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Europe make fast start at Ryder Cup / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP
Europe make fast start at Ryder Cup
Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland were in fine form as Europe raced into the lead in all four of the foursomes matches in the opening session of the Ryder Cup against the United States on Friday.
Rahm drove the green on the par-four 11th hole, having chipped in for par on the 10th to help him and Tyrrell Hatton go 3-up with seven holes to play against Americans Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns in the top foursomes contest.
Hovland chipped in on the first green before the Norwegian and Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg moved 3-up through 10 holes against Max Homa and Brian Harman.
Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka made three straight birdies from the seventh in their game with Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa to take a 4-hole lead on the front nine.
Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay are aiming for a sixth win from as many foursomes matches together for the US in Ryder and Presidents Cups, but were 2-down through eight holes to Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.
Luke Donald's Europe are hoping to regain the trophy after a heavy defeat at Whistling Straits two years ago, while the USA are bidding to end a 30-year wait for a victory on European soil.
Donald as home captain had exercised his right to opt to open with the foursomes rather than the fourballs saying on Tuesday he felt Europe was "slightly stronger statistically in foursomes to fourballs" in the hope of "making a fast start."
(U.Gruber--BBZ)
