2023 Ryder Cup Day 1: Europe Slaps US Team in the Mouth

It’s hard to think of a less inspiring start for the US Team at the 2023 Ryder Cup because they’ve never performed this poorly on Day 1 before.

Zach Johnson’s team didn’t win a single match the entire day, settling instead for three halved-points in the afternoon fourballs following an abysmal sweep by Team Europe in the morning foursomes. The result was a Team Europe 6.5-point tally over the lackluster 1.5 points managed by the US.

This isn’t to say that Team US didn’t have flashes of progress throughout the day. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth appeared to maintain a spark in the afternoon after each sitting in the morning wave. Brooks Koepka, the only LIV Golf player for either team, was also reserved for the later session and looked admirable at times.

But that’s where the positives end. No other US players appeared to be alive, let alone competent in their pursuit to defend the Ryder Cup from Whistling Straits.

Conversely, Team Europe looked more like a defending champion almost across the roster. Jon Rham, undoubtedly Europe’s best player (with apologies to Rory McIlroy), channeled Spanish legends of Ryder Cup past to secure 1.5 points in his matches. McIlroy, paired with the incredibly red-hot Matt Fitzpatrick in the afternoon session, didn’t really have to do much en route to accounting for 2 points.

Viktor Hovland was a shining star throughout the day, continuing his blistering assault on any golf course over the last two months. Following an unquestionable bludgeoning of the US Team’s Max Homa and Brian Harman in the morning (alongside partner Ludvig Aberg), Hovland sank what might be the most consequential putt to halve his team’s match against JT and Spieth in the afternoon (much to the delight of partner Tyrell Hatton).

Let’s not mince words here, folks: there was nothing encouraging about the United States team on Day 1 of these matches. They appeared as a team of rookies, lost amid the shadows only a city like Rome could cast on the wide-eyed tourists. Team Europe was everything that their opponents hoped to be on this first day, building a lead that could, conceivably, win back the Cup by the end of Day 2 on Saturday.

Of course, that scenario is highly unlikely. There’s little doubt that the egos and talents of Team USA will bear down and provide a stronger performance tomorrow. But it is the players and players alone who will make that decision to improve, as Captain Zach Johnson is now in a place where he can only sit back and observe.

if Team Europe meant to make an early statement on “home soil” in their quest to regain the Ryder Cup, they did so 100 times over. The only question is whether they’ve spent all of their excitement prematurely, or if the dominance we witnessed today was merely an appetizer.