Ryder Cup 2025: Europe have one man to thank for lead – and he’s on Te | Golf | Sport
Jon Rahm led Team Europe to a superb opening day at the Ryder Cup as world No.1 Scottie Scheffler suffered a shocker. Luke Donald’s team won the opening three matches for the first time ever on US soil in the morning foursomes.
And not even the arrival of President Donald Trump on the first tee for the afternoon fourballs could stop the visitors taking a 5.5-2.5 lead into the weekend.
Europe now need only nine more points from the remaining 20 to secure a first away win since 2012.
Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton won the opening foursomes against Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas 4&3.
And the Spanish superstar extended his unbeaten run in Ryder Cup pairings to nine matches when he combined with Sepp Straka to beat Scheffler and JJ Spaun 3&2.
“I can’t take all the credit – I have had some good partners,” said the Spaniard. “Tyrrell has been a fantastic partner. Sepp has done his thing. We can’t win alone. It’s a team.”
Scheffler has won six PGA Tour events this year – including two Majors – but he has now failed to win his last six Ryder Cup matches after going winless in Rome. He is also 0-3 in foursomes.
“It really just came down to me not holing enough putts,” claimed the Open champion.
DeChambeau also lost both his matches as US skipper Keegan Bradley was let down by his big players – and Europe’s top stars all won points.
The Masters champion successfully reformed his Fleetwood Mac pairing with Tommy Fleetwood in the foursomes. And then the FedEx Cup champion returned with his friend Justin Rose to beat DeChambeau and Ben Griffin one-up.
After quietening the American crowd in the morning, the noise level increased with the beer intake during the day.
Bob MacIntyre was heckled on his backswing on the 17th tee during the morning foursomes – and Rory McIlroy flicked his middle finger at fans during the afternoon fourballs with Shane Lowry.
“You’ve got to expect it out here,” said MacIntyre. “It’s what happens when the bar opens at 9.30am and we get round to there.
New Yorker Cam Young and Justin Thomas crushed Ludvig Aberg and rookie Rasmus Hojgaard 6&5 to gain Team USA’s first point in the fourballs.
Europe has won each of the last six Ryder Cups where they have led after the first day as they bid to become the first away team to win since 2012 after five consecutive home victories.
