A Jon Rahm in Gladiator mode leads a big Europe (6.5-1.5)

Gladiator Jon Rahm. He Marco Simonealready Coliseum, surrendered at his feet. The American lions cannot defeat him. Ryder Cup at its best, climax, emotion, alternatives and uncertainty. After defeating Europe in the morning in the foursomes (4-0), the US was forced to react in the fourballs of the afternoon session. Everyone suggested this would be the case, but it wasn’t. Over five and a half hours of pure tension. The partial was: 2.5-1.5 for Europe an hour before it looked like 3-1 for the USA.

The men of Luke Donald They did not allow the Americans to get ahead on the scoreboard. To take our hat off to the half point Europe achieved in the first two fourballs. See it to believe it. So big, so beautiful, God. Jon Rahm had to make an eagle on the 16th hole, and again on the 18th to tie a match he didn’t deserve to lose. It would have been very unfair. And golf rewarded him. Wow, he did.

The four fourball match was very tough, with all the heavy artillery of the Yankee side on the field and two rare duels to open your mouths: Hovland-Hatton against Spieth-Thomas and the Rahm-Hojgaard vs Scheffler-Koepka. Match play in its purest form. Brutal.

First half a point fell for Europe from Hovland and Hatton and the McIlroy-Fitzpatrick (they beat Schauffele-Morikawa 5 and 3), putting the score at 5.5-0.5 for Europe. Fitzpatrick’s putting recital was impressive, with six holes won thanks to that club in the first 7. Then swimming and putting clothes away.

But the best was yet to come, what a final match in which Rahm starred. Scheffler and Koepka will surely dream of the Spaniards and more than one night. This Friday at Marco Simone in Rome there were several Ryder moments, first on the 16th hole of Jon’s match when he dropped a spectacular, impossible chip from the high rough to make the eagle-2, win in the hole and tie the match. On the 17th, Scheffler answered Rahm’s hit on the green with a birdie that gave the Americans a one-hole advantage. The last firecracker is missing. And Jon’s revenge against the world number 1.

The first match was the ‘summ’ when Hovland made an incredible birdie putt on the 18th to earn a valuable half point against the powerful pair of Spieth (lost in the final holes) and Thomas (the one who avoided fighting the end). final). The match played by these four monsters of golf was incredible.

And there was Rahm and Hojgaard’s 18th hole. The Basque has an eagle option on this final par 5. I had to make the putt no matter what because the Americans had the birdie in the bag. Either Europe wins the hole or ends up losing the match.

And Rahm made the putt, with suspense, but the ball went inside the hole (a bit difficult and with luck, yes). People went crazy, the captain, vice-captain and European players couldn’t believe what they were experiencing. Even Jon, who seemed to be absorbed after seeing the putt go in. The emotional blow to the Yankees was one that made an era.

To finish the European festival Rose (43 years of pure golf essence) and MacIntyre They overcame a two-hole deficit with two to spare and also ended up tied against Homa and Clark. The US did not add any victories throughout the day. The final score of the day, a deadly 6.5-1.5.

Fourball results:

Hovland-Hatton (Eur) draw with Spieth-Thomas (USA)

Rahm-Hojgaard (Eur) draw with Scheffler-Koepka (USA)

Rose-MacIntyre (Eur) draw with Homa-Clark (USA)

McIlroy-Fitzpatrick (Eur) beat Schauffele-Morikawa (USA), 5 and 3

FIRST DAY RESULTS:

EUROPE-USA, 6.5-1.5