THE RYDER CUP is underway at Whistling Straits!
Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia have led off Europe in the foursomes, going up against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
Early points are crucial on this bumper Friday of action as Europe look to defend their title.
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- The Sun
DRIVING SEAT
Rahm finds the rough off the tee on the par-5 second and Garcia won't be able to make it to the green in two.
Spieth launches one down the middle to hand Team USA a narrow advantage.
The second groupings are on the first tee and ready to Rock 'n' Roll.
Paul Casey will tee off for Team Europe.
- The Sun
ALL SQUARE
Thomas misses his putt to the right, by quite a distance may I add. He misread the amount of break going from right to left.
Rahm holds his nerve to sink the par putt and hands Spieth his putt. So the first pairs are tied after the first.
- The Sun
JOR DROPPING
Spieth puts the second to around seven feet and gives Thomas a decent chance for birdie.
Rahm finds the edge of the green and Europe will look to make par to put the pressure on their opponents…
Wow, Garcia almost holes the chip from the fringe and Rahm will have a simple putt for par.
- The Sun
AND WE'RE OFF…
A look at how Garcia got the 43rd Ryder Cup underway at Whistling Straits.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he found the bunker but looked relaxed as he shared a fist bump with partner Rahm afterward.
Next up is Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland's match with Dustin Johnson and Colin Morikawa.
- The Sun
BUNKERED
Garcia tees off first for Team Europe… and finds one of the bunkers on the left much to the delight of the American fans. Hopefully for Rahm it has rolled down from the lip.
Thomas smashes one perfectly down the middle and the crowd love it.
Queue chants of U-S-A… we're underway!
- The Sun
THE BOO BOYS
Rahm and Garcia make their way to the first tee… to a chorus of boos from the American crowd.
They would expect nothing less. There's a huge grin on the face of Garcia. He has been here before – nine times to be precise.
This is Rahm's second Ryder Cup and he has never played a foursomes matches before.
Spieth and Thomas are unsurprisingly greeted to a heroes welcome.
Next up… the tee off.
- The Sun
OUTWARD BOUND
With those nerves set to be jangling on the first tee, here's a look at what awaits both Garcia and Rahm.
The par 4, 364-yard opener sees bunkers on the left and right of the fairway and any second shot that misses the green is likely to end up in trouble.
Team USA head into the Ryder Cup as big favourites but never rule out the spirit of the Europeans.
- The Sun
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
A reminder for those who are just tuning in…
There are four matches this morning in the foursomes – with each player from each team taking alternate shots.
With the afternoon fourballs, which get underway around 18:10pm, the scoring is determined by which player shoots the lowest score on the hole.
They are on the tee and the atmosphere is rapturous with a chorus of U-S-A being chanted by this overly-excited American crowd.
- The Sun
FASHION POLICE
If the Ryder Cup was decided on dress sense, then Team Europe would already be one up.
The opening ceremony saw Team USA wear a rather unflattering brown jacket while Team Europe looked suave in their navy blue suits.
There are around 10 minutes until the first tee time. Team Europe are looking relaxed with the likes of Garcia warming up the putter on the putting green.
Team USA had a bit of a stinker with their opening ceremony dress senseCredit: Sportsfile Team Europe head into the tournament looking to defend the Ryder CupCredit: Sportsfile
- The Sun
POWER SERG
Team Europe's leader of the pack, 41-year-old Sergio Garcia is heading into his 10th Ryder Cup.
His form isn't great, but form often goes out the window in the Ryder Cup.
He is the record points scorer in Ryder Cup history with 25 – more than the entire American team combined.
It's an all-Spanish opening for Europe with Garcia partnering Rahm in the foursomes.
Sergio Garcia is the Ryder Cup record points holderCredit: Getty - The Sun
MUSIC TO THEIR EARS
As if this American crowd needed pumping up anymore, Bruce Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' is being blasted out near the first tee – classic.
The grandstands are being flooded with people with the sun starting to rise in Wisconsin.
Rumours that Justin Thomas will tee off first for America with Jon Rahm taking the honours for Team Europe.
- The Sun
THE FRIDAY FOURSOMES
Here's a reminder of the Friday foursomes with the experienced Sergio Garcia and World No1 Jon Rahm in a tasty first battle with best mates Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
Paul Casey and rookie Viktor Hovland play Dustin Johnson and Colin Morikawa before Matt Fitzpatrick and Lee Westwood face Daniel Berger and Brooks Koepka.
The final group out is Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter with Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele – both Americans making their Ryder Cup debuts.
The first tee off is 13:05.
