Luke Donald hails Europe’s ‘sensational’ Ryder Cup start against illness-hit US team as Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Justin Rose hole ‘dream’ putts while Brooks Koepka sulks 

• Team Europe kick-started the Ryder Cup with a first-ever perfect morning
• Captain Luke Donald hailed his team for producing a ‘sensational’ performance
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here

Europe seized control of the Ryder Cup against an illness-hit US team on a historic first day in Rome.

Luke Donald’s men responded to their 2021 thrashing with a first-ever perfect morning before a resolute afternoon delivered a scarcely believable 6.5-1.5 scoreline — the joint-highest lead the competition has seen at this stage.

In front of a delighted, raucous crowd, the hosts stopped the shellshocked Americans winning a single game to record another brilliant first.

Elated captain Donald described the fantastic Friday as ‘sensational’ and a ‘dream’.

However, there were different emotions in a stunned US camp, where captain Zach Johnson revealed there was a mystery bug that had ‘spread through my team’.

Luke Donald (right) hailed Europe’s opening day dominance at the Ryder Cup

Donaldo (right) watched as his team stormed to a first-ever perfect morning session

LIV rebel Brooks Koepka also bizarrely accused Spain’s Jon Rahm, who holed a 25ft eagle on the 18th to grab a tie in their fourball, of acting like a child.

‘I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did,’ said a deflated Koepka. ‘But, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we’re adults. We move on.’

They will need to move on quickly. Europe flew out of the blocks to torch their opponents in the foursomes on a scorching morning in the Italian countryside. At no point did the US hold a lead in any match.

And when the visitors looked set to stage a spirited fightback from 4-0 down, Viktor Hovland, Rahm and Justin Rose all crucially holed putts on the 18th green to pick up half-points for Europe in the fourballs.

‘Those putts made a huge difference,’ Englishman Donald said. ‘It was sensational, a dream start for us. This morning was an amazing performance by the guys and this afternoon was tough. The US came back, we knew they would. They had a stretch there in the middle when the momentum was turning their way but, man, did we turn it back.’

A downbeat Johnson described the illness as ‘congestion’. ‘It’s not an excuse, because we have depth,’ he added. ‘But I’ll just say, I’m grateful that we have a team doctor.’

Little was wrong with Rahm and High Wycombe’s Tyrrell Hatton, who strolled to a 4&3 win first up, which was equalled by Norway’s Hovland and Swedish young gun Ludvig Aberg.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Austria’s Sepp Straka were 2&1 victors, and in the bottom match Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Southport’s Tommy Fleetwood secured the same margin of victory.

Viktor Hovland (right) was one of Europe’s best stars on the dominant day one in Rome

Jon Rahm was the star in Europe’s set-up as he guided in a crucial 25-foot putt on the last hole in the afternoon

Justin Rose sunk a putt on the 18th to deny USA winning a single hole on day one

In the only win for either side on a keenly contested afternoon, Sheffield’s Matt Fitzpatrick broke his Ryder Cup duck in style. Last year’s US Open champion sunk four birdies and an eagle from the second hole in a stunning surge that ensured he and McIlroy were never in danger against Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.

The European pair secured the point with a dominant 5&3 victory to delight the 50,000-strong crowd.

A beaming Fitzpatrick hailed the backing from the home support. ‘Incredible,’ he said. ‘Absolutely incredible. It’s a hell of a lot better than playing away, that’s for sure. The energy you get from them is huge.’

Europe’s 6.5-1.5 lead is the joint-highest after day one, level with their own in 2004 and the US’s in 1975.

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