U.S. Dominates Ryder Cup Friday Foursomes, Four-Ball Up Next

The Ryder Cup started this morning with foursomes. Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed led off for the Americans against Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson and the duo never let up. They went on to win 3 and 2.

Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson were up next and the two struggled throughout the day. They saw more of the course than anyone else, but after trading blows with Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan all morning, the two were all-square entering the par-3 17th. After Fowler stuck his tee shot close, Andy Sullivan followed by landing one in the water. The pair halved the last hole after Rory McIlroy missed a putt to tie.

The group that I was not excited to watch and figured would end up being a loss was the Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson pairing against Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer. The Europeans went one up on the second hole and the score stayed that way until the 12th when all of the momentum shifted and Walker and Johnson won the next five holes.

As for the Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar pairing against Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood and rookie Thomas Pieters, it was a blowout

Unfortunately, as Adam Sarson pointed out, the U.S. has blown a large lead in the Ryder Cup before with Davis Love as captain.

Medinah in 2012:

"At the start of the final day’s play, the U.S. led 10–6 and required 4½ points to win; Europe required 8 points to retain the cup and 8½ to win it outright. Europe achieved one of if not the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history by winning eight and tying one of the 12 singles matches."

Yeah, we can all hope that doesn’t happen again.

Four-Ball

I am fine with all of these groups. I do find it surprising that Darren Clarke has decided to send Thomas Pieters back out after he clearly looked frazzled in his opening match.