BRYS CRUNCH

DeChambeau taken down as Rahm and Hatton give US dream team a hiding

- BY NEIL MCLEMAN at Bethpage

THE 45th Ryder Cup began for the USA with Bryson DeChambeau bombing his opening drive over the trees to huge applause on his way to a birdie.

But the American talisman's final tee shot into the bins off the 15th fairway better summed up the home team's morning in the foursomes. It was close to rubbish.

And when Justin Thomas' weak par putt dribbled past the hole with only a smattering of European cheers to break the silence, Keegan Bradley's dream team had suffered a nightmare.

The US skipper had claimed playing his two biggest personalities together would “bring a spark to our team” and he wanted them to ignite the crowd.

But sending out his two high-energy players together was also a high-risk strategy. And it failed as history repeated itself.