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RORY MCILROY AND SHANE Lowry helped secure Europe’s first-ever clean sweep of a morning session at a Ryder Cup as the hosts raced into a 4-0 lead over the United States after the Friday foursomes in Rome.
Viktor Hovland set the tone with a chip-in on the first hole, while Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton clinched the first point with a dominant 4&3 win over world number one Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns.
Hovland and his rookie partner Ludvig Aberg beat Max Homa and a struggling Brian Harman by the same score, while Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka endured a wobble on the 16th to win 2&1 over Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler.
McIlroy then hit a brilliant tee shot to close out a tense 2&1 win with Tommy Fleetwood in the final match against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
In a nightmare start for the visitors, the USA never even led in any of the four matches.
European captain Luke Donald had opted to switch the usual schedule and open with the alternate shot foursomes instead of fourballs in the hope of a “fast start” which his team delivered in style.
An inspired Rahm led from the front, almost holing out from the tee on the par-three seventh, but this being match-play, it made little difference, as Hatton tapped in for a birdie and a 2-Up lead. Rahm then drew some of the day’s loudest cheers with a chip in off the 10th green, to which Scheffler responded by sinking a nervy putt to ensure a half. That merely delayed the inevitable: Rahm and Hatton won the following two holes and the match was over before they made it to the 16th tee.
Hovland set the tone for Europe’s dominance with a divine chip in from the fringe of the first green, following it with a birdie on the next hole to go 2-Up.
“You hit a good shot, it goes in, and you lose your shit”, grinned Hovland to Sky Sports after his round. Hovland played alongside rookie Aberg, who overcame some early nerves. He knocked in a putt on the 14th to give his team a four-hole lead. Their match ended as it started, with another stunning Hovland chip. This effort from the bunker didn’t drop into the hole, but it was left so close as to be a formality. Homa and Harman – the latter among the USA’s worst performers – conceded.
Lowry, meanwhile, pumped his fists to the crowd on the first tee when he realised Hovland’s chip in ahead had found the hole and hose fists kept pumping throughout the day, his impeccable irons on three and four making life easy for rookie partner Straka. The pair led by four at the turn and endured some closing wobbles – Lowry went miles right off the 16th tee – to win without needing to step on the 18th tee, with Straka pouring in a putt to win on the penultimate green.
“I wanted to give Sepp his moment to hole a winning putt!”, smiled Lowry afterwards. “We are off to a great start and we need to keep the foot down. Sepp and I gelled well together and I enjoyed myself out there.
“We dodged a few bullets out there, arouind 11 and 12, but you’ll have that in matchplay. You have to dig deep and we did that.”
McIlroy and Fleetwood’s match against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay was the tightest of the four, but not even it made it to the final hole.
The European pair were two-up when standing on the 16th tee, where Fleetwood left McIlroy an impossible task by leaving their ball plugged in the face of turf sloping into the water. But the Americans couldn’t make the most of their opportunity: Cantlay sent his putt to win the hole chasing five feet past and Schauffele then inexplicably missed the return putt. A hole the American duo should have won was lost instead.
McIlroy effectively settled the match from the tee on the par-three 17th, leaving his iron less than three feet from the pin. Fleetwood happily knocked it in, with McIlroy leaping into his arms in celebration.
“There is ample opportunity out there”, said USA captain Zach Johnson after a shattering start. “We have hungry guys, guys who want adversity. I have utmost confidence in them. Hats off the European team: they are playing quality golf, making shots and making putts.”
Both captains have rotated for the afternoon fourballs, and you’ll find the full draw here.
With reporting by AFP
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Seen a small child running on his ‘own’ and didn’t think to stop and check if he was with someone..?!!
Good point Derina… A couple of times I’ve been out walking my dog and I’ve seen young toddlers out walking on their own. I’ve stopped them and sure enough 20secs later their poor mother or father would be running down the street after them, panicked. The other problem nowadays is that people can be reluctant to interfere in case they are accused of something. Personally I wouldn’t care what people thought, a toddler out alone is in danger from all sorts of things so I’d make it my place to stay with them until Mammy/Daddy showed up or call the gardai.
Man approaches small child he doesn’t know with no parents nearby…
To be quite honest, I doubt I’d stop in those circumstances.
Have to say, sad state of affairs but I would have to agree with you and I think quite a lot of people would too.
That’s the thing Chris… As I said above, some people, men in particular would probably be afraid to stop and check. Sadly that’s the society we now live in. Fear of false accusation is terrible.
Very strange they did not stop and help, hold him until police came. ,What is wrong with folk today ?
Praying for the little boy’s safe return.
Agree with who
Chris
Thanks
There must be more to this story that the police aren’t saying.
It’s so sad I really hope he is found safe.
A few years ago I was walking home with my own son from the local shopping centre when I noticed a young boy of about 3 years old slowing walking along. I walked by him but I thought it strange him being on his own. He was about half a mile from the centre. I went back to him and I asked him where was his mum. He said he didn’t know. I brought him back to my house and I rang the security in the shopping centre on the off chance she was there. Sure enough his mother was frantically looking for him and had gone to security. She confirmed his name and what he was wearing. The security guy drove her to my house to collect him. The poor woman was hysterical I’ll never forget her face. To this day I’m so glad I went back to him, people shouldn’t be afraid to approach if it means saving a child’s life.
This story reminds me of Madeline McCann, I have a feeling the mother knows a lot more than she’s telling people
So Aaron u reckon Madeline Mc Canns mother knows more than she saying?
Yeah I do, both her and the father, always believed it from the start that they were keeping something to themselves about it
Ridiculous comment
They were questioned by both the Portuguese police and the British so Im sure if they had anything to do with it one or other would have seen through their stories
The Portugese named them as suspects and after swearing they’d never leave Portugal without Maddie they did a legger back to the UK on a private chartered flight within a couple of days.
Its pointless mentioning the British Police as they have about as much authority in the case as you and I do
Well the cadaver dog smelled a body in the boot explain that?
Just heard on news that its now believed he went missing sooner as he had not being to nursery school that day.
As someone said more this story then we are getting although hopefully Im wrong
Heard earlier today that there is now a possibility that he went missing before the timeframe previously given & if that is the case, the mother definitely knows something!!!!!
He might have found Narnia, or Captin Hook took him in the middle of the night.
But the story stinks.
There is something the mother knows that we don’t.
Yeh, I’d say she does. Like how it feels as a parent to have your child missing for 36 hours without knowing if the child is safe or alive? A sheer hell that many of us hopefully will never have to experience.
Whats this…the mother is in custody…
Archie +1
Mick Rooney 0
CALLED IT
I really hope the poor little fella is found safe & well .. I don’t know why she never checked on him before she went to bed .. He’s only 3 it should of been the last thing she done b4 going to bed ..
I really hope the little fella is found safe& well… I don’t know why his mother never checked on him before going to bed .. He’s only 3 it should of been the last thing she done ..
Omg kellie are u mad writing that here I said same thing yesterday and got abused
Maybe she went to bed at 9
I was wondering that, unless of course she went to bed at the same time. It’s just awful I hope he turns up safe and sound soon.
Heart sinks
Well I personally would check my girls at least twice in between my putting them to bed & going myself!!!!! All depends on what time his mother went to bed herself tho I suppose!!
Please god he will be found safely soon x
Rip lil man
Maybe she did!!!!!
R.I.P little mikaeel
Terrible news the little man has been found there are some sick people in this world …
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