Europe captain Luke Donald insisted his side would not rest on their laurels after claiming a record-equalling five-point lead on the opening day of the 44th Ryder Cup.
After enjoying an unprecedented clean sweep of the opening session, the home side also staged three dramatic comebacks in the afternoon fourballs to ensure the United States failed to win a single match in a day for the first time.
“Unbelievable start, historic day, but we want it to be an historic week so the job is certainly not done,” Donald said.
“We will all celebrate an amazing day, but we’ll be back with the goal of trying to win tomorrow morning’s session. We’ll be getting our guys focused to be back in the saddle, so to speak.
“We’ll enjoy the last hour [of play] and the celebration, but once I’m back at the hotel we’ll have a team meeting and we’ll be back to business.”
Donald was well aware that the United States could easily have ended the day just 5-3 behind as they were ahead in three of the fourballs on the closing stretch, only for Jon Rahm to finish eagle, par, eagle and Viktor Hovland to hole from 20 feet for birdie on the 18th.
Justin Rose then also birdied the last to ensure the five-point advantage and match Europe’s lead at Oakland Hills in 2004, when US captain Hal Sutton disastrously paired Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson twice on the opening day.
Shot of the day
JON RAHM, WOW! 🤯#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/CqUUwBjtGX
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
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His partner Nicolai Hojgaard had driven the green on the short 16th, but Rahm decided to chip in anyway for an eagle to win the hole.
Statistic of the day
This is the first time the United States has not won a single match in a day at the Ryder Cup.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) September 29, 2023
Top statistician Justin Ray sums up the historic nature of day one.
Quote of the day
Things are getting CHIPPY at the Ryder Cup.
BROOKS KOEPKA: "I mean, I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did. But, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we're adults. We move on."— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) September 29, 2023
Brooks Koepka was not happy with Jon Rahm after the Spaniard finished eagle, par, birdie to snatch half a point.
Key tee times (all Irish time)
6.35am Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood v Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth
6.50am Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg v Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka
7.05am Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka v Max Homa and Brian Harman
7.20am Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton v Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele
Weather forecast
Saturday and Sunday will feature sunny skies with a few afternoon clouds building up over the mountains along with temperatures near 30 degrees each afternoon. No rain is expected through the period.