- The Sun
THE POSTMAN DELIVERS
Ian Poulter, aka The Postman, is rallying the troops with just an hour or so to go until the start of the 43rd Ryder Cup.
The Arsenal fan posted a brilliant Braveheart clip on Twitter, mocked with his face as Europe prepare to go into battle.
Poulter, 45, is heading into his seventh Ryder Cup.
- Kealan Hughes
THE WOLF OF WHISTLING STRAITS
Team USA rookie Harris English heads to Whistling Straits this week for his very first Ryder Cup appearance, however it is his caddie Eric Larson who is stealing plenty of the headlines after his astonishing past was uncovered.
Ahead of the Ryder Cup, it has been revealed that Larson had previously spent ten years locked up in prison, after he was arrested in 2005 for dealing cocaine across state lines.
Larson was then sentenced to 13 years behind bars – but only served 10 – while he was fined £20,000 and ordered to serve five years probation following his release.
What’s more, the now Ryder Cup caddie spent his jail time with one of America’s most recognised criminals in Jordan Belfort – also known as the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’.
- Kealan Hughes
'IT'S A BIG HONOUR'
No pairing in Ryder Cup history has come close to matching that of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.
But Europe are hoping there will be echoes of their countrymen for Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia.
Ballesteros and Olazabal won 12 points across 15 foursome and fourball matches during their Ryder Cup tenure, more than double the next highest points tally by any other pairing in the cup’s history.
But Rahm is feeling confident and has shared his pride at being picked alongside Garcia.
He said: "It’s a big honour. It means the captain has faith in me and who I am partnered with.
“There is nothing better than to be paired with my friend. Spanish legacy is deep in the Ryder Cup and I’m hoping we can start a new tradition."
- Kealan Hughes
SON OF A GUN
Bryson Dechambeau channelled his inner Happy Gilmore after driving his tee shot 350 yards during practice.
And the 28-year-old also sent the home fans wild at Whistling Straits on Thursday after firing a T-Shirt cannon into the crowd.
Team USA posted footage of DeChambeau revving up the supporters, as they labelled him as the 'ultimate showman'.
In the clip, the 2020 US Open champion can be seen getting the fans riled up by performing Gilmore's 'Bull Dance' from the hit film, before launching T-Shirts into those in the stands.
And he then lived up his reputation from the tee as he hammered his drive over 350 yards as it rolled up to just before the green.
- Kealan Hughes
'IT'S A LOT OF FUN'
Brooks Koepka has rejected reports that he dislikes the Ryder Cup and other team events in golf.
Golf Digest reported that Koepka had said that team sports were ‘not in his DNA’ and that the Ryder Cup interrupted his usual tournament preparations.
However Koepka believes the comments were misinterpreted.
He said: "I never said it was negative. Y'all spun it that way. I said it was different. Like I said, I've never played any of these team events. I didn't play Walker Cup. Never played Junior Ryder Cup. Never played anything. I just said it's different. That doesn't mean it's bad.
"It's a lot of fun to play. I wouldn't be nervous on the first tee if I didn't care.
"I can only do my job and then y'all report whatever your opinion or side might be."
- Kealan Hughes
'VERY STRONG'
Padraig Harrington has every faith in his team to deliver and believes the balance Team Europe possess could give them an advantage.
He also did not rule out some members of his team playing five matches this weekend.
"This is an interesting team for Europe it's very strong and balanced all the way through.
"Foursomes wise it's very balanced and clearly in fourball.
"The players are comfortable knowing when and where they're going to play and they've responded very nicely to that.
"Yes, absolutely [some players could play five matches]. You get a guy out there winning…it is a possibility players will play five times.
" It wouldn't be off the cards, maybe in an ideal world you wouldn't do that."
- Kealan Hughes
PLAYING DOWN RIVALRY
Ryder Cup star Brooks Koepka has responded to a clip of his chat with Bryson DeChambeau.
The Team USA teammates, who have a frosty relationship, were filmed talking to one another during the build-up to the 43rd edition of the prestigious event, which was posted on the Ryder Cup USA's official Twitter account.
The 31-year-old saw the post and responded: “Nothing to see here, teammates talk @b_dechambeau #GoUSA.”
And earlier in the week Koepka told the press: "A lot of this social media stuff has definitely been driven by a lot of external factors, not necessarily us two.
We had some great conversations during Tour Championship week when we had dinner.
"Then this week I sat down and had dinner with him last night, and it was fine.
“I think there may be something fun coming up here moving forward, but won't speak too much more on that."
- Kealan Hughes
FUN RYDE
Paige Spiranac wanted US captain Steve Stricker to pair rivals Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau together at the Ryder Cup.
