Vikings and Team Angry give Europe perfect start

Lowry-Straka then earn third point before Mcllroy-Fleetwood make it a clean sweep

- Matt Majendie

LUKE DONALD had repeatedly said in the long build-up to this Ryder Cup that opting for an opening foursomes gave Europe the best chance of taking an early lead.

But not even in his wildest dreams could the captain (right) have imagined such a strong start.

‘Team Angry’, the Scandinavians, and even the pairing of Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry, who would not have necessarily been everyone’s choice for the opening foursomes, all delivered a point.

And the hope of pulling off a first European clean sweep in the opening session in Ryder Cup history was achieved when Fleetwood Mac, caught in a tense battle with Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, came through.

Every point won, sunk putt or American failing, which were surprisingly plentiful, was cheered to the rafters by a partisan crowd dressed as Vikings, matadors and European flags in the glorious Rome sunshine.

The morning’s results left the United States with a mountain to climb and piled the pressure on captain Zach Johnson for some of his decisions, notably opting to include rookie Sam Burns, who had a dire morning, and omitting the established partnership of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.