, Spieth and Reed never looked back and wound up with a 3-and-2 victory in the alternate shot format that set the tone for the rest of the USA pairings.
Hazeltime proved a friendly battleground.
Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler were on a roller coaster ride all day. They were two-down with four holes to play in their fight with Rory McIlroy and first-timer Andy Sullivan. But Mickelson and Fowler caught fire in a bottle. They won the 15th, 16th and 17th to take a 1-up victory and put the second point on the board for the U.S.
Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson found themselves in a close match with Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer. The Americans were one-down through 11 then won an incredible five straight holes to score a huge 4-and-2 win for the third point.
There was never any doubt in the Dustin Johnson-Matt Kuchar vs. Lee Westwood-Thomas Pieters match. Westwood and Pieters put on one of the worst showings in Ryder Cup history. They were four-over par through seven holes, handing D.J. and Kooch a quick four-up lead. Needless to say it ended quickly, 5-and-4 and the U.S. had the best start it could have imagined
It was 4-0 going into the afternoon four-ball (best ball) matches.
USA Captain Davis Love III was pleased but cautious.
“They’ve come together over the last couple of weeks. It’s been an emotional trip for this team with the way the picks went down and the passing of Arnold (Palmer). It’s a good start but there’s a long way to go.”
