Europe Takes Commanding Lead Over U.S. in Day 1 of Ryder Cup

SI writer Bob Harig recaps Day 1 of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone in Rome as Europe takes a huge lead over the United States.

Transcript

00:00 It was a historic day at Marco Simoni Golf Club here in Rome for the European Ryder Cup

00:04 team which built a 6.5 to 1.5 point lead through the first day of the Ryder Cup.

00:10 In the morning it was a complete whitewash for the Americans losing all four sessions

00:14 and losing them badly.

00:15 In fact, the Americans did not even tie any match after the fourth hole.

00:21 Such was the European domination.

00:23 That left them to fight back in the afternoon and they did.

00:25 They got three matches to the 18th hole which was a great sign given their fight but yet

00:31 they weren't able to close any of them out.

00:34 They ended up tying all three when they could have won all three.

00:38 That's the difference between 5 to 3 and 6.5 to 1.5 which means a huge fight back now on

00:44 Saturday morning when the foursomes competition resumes.

00:48 That's the same format they just got beat 4-0 on Friday morning.

00:51 The US will be putting out some of its strongest teams, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas will

00:56 lead off, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will anchor the group, Scotty Sheffler is

01:01 going to play with Brooks Koepka.

01:03 They had a good strong match in the afternoon on Friday, Max Homa, Brian Harmon in the other

01:07 match.

01:08 It doesn't really matter, they just need to get some points on the board.

01:11 They can't settle for 2-2.

01:13 It's got to be 3-1, maybe 2.5 to 1.5 and then do it again in the afternoon for 4 ball because

01:19 otherwise the deficit will be too big.

01:21 Going into Sunday singles, the US has lost every foreign international Ryder Cup going

01:27 back to 1993, that's six Ryder Cups.

01:30 It's looking like it's going to be a seventh unless there's a huge turnaround on Saturday.