The Ryder Cup is back as Europe looks to use its home advantage to reclaim golf’s most prestigious trophy.
The bi-annual competition sees the best golf players from Europe compete in a team event against the best of the United States of America.
This year, we travel to Rome as the teams prepare to take on the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. It’s a par 71 course and its yards amount to 7,181.
The US are the narrow favourites, however, they haven’t won the event on European soil in 30 years. After a dominant 19-9 win in 2021, the US will be hoping to create history. During day one there will be a total of eight points up for grabs.
The morning session of Day 1 saw a sensational performance from the Europeans as they stormed to a 4-0 lead over the US. It was Europe’s first-ever clean sweep of a morning session at a Ryder Cup.
Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland/Ludvig Aberg both got 4&3 victories over Scottie Scheffler/Sam Burns and Max Homa/Brian Harman. Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry put on a show in their 2&1 win over Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa. It looked as though the US were going to earn half a point in the final match but Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood battled on to secure a 2&1 victory over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
Up next is the four-ball session and it is a form of golf that the Americans have previously had great success in. Let’s see where it takes us.
MORE: Ryder Cup odds, props, predictions
Ryder Cup live scores
| Europe | United States |
| 4 | 0 |
LATEST: Ryder Cup standings, results and leaderboard
Foursome results
| Europe | United States | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rahm/Hatton | Scheffler/Burns | 4 & 3 |
| Hovland/Aberg | Homa/Harman | 4 & 3 |
| Lowry/Straka | Fowler/Morikawa | 2 & 1 |
| McIlroy/Fleetwood | Schauffele/Cantlay | 2 & 1 |
MORE: Check out the full rundown of players competing for Team USA and Team Europe
Fourball results
| Europe | United States | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Hovland/Hatton | Thomas/Spieth | TIED |
| Rahm/Hojgaard | Scheffler/Koepka | TIED |
| MacIntyre/Rose | Homa/Clark | TIED |
| McIlroy/Fitzpatrick | Morikawa/Schauffele | 2 Up |
Ryder Cup live updates, highlights from Day 1
(All times BST)
1:23 pm: Clark has his first meaningful moment in this Ryder Cup as he gets it back to tied with a birdie.
1:15 pm: The red on the scoreboard was short-lived as Hovland kills Thomas/Spieth’s momentum.
1:07 pm: The entertainment is growing in Rome. Hovland’s day gets better and better as he puts it incredibly close on the par-three 7th. His iron play is something else.
1:05 pm: Fitzpatrick’s putter is HOT! He sinks another to double the lead over Morikawa/Schauffele.
1:01 pm: Thomas puts the US ahead for the first time today! It’s taken a very long time…
12:44 pm: Not too much movement going on in the leaderboard right now as the four-balls keep matching each other. On the 4th, Rahm’s long putt falls way short. Fitzpatrick manages to make a huge play and holes a 21-footer for birdie as he and McIlroy retake the lead in that final match.
12:35 pm: Spieth has arrived!
Tough lie? Not an issue for @JordanSpieth #RyderCup | #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/zNscBsUAzo
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 29, 2023
12:30 pm: Is this what gets the US going?! Spieth chips in from the edge of the green to get himself and Thomas tied in the top game.
12:27 pm: The first chance at a US lead is shut down by Fitzpatrick who makes a brilliant putt to save Europe in match four.
12:17 pm: You couldn’t write a more perfect start to a Ryder Cup career for Nicolai Hojgaard.
First hole.
First birdie.
First lead.Nicolai Højgaard starts hot in his debut at the #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/OlPrePGMtj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 29, 2023
12:15 pm: All four four-ball matches are officially underway with McIlroy/Fitzpatrick vs Morikawa/Schauffele all teed off.
12:04 pm: Some familiar faces in Rome!
.@GarethBale11 and @DjokerNole cheering on from the side lines 🙌#RyderCup pic.twitter.com/O3YzOaO6GP
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 29, 2023
12:01 pm: The Europeans go 1 Up in the second game of the four-balls as Hojgaard sinks a long birdie putt! What a way to make your Ryder Cup debut, birdie your first hole!
11:45 am: Hatton sinks the birdie putt to go 1 Up Thru 1! Europe continues to paint the leaderboard blue.
11:44 am: The second match is now underway. Hojgaard’s first Ryder Cup shot trickles into the bunker, Rahm’s 3-wood sees the fairway and the Europeans are off.
11:36 am: Thomas and Hatton find the green, Spieth is just off the edge and Hovland is in the rough at the far right.
11:29 am: The first four-ball is underway as Thomas hits the fairway but Spieth and Hovland find the rough. Hatton finds the bunker down the right.
11:23 am: If you’re just waking up in the US, it’s been a woeful start for the Americans in the first session at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. The Europeans lead 4-0 after a clean sleep but we’re now moments away from the first four-ball match which is where the US players should thrive. The first game is Viktor Hovland/Tyrrell Hatton vs Justin Thomas/Jordan Spieth.
