The 40th Ryder Cup is officially underway. Here is a look at how each of the matches have unfolded thus far:
Overall score (Europe 6, U.S. 4)
Day 2 fourballs
• Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson def. Bubba Watson/Matt Kuchar, 3 and 2: In the best-played match of the session, the U.S. played well but the Europeans were simply better. Rose and Stenson combined to shoot 12 under, holing putt after putt and capping the match with a run of 10 straight birdies on Nos. 7-16.
• Jim Furyk/Hunter Mahan def. Lee Westwood/Jamie Donaldson, 4 and 3: An unlikely fourball pairing paid off for the Americans, as Furyk and Mahan birdied each of the first three holes and never looked back. The Europeans never won a single hole, and Mahan’s eagle after driving the 14th green put things out of reach.
Day 1 foursomes (Europeans 3 1/2, U.S. 1/2)
• Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood def. Jim Furyk/Matt Kuchar, 2 up: Needing a birdie to complete the late rally, Kuchar instead hit his pitch shot woefully short of the green, leading to a par-5 and a 1-up loss to Westwood and Donaldson. The loss dropped Furyk’s record to 5-15-3 in partner play.
• Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson def. Hunter Mahan/Zach Johnson, 2 and 1: Continuing its steady play from the morning, the team of Rose-Stenson birdied the first hole and never trailed, winning the 16th and 17th holes with par to claim victory. The win moved Rose’s Ryder Cup record to 8-3 – a winning percentage (72 percent) that is second-best in European team history.
• Rory Mcllroy/Sergio Garcia vs. Rickie Fowler/Jimmy Walker, halved: In danger of going 0-2 on opening day, McIlroy sank a 40-foot bomb on 17, then Garcia hit a fairway wood from the rough to 20 feet to steal a half-point. The birdie-birdie-birdie rally was a huge moment on the first day, especially since McIlroy and Garcia – two of the best drivers in the game – combined to hit only three fairways during the match.
• Victor Dubuisson/Graeme McDowell def. Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley, 3 and 2: Europe won three holes in a four-hole stretch (No. 2-5) early to set the tone and hand the team of Mickelson-Bradley their first loss in this event (4-1). The U.S. duo shot 3 over in the alternate-shot format, leading many to wonder whether they’ll be sent out again on Saturday afternoon.
Day 1 fourballs (U.S. 2 1/2, Europeans 1 1/2)
• Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson def. Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson, 5 and 4: The Americans failed to make a single birdie and the Euros built a 4-up lead after 10. Following a birdie from Rose on No. 14 the Americans were defeated, after winning a pair of matches together two years ago.
• Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed def. Ian Poulter/Stephen Gallacher, 5 and 4: Tom Watson’s gamble on his two young rookies paid off. The Americans built a 6-up lead through 11 holes, while Gallacher never found his footing and Poulter saw his personal seven-match winning streak end.
• Martin Kaymer/Thomas Bjorn vs. Rickie Fowler/Jimmy Walker, halved: The Euros were 2 up with three holes to play, but Walker did just enough to earn the draw. The cup rookie chipped in on No. 16 to win the hole, then drained a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to grab a critical half-point.
• Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley def. Rory McIlroy/Sergio Garcia, 1 up: The closest match of the day came down to the wire, as Bradley’s eagle on No. 16 squared the match. Mickelson made the lone birdie on the final hole, and the U.S. escaped the first session with a narrow lead.
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