The ex-professional golfer and social media star, 28, believes the two major winners would have been 'unstoppable' together at Whistling Straits.
Spiranac tweeted: "Bryson/Brooks would be an unstoppable team. Pair them together. It’s what we all want."
Koepka, 31, and DeChambeau, 28, share one of golf's fiercest rivalries after emerging as two of the sport's most prolific winners.
The feud began in 2018 when Koepka criticised his fellow American for taking his time in between shots, claiming it 'drives me nuts'.
DeChambeau then questioned his rival's physique, to which Koepka responded by sharing a picture of his four major titles.
- Kealan Hughes
READY TO RAHMBLE
World No 1 Rahm says he recognises his duty to live up to his ranking and emerge as the man Europe can rally around.
The Spaniard grew up worshipping Seve Ballesteros – but revealed Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie was another of his favourite players growing up, and he would love to set the tone for Europe the way he did.
Rahm said: “Am I expected to be one of the team leaders this week? What kind of a player would I be if I say no? Right.
“So yes, yes, I'm ready for that. It's a challenge I look forward to. Obviously there's a lot of players in our team that have a lot of experience and know how to get it done. I'm ready to add my name into that group.
“And being world No 1 can go two ways – either it brings pressure, or it lifts you. And in my case, it brings a bit of added confidence, in the sense that I know what I'm capable of.
"But I’m not the type to deliver big speeches. We have plenty of players in the team that are vocal enough, and who have done this enough, to be the guys others will naturally gravitate towards for guidance."
- Gary Stonehouse
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER…
Europe are aiming to spank the Yanks in Wisconsin after they left them embarrassed in Paris three years ago.
And Euro star Rory McIlroy believes victory would not only be a "monumental achievement" but "more meaningful" in the backyard of strong favourites USA.
With foursomes launching the event at around 1.05pm today (UK time), Padraig Harrington's men are chasing an eighth victory in the past ten meetings, having won 17½-10½ in France in 2018.
Northern Ireland hero McIlroy said: "I think winning any Ryder Cup is huge… but winning a Ryder Cup on the road has become more meaningful.
"We're coming in here as underdogs with a lot of things stacked against us, so I think that would make it even more of an achievement."
Up to 40,000 home fans are expected on each of the three days at Whistling Straits for an event delayed by coronavirus from last year
And US skipper Steve Stricker said: "It's not just Wisconsin but the whole country is showing up.
"It's been a long time waiting and everybody is excited to get this thing going."
The Yanks look stronger individually but Europe have the world No1 in Jon Rahm.
And the Spaniard said: "Obviously there’s a lot of players in our team that have a lot of experience and know how to get it done. I’m ready to add my name into that group.
“And being world No 1 can go two ways – either it brings pressure, or it lifts you. And in my case, it brings a bit of added confidence, in the sense that I know what I’m capable of."
- Ian Tuckey
RAHM TO OPEN WITH GARCIA
Europe's world No1 Joe Rahm will be straight into the action in the opening foursomes match today, partnered by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.
hey will do battle with the formidable duo of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, who won three of their four matches together in Paris.
Viktor Hovland will make his eagerly-awaited debut alongside Paul Casey, taking on Open champion Collin Morikawa and former world No 1 Dustin Johnson.
They will be followed by the all-English pairing of Lee Westwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick – up against Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger – with Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter in the anchor match, facing Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
- Ian Tuckey
GIVING HIS HEART AND POUL
Marching down fairways, big drives, sinking putts — and of course those eye-popping, chest-thumping celebrations, writes DAVID FACEY.
We can expect more of the same from Ian Poulter, Mr Ryder Cup, in European colours.
But as he prepares for another superhuman effort, Poulter, 45, said it all reduces him to a “physical wreck” for weeks after the incredible event.
Europe’s Postman — because he always delivers — provided a fascinating insight into just how much his Ryder Cup heroics take out of him.
Win, lose, or draw, this is what lies ahead for him once he returns from Whistling Straits.
Poulter said: “After each one I play in, I am a physical wreck for three weeks afterwards.
“Emotionally, mentally, these are the most incredible three days to play through. I can’t get out of bed. I’m spent. I’ll have cold sores, look and feel a total mess. My body will have had enough.
“I might look like I have all the energy in the world on Sunday afternoons, when the singles are on. But by the following Tuesday I am a shell of a man. I’ve given my all.”
- Ian Tuckey
THE TENSION BUILDS…
Ryder Cup chiefs are counting down the final 24 hours before the Wisconsin event tees off to "full" stands.
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