Both the American and European teams want to get off to a good start at the Ryder Cup, but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a victory come Sunday night.
Team Europe leads the United States 6½-1½ in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. It was a stellar Friday for the hosts, coming off a 19-9 drubbing in the United States at Whistling Straits two years ago. Europe swept the fourball session and then halved three of the four foursomes matches, winning the fourth.
This is the first time in Ryder Cup history the United States hasn’t won a match on the opening day.
Only five times since 1979 has a team scored at least 6 points on the opening day of the Ryder Cup, including this year. In three of the four previous editions, the team who led after the opening day went on to win.
Here’s a look at the previous big leads after Friday in the Ryder Cup since 1979 and who went on to win.
The winning Great Britain and Europe team in no order of Howard Clark, Sam Torrance, Ken Brown, Bernhard Langer, Severiano Ballesteros, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Jose Rivero, Gordon Brand Jnr, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle and Eamonn Darcy during the 27th Ryder Cup Matches on 27 September 1987at the Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, USA. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Getty Images)
Score after opening day: 6-2 Europe
Final score: 15-13 Europe
The Europeans led 6-2 after the opening session at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, and never looked back, capturing the Cup for the second straight year.
US Ryder Cup team members touch the Ryder Cup during team pictures 26 September,1999 after winning at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. The US defeated the European team 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP)
Score after opening day: 6-2 Europe
Final score: 14½-13½ United States
The United States couldn’t have started more poorly at a home Ryder Cup, but thanks to a stellar Sunday singles rally, including the highlight putt from Justin Leonard, the Americans came back to win the Cup for the first time since 1993.
Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington hold the prize as the European team celebrates winning the 2004 Ryder Cup in Detroit, Michigan, September 19, 2004. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Score after opening day: 6½-1½ Europe
Final score: 18½-9½ Europe
The Europeans left no doubt at Oakland Hills Country Club’s South…
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