Ryder Cup Day 1 Results: Inspired Europe storm into three-point lead at Bethpage

Team Europe’s quest for back-to-back Ryder Cup wins got off to a great start as they ended the opening day with a three-point lead at Bethpage Black.

Luke Donald’s side dominated the morning foursomes session and won the first three matches of the week, with Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele putting the only red on the board as they held off a valiant fightback from Bob MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland.

The US players, backed by President Donald Trump on the first tee, made a bright start to the afternoon fourballs, but Europe turned the tide and threatened to take another 3-1 win in the session.

Jon Rahm was magnificent as he and Sepp Straka beat an out-of-sorts Scottie Scheffler and JJ Spaun, while Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose came from behind to edge out Bryson DeChambeau and Ben Griffin.

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were 2 up after 11 holes against Cantlay and Sam Burns, but Cantlay inspired an American fightback to earn a half-point in the final encounter of the first day.

Friday Foursomes: USA 1-3 Europe

McIlroy and Fleetwood won the first point of the week, and they were 6-under for the day in their crushing 5&4 win over an outclassed Collin Morikawa and Harris English.

Matt Fitzpatrick and Ludvig Aberg also poured in six birdies as they took advantage of a lacklustre effort from Scheffler and Russell Henley, the European pair storming to a surprisingly easy 5&3 triumph in match 3.

And in the top match, Tyrrell Hatton and Rahm recovered from a sluggish start to overpower DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, running out 4&3 winners to leave US captain Keegan Bradley looking pale and pensive.

The raucous New Oak fans were in full voice after DeChambeau’s monster drive found the fairway at the opening hole and set up a winning birdie, but the battling European pair turned the match shortly before the turn.

Their wayward golf over the first few holes was quickly forgotten as they won the 7th with a par before Rahm’s 12-footer for birdie at the next gave them a lead they would not relinquish.

The LIV Golf pairing reeled off three straight birdies from the 12th, two of them for wins, and another at 15 wrapped up a convincing 4&3 victory in the top match.

Fitzpatrick played arguably the best golf of the morning, continuing the fine form he has had to show over the last three months to earn his fourth Ryder Cup appearance.

The former US Open champion had the perfect foil in Aberg, although they were assisted by some scrappy golf from Scheffler and Henley, who made only two birdies in the 15 holes played.

The Europeans won four of the first six holes and added another at the 9th to find themselves 4 up at the turn, and that lead increased when they made their sixth birdie of the session at the 12th.

The home pair pulled one back with a rare birdie at the long 13th, but a par at 15 was enough to complete a surprise big win just moments after McIlroy and Fleetwood had got the first blue on the board on the 14th.

Europe’s top pair were also in sparkling form, making five birdies over the first 8 holes to render Morikawa and English a little shell-shocked.

The American pair did stop the rot with a winning birdie at the 9th, but “Fleetwood Mac” restored their 5up lead with their sixth birdie at the 12th, and two solid pars were enough for victory.

Hovland and MacIntyre gave themselves a great chance to complete a day 1 foursomes sweep for the second Ryder Cup in a row, fighting back from 3 down to win three holes in a row from the 12th.

But Cantlay and Schauffele won the last two holes to lift the spirits of the locals heading into the afternoon session.

Friday Fourballs: USA 1.5-2.5 Europe

The US again won the first hole of the session, but Rahm's performance in the top match was world-class as he and Straka powered ahead of Scheffler and Spaun, who missed a hatful of putts throughout.

After Straka chipped in for birdie at the 2nd, Rahm took over and rattled off four birdies to give the visitors a 3up lead, although it was the Austrian who came good at the end, with birdies at 14 and 16 wrapping up another European victory.

That came moments after Cameron Young and Thomas outclassed Aberg and rookie Rasmus Hojgaard, who had a baptism of fire as he and the Swede stumbled to a 6&5 defeat in match 3.

Fleetwood and Rose had to grind hard to keep up with Griffin and DeChambeau, who were 1 up after 10 holes before a Fleetwood birdie turned the match on it's head.

The FedExCup champion then birdied 14 and 16 for wins and, although DeChambeau pulled one back at 17, Rose stepped up to hole from 12 feet at the last to secure success for the English duo.

Another 3-1 session win looked on the cards with McIlroy and Lowry 2 up with 7 holes to play, but Cantlay inspired a brilliant fightback with some high-quality iron-play backed up with assured putting.

McIlroy and Lowry were far from consistent, but they pulled out some big shots when needed, although McIlroy's 12-foot putt for a point on the final green missed on the high side to ensure the only tied match of the first day.