Europe holds 3-point lead after thrilling 1st day at Ryder Cup

For deeper Ryder Cup insights, check out our live running analysis of the action at Bethpage Black.

Europe grabbed a 5.5-2.5 lead over Team USA to open the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Friday, marking its first lead after Day 1 on American soil since 2004.

The Europeans built a 3-1 advantage in the morning foursomes session before winning the afternoon session 2.5-1.5 to capture all the early momentum at the highly anticipated international showdown.

Afternoon session (Four-ball)

Match 1: Rahm/Straka 🇪🇺 3&2 over Scheffler/Spaun 🇺🇸

Jon Rahm continued his Ryder Cup dominance and led the charge in handing Scottie Scheffler his second loss of the day. The Americans won the opening hole but were 1-down by No. 3. Rahm and Straka went 3-up by the 11th hole, answering every time Scheffler and J.J. Spaun tried to make it interesting. Rahm is now 7-1-3 at the event since Whistling Straits in 2021.

Match 2: Fleetwood/Rose 🇪🇺 1-up over DeChambeau/Griffin 🇺🇸

This match was neck and neck the entire way, with Justin Rose sealing the point with a birdie on 18. Bryson DeChambeau got the crowd on his side with early nuclear drives but largely played on his own as rookie Ben Griffin struggled outside of a memorable 57-foot putt. The Americans still took a 1-up lead to the closing nine, but Rose and Fleetwood chipped away and were up two on the 16th hole. After DeChambeau birdied No. 17 to force a trip up to the last, the visitors slammed the door on the final green. Rose's winning putt was strikingly similar to the one he drained in 2023 to win his opening-day match as the sun set in Rome.

Match 3: Young/Thomas 🇺🇸 6&5 over Aberg/Hojgaard🇪🇺

Cameron Young's Ryder Cup debut couldn't have gone any better. The New York native, who previously held the course record at Bethpage Black, provided the Americans an instant spark and took control in this match with a birdie on the second hole. Young carried the load early, and Thomas avenged a poor showing in the morning session with some strong play of his own. Young's brilliant round will certainly raise questions about captain Keegan Bradley's decision to bench him in the morning.

Match 4: McIlroy/Lowry 🇪🇺 tie Burns/Cantlay 🇺🇸

The anchor match went down to the wire, with Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns both narrowly missing birdie putts on 18 that could've secured a point. The American duo grabbed the lead on the opening hole, but it didn't last long. Europe tied it on No. 2 and were 2-up by No. 11. Burns and Patrick Cantlay then turned the tides as Europe's putters became inconsistent. The two sides went toe to toe until the end, but the match's most memorable moment came as McIlroy ignited the crowd on No. 7 with his second consecutive birdie.

Morning session (Foursomes)

Match 1: Rahm/Hatton 🇪🇺 4&3 over DeChambeau/Thomas 🇺🇸

A ridiculous drive from DeChambeau on the opening tee was supposed to set the tone for Team USA. While it was followed by a birdie and a 1-up lead, DeChambeau and Thomas failed to build on it, and they let Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton hang around too long. The Euros won holes No. 7, 8, 12, and 13 to essentially put this match on ice.

Match 2: Aberg/Fitzpatrick 🇪🇺 5&3 over Scheffler/Henley 🇺🇸

After trading birdies on the opening two holes, it was all Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick the rest of the way. The European duo made four more birdies on the front nine to take a commanding lead en route to a stunning upset over World No. 1 Scheffler and Russell Henley.

Match 3: McIlroy/Fleetwood 🇪🇺 5&4 over Morikawa/English 🇺🇸

In a clinical performance, the seasoned European "Fleetwood Mac" pair of McIlroy and Fleetwood made five birdies on the front nine alone to win in a landslide. McIlroy hit one of the better approaches of the day on No. 6 to set up a tap-in birdie for Fleetwood.

On paper, this was arguably Europe's biggest match advantage in the opening session, and McIlroy and Fleetwood took care of business brilliantly.

Match 4: Schauffele/Cantlay 🇺🇸 2-up over MacIntyre/Hovland 🇪🇺

The Americans desperately needed their tried and true pairing of Xander Schauffele and Cantlay to pick up a full point, and they delivered versus Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland - but it wasn't easy. Schauffele and Cantlay never trailed and were 3-up through 11 holes before MacIntyre and Hovland stormed back and won three of the next four holes to tie it. But a birdie on No. 17 saved Schauffele and Cantlay from a catastrophic collapse. Schauffele and Cantlay are now 10-3 together in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups.