ROME – A few American Ryder Cuppers broke out the hair clippers in the leadup to this week’s matches and arrived at Marco Simone sporting aggressive hairstyles, including Sam Burns’ mullet-like hairdo with “U.S.A.” straight-razored on the side of his head.
As for the Europeans, they brought their brooms.
With its stars buzzing from the get-go, Team Europe staked itself an early cushion by styling a 4-0 sweep of Friday morning’s foursomes session.
Here’s why it was historic:
• It was just the fourth time that Europe has taken all four points in a Ryder Cup session – it also had done so in 1987, 1989 and 2018; it went 2-0-1 in those Cups.
• Also, never before had Europe swept an opening session – and never has either team done so and gone on to lose the Cup.
• According to the Twenty First Group’s Justin Ray, only once before has a team swept opening session and had no matches reach the 18th hole (U.S., 1975). Also happening for just the second time this week, per Ray, was a team sweeping and never trailing (U.S., 1989)
• Europe is now 26.5-9.5 in foursomes in its last home Ryder Cups.
"It was such a good start," Viktor Hovland said, "and we're going to keep it going."
Added U.S. Captain Zach Johnson: "We're really only two, two-and-a-half holes into an 18-hole day or front nine of a golf tournament. There's ample opportunity out there. We've got a lot of hungry guys, guys who want adversity and I've got the utmost confidence in them. it's about doing what they do and staying committed and I think we've got the right guys to do that.
"Hats off to the European team, they're playing quality golf, they're making shots, they're making putts, it's very impressive but there's still a lot of opportunity."
