US all smiles as they rewrite piece of recent Ryder Cup history

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Our Correspondent
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Two wins and two ties gave the Americans a nice lead as they try to reverse recent Ryder Cup history. Photo: TheAthletic.com
Two wins and two ties gave the Americans a nice lead as they try to reverse recent Ryder Cup history. Photo: TheAthletic.com

The U.S. Team went 3-1 for the second consecutive session in the Friday afternoon Four-ball session, extending their lead to 6-2 as they try to win the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

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Two wins and two ties gave the Americans a nice lead as they try to reverse recent history. Europe has won four of the last five and seven of the last seven Ryder Cups.

The flagsticks and even the wooden signposts on the tees were swaying in 20-25 mph winds.

The most positive development for the Americans was Dustin Johnson and Tony Finau pouring in birdie putts from everywhere on the back nine, leading their respective teams to victory. But Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas salvaging a tie in the last match also felt like a win.

The U.S. Team had struggled mightily in the second session, losing the Friday afternoon matches by a combined 10.5-1.5 over the last three Ryder Cups.

Afternoon Foursome

MATCH 1: Dustin Johnson/Xander Schauffele, USA, def. Paul Casey/Bernd Wiesberger, EUR, 2 and 1

Xander Schauffele rolled in birdie putts at the first and third holes and Dustin Johnson birdied the par-5 fifth before really heating up on the back nine.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 5, EUR 1

MATCH 2: Bryson DeChambeau/Scottie Scheffler, USA, tied Tyrrell Hatton/Jon Rahm, EUR

Tyrrell Hatton made a seven-foot birdie putt on 18 to salvage half a point from a wild match in which Bryson DeChambeau showed his firepower.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 5.5, EUR 1.5

MATCH 3: Harris English/Tony Finau, USA, def. Shane Lowry/Rory McIlroy, EUR, 4 and 3

It was the Tony Finau show as McIlroy lost two matches on the same day for the first time in his Ryder Cup career.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 4, EUR 1

MATCH 4: Patrick Cantlay/Justin Thomas, USA, tied Tommy Fleetwood/Viktor Hovland, EUR

One of two matches that went to the 18th hole.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 6, EUR 2

Morning Foursome

The U.S. Team awoke memories of their last Ryder Cup victory with a dominant opening Foursomes session, surging to an early 3-1 lead at Whistling Straits.

Only a Spanish resistance from World No.1 Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia stopped a U.S. juggernaut that found success in the alternate shot format for just the second time in the last seven Ryder Cup sessions.

Not since a 4-0 whitewash to open the contest at Hazeltine in 2016 – where the U.S. went on to victory for the only time in the last five Ryder Cups – have they showed such prowess in Foursomes.

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MATCH 1: Sergio Garcia/Jon Rahm, EUR, def. Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas, USA, 3 and 1

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas putted poorly and failed to take advantage of a shaky start for Europe on the opening holes.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 0, EUR 1 

MATCH 2: Dustin Johnson/Collin Morikawa, USA, def. Paul Casey/Viktor Hovland EUR, 3 and 2

Ryder Cup rookie Collin Morikawa looked comfortable from the start as the Americans birdied six of the first 12 holes to take a 3-up lead.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 1, EUR 1

MATCH 3: Daniel Berger/Brooks Koepka, USA, def. Matt Fitzpatrick/Lee Westwood, EUR, 2 and 1

The all-Florida team of Daniel Berger and Brooks Koepka birdied three of the first five holes to establish a lead they would nurse for the rest of the match.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 3, EUR 1


MATCH 4: Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele, USA def. Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter, EUR, 5 and 3

The anchor match was all but over early as Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele went 5 up through the first five holes and cruised.

Score at match’s conclusion: USA 2, EUR 1

PGA Tour

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