Spieth and Reed inspire US foursomes sweep
ByReuters
Updated 30/09/2016 at 21:53 GMT
A fired-up Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed set the tone as the United States seized early control at the Ryder Cup on Friday with a 4-0 sweep of the opening foursomes matches against holders Europe.
Team USA Patrick Reed (R) reacts with teammate Jordan Spieth after winning their match against Team Europe Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson on the 16th green during the Morning Foursome matches at the 41st Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chas
Image credit: AFP
Thunderous roars of "USA, USA, USA" echoed across the ultra-long Hazeltine National layout as twice major winner Spieth and fellow young gun Reed beat European heavyweights Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson 3&2 in the top match to secure the first point.
"Any time you are take on Rose and Stenson, it's never simple," Reed told reporters. "We had a great game plan coming in, we stuck with it.
"Just hit a lot of greens. In alternate shot you have to do that, give yourself opportunities. And we were lucky enough to be able to hit a lot of greens and have good looks."
Soon after, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar completed a 5&4 demolition of an out-of-sorts Lee Westwood of England and Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters in the anchor match.
PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson came from one down after 11 holes to beat Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Germany's Martin Kaymer 4&2 before Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler delivered the most surprising point of the morning for the Americans.
Fan favourites Mickelson and Fowler were wayward off the tee for most of the session and trailed Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Englishman Andy Sullivan by two after 14 holes before scraping through a fluctuating contest to win one-up.
"It was a lot of heart, a heart that went out with two-down and four to go," said Mickelson, competing this week in his 11th Ryder Cup.
"It was a match where I didn't drive the ball well. It was a match where I felt more pressure in any Ryder Cup than I felt heading into this one because of the last two years and the build up."
The United States, who have a proud record on American soil with just four losses since the matches began in 1927, are bidding to end a run of eight defeats in the past 10 editions.
Pairings for Friday fourballs matches
Match 1: 1230 local time (1730 GMT) Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed v Justin Rose (England) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
Match 2: 1245 (1745) JB Holmes and Ryan Moore v Sergio Garcia (Spain) and Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain)
Match 3: 1300 (1800) Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka v Martin Kaymer (Germany) and Danny Willett (England)
Match 4: 1315 (1815) Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar v Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Thomas Pieters (Belgium)
Remainder of playing schedule
Saturday
Foursomes (at 15-minute intervals), from 0735 (1235)
Fourballs (at 15-minute intervals), from 1230 (1730)
Sunday
Singles matches (at 11-minute intervals), from 1104 (1604)
Scores from the Ryder Cup on Friday in Chaska, Minnesota
Match 1 Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed (US) beat Henrik Stenson/Justin Rose (Europe) 3 and 2
Match 2 Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler (US) beat Rory McIlroy/Andy Sullivan (Europe) at hole 18
Match 3 Jimmy Walker/Zach Johnson (US) beat Sergio Garcia/Martin Kaymer (Europe) 4 and 2
Match 4 Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (US) beat Lee Westwood/Thomas Pieters (Europe) 5 and 4
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