Europe opens Ryder Cup with 3-1 lead in dominant morning session

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Team Europe got off to a sizzling start at the 2025 Ryder Cup, building a 3-1 lead over USA during Friday morning foursomes at Bethpage Black on Long Island.

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

A ridiculous drive from Bryson 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 Justin Thomas failed to build on it, and they let Jon 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 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. The loss moved Scheffler's career Ryder Cup record to 2-3-3.

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

In a clinical performance, the seasoned European "Fleetwood Mac" pair of Rory McIlroy and Tommy 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 Patrick 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.