{"id":291783,"date":"2023-09-29T22:34:41","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T22:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=291783"},"modified":"2023-09-29T22:34:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T22:34:41","slug":"luke-donald-hails-europes-sensational-ryder-cup-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/golf\/luke-donald-hails-europes-sensational-ryder-cup-start\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke Donald hails Europe's 'sensational' Ryder Cup start"},"content":{"rendered":"
Europe seized control of the Ryder Cup against an illness-hit US team on a historic first day in Rome.<\/p>\n
Luke Donald\u2019s 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 \u2014 the joint-highest lead the competition has seen at this stage.<\/p>\n
In front of a delighted, raucous crowd, the hosts stopped the shellshocked Americans winning a single game to record another brilliant first.<\/p>\n
Elated captain Donald described the fantastic Friday as \u2018sensational\u2019 and a \u2018dream\u2019.<\/p>\n
However, there were different emotions in a stunned US camp, where captain Zach Johnson revealed there was a mystery bug that had \u2018spread through my team\u2019.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Luke Donald (right) hailed Europe’s opening day dominance at the Ryder Cup<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Donaldo (right) watched as his team stormed to a first-ever perfect morning session<\/p>\n
LIV rebel Brooks Koepka also bizarrely accused Spain\u2019s Jon Rahm, who holed a 25ft eagle on the 18th to grab a tie in their fourball, of acting like a child.<\/p>\n
\u2018I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did,\u2019 said a deflated Koepka. \u2018But, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we\u2019re adults. We move on.\u2019<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u2018Those putts made a huge difference,\u2019 Englishman Donald said. \u2018It 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.\u2019<\/p>\n
A downbeat Johnson described the illness as \u2018congestion\u2019. \u2018It\u2019s not an excuse, because we have depth,\u2019 he added. \u2018But I\u2019ll just say, I\u2019m grateful that we have a team doctor.\u2019<\/p>\n
Little was wrong with Rahm and High Wycombe\u2019s Tyrrell Hatton, who strolled to a 4&3 win first up, which was equalled by Norway\u2019s Hovland and Swedish young gun Ludvig Aberg.<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s Shane Lowry and Austria\u2019s Sepp Straka were 2&1 victors, and in the bottom match Northern Ireland\u2019s Rory McIlroy and Southport\u2019s Tommy Fleetwood secured the same margin of victory.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Viktor Hovland (right) was one of Europe’s best stars on the dominant day one in Rome<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Justin Rose sunk a putt on the 18th to deny USA winning a single hole on day one<\/p>\n
In the only win for either side on a keenly contested afternoon, Sheffield\u2019s Matt Fitzpatrick broke his Ryder Cup duck in style. Last year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The European pair secured the point with a dominant 5&3 victory to delight the 50,000-strong crowd.<\/p>\n
A beaming Fitzpatrick hailed the backing from the home support. \u2018Incredible,\u2019 he said. \u2018Absolutely incredible. It\u2019s a hell of a lot better than playing away, that\u2019s for sure. The energy you get from them is huge.\u2019<\/p>\n
Europe\u2019s 6.5-1.5 lead is the joint-highest after day one, level with their own in 2004 and the US\u2019s in 1975.<\/p>\n