The 2020 Ryder Cup is underway at the Whistling Straits with Team USA off to an enthralling start. The Americans won three games from the Friday morning foursomes. However, they lost one to make it 3-1 at the end of the session, leaving Team Europe under mounting pressure.
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Thanks to the electrifying home support, Team USA looked like the dominant force right throughout the morning session. Hence, expectations are high as they now face the visitors in the afternoon four-ball session.
Team USA takes the early lead at the 2020 Ryder Cup
Team USA won three out of the four games in the morning foursome session. Notably, their blistering start to the Ryder Cup has fans already picking a favorite winner.
Justin Thomas/Jordan Spieth vs Jon Rahm/Sergio Garcia
This was the first group that teed off in the Friday morning foursomes. Moreover, this was the only game where Team Europe scored a point. Even though Thomas and Spieth had an excellent start, as they took the lead early on, they lost their momentum as the game progressed. Both Jordan and JT had a cold putter, which put them behind in the game.
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia were on top of their game as Garcia was driving the ball well. Rahm had his putter going red hot as they won the match with a score of 3&1.
Dustin Johnson/Collin Morikawa vs Paul Casey/Viktor Hovland
DJ and Morikawa won the game, even after giving away an early lead to Casey and Hovland. They took down Casey and Hovland with an impeccable iron game. Collin and DJ were 1 down thru 5, but they won four holes in the next seven holes to go 3-up and eventually won the match with a score of 3&2.
Brooks Koepka/ Daniel Berger vs Lee Westwood/Matt Fitzpatrick
Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger took the early lead as they went 2Up thru three. However, Westwood and Fitzpatrick made a comeback to make it all square thru front nine. But thanks to a couple of Berger’s incredible putts, they managed to take the lead and won the match after 17 holes with a score of 2&1.
Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele vs Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter
This was probably the most one-sided game of this morning’s session. Cantlay and Schauffele were so dominant that they were 5Up thru the front nine. Rory and Poulter never looked in sync and were way behind in the game. The iconic Europeans struggled off the tee and also missed quite a few putts.
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However, they made a minor fightback by winning two back-to-back holes, but it was too little too late as Cantlay and Xander eventually won the match with a score of 5&3.
Course Conditions
The links course of the Whistling Straits has been decent in the morning session. There was some moisture on the greens, which made it a bit slower. But as the day progressed, so did the greens’ pace.
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Moreover, players need to find the fairways and avoid the diabolic bunkers as much as possible. Meanwhile, moving into the afternoon session, fans can expect the winds to play a bit more role than they saw it do in the morning session.
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