DARREN CLARKE’S EUROPEAN team rallied well in the afternoon session to end day one of the Ryder Cup 5-3 down to the hosts.
The US side blew the visitors away this morning to lead 4-0 at lunchtime.
Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose turned the tables on Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed in the opening match of afternoon four balls however, earning Europe’s first point of the matches.
Stenson made birdie to win the par-3 13th and Rose sealed the 5 and 4 victory with a birdie at 14. The win by the Olympic medal-winning Europeans — Rose took gold in Rio; Stenson grabbed the silver — avenged their loss to the American pair in morning foursomes.
The Spanish pairing of Sergio Garcia and Carbrera Bello beat Holmes and Moore to make it 5-2.
Rory McIlroy and rookie Thomas Pieters finished off the long, raucous day with a 3-and-2 victory over Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar. McIlroy ended it with a 20-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole, and he mockingly bowed twice to the crowd.
The United States also had a 5-3 lead at Medinah four years ago.