RORY MCILROY, TAKE A BOW! 🎯#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/4jqRsdtYbO
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
10:57 am: Schauffele needed to make his birdie putt to keep them within reach but he couldn’t sink it. Fleetwood taps in McIlroy’s excellent tee shot and it’s a 4-0 lead after the morning session of day one at the 2023 Ryder Cup!
10:54 am: McIlroy with an absolute peach puts Fleetwood within a few feet!
10:50 am: The four-balls have been announced!
This afternoon’s four-ball pairings.@ROLEX | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/47Rnh2WHDI
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 29, 2023
10:48 am: Schauffele has the opportunity to win the hole with a putt and does so with steady hands. They get it back to just one down as they head to the par-three 17th.
10:38 am: Schauffele misses and from almost definitely losing the hole, McIlroy/Fleetwood win it and go 2 Up! Elsewhere, Europe goes 3-0 up as Straka sinks his putt. Lowry celebrates with the crowd and pumps his fists.
Third point on the board for #TeamEurope #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/Zuh9lJb0bU
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
10:36 am: An absolutely massive putt from Fleetwood and knocks it in to keep the lead. Just as the US’ hopes were up, he shuts the door.
10:34 am: Cantlay’s effort from 33 feet narrowly slides wide of the hole and Fleetwood has to make this to save the hole and keep a lead.
10:29 am: Xander and Cantlay are reeling McIlroy and Fleetwood in as they feel the heat after a wayward tee shot. They’re still 1 back but have a great opportunity to get to even.
10:20 am: Cantlay’s putt wins the hole and halves the deficit to give them hope heading to the 15th.
10:19 am: Lowry lets a 3-wood loose off the tee and it slides way right. It’s so bad that it might actually be okay for Straka.
10:04 am: They sure enjoyed it out there this morning.
It would be difficult to overstate just how hard Viktor and Ludvig are vibing right now. Pointing after every putt, pumping up every green. The joyful killers. Hard to imagine them being split up this week.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) September 29, 2023
10:00 am: Hovland’s brilliant bunker shot sees the US concede and they get the 4&3 win over Homa and Harman.
9:58 am: Fleetwood’s down-hill putt misses right and that was a good opportunity to extend the lead to three.
9:53 am: Hatton speaking to Sky after his round with Rahm: “He’s very positive between shots, great company and he’s always right by your side. A great teammate.”
9:51 am: The first point goes to Europe as Rahm and Hatton finish off a spectacular performance.
What a start 💪
Rahm 🤝 Hatton#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/RExM7wHcak
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
9:45 am: It’s another European win as McIlroy helps their match to 2 Up. They’re closing in on a clean sweep.
9:41 am: So many missed fairways for the US this morning as Scheffler finds the rough this time.
9:36 am: Cantlay halves yet another hole in the final and tightest match of the morning. It really does feel like that match will be the only chance of the US getting a point in this first session.
9:28 am: Homa had a wonderful opportunity to get it back to 2 down but he can’t make the put and the second match remains the same with a European three-hole lead.
9:19 am: Rory avoided the water but it meant a tough approach shot for Fleetwood and Cantlay pulls one back to bring the US within 1 at the turn.
9:15 am: It’s been a rough morning for the US.
Total holes won so far
Europe—16
U.S.—4— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) September 29, 2023
9:13 am: They do pull one back and it’s a vital one at the tenth. Fowler and Morikawa are still three down and there’s a lot of work to do.
9:10 am: Lowry finds the tee at the tenth to give Fowler and Morikawa a glimmer of hope. The US are yet to take any advantages, they need to here to give them a fighting chance.
9:04 am: It’s now 3 Up for Rahm and Hatton in that top game as they go through 11. It’s been a sensational start to this Ryder Cup for Europe. The US need a spark from somewhere and it needs to come soon.
8:56 am: Hovland is playing superbly as he finds the green from the rough with the ball below the stance. Straka and Lowry make it 4 Up against Fowler and Morikawa!
RAHMBO!!!!! 💪#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/T5MJZn2rCm
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
8:48 am: Rahm chips in and this place is ROCKING! That’s why he’s the Masters champion. Scheffler remains calm and halves the hole.
8:45 am: Three-hole leads in games two and three for Europe as blue dominates the leaderboard. The latest comes from a 16-footer from Aberg.
8:37 am: At the eighth Morikawa finds the water and Straka finds the green in what is a huge opportunity to go 3 Up in that match.
8:33 am: Burns does halve the hole! He’ll thank Scottie for an excellent recovery shot to give him a fighting chance. They stay 2 Down.
8:29 am: Scottie plays a super shot out of the rough to give Burns a chance and give the US a slim chance of halving the hole.
8:27 am: Morikawa can’t make his putt and Europe now have 3/4 matches 2 Up. Scheffler has taken a drop from Burns’ water-bound ball and it’s incredibly thick rough.
8:19 am: Burns finds the water to make matters worse in the top game. Meanwhile, the Europeans are up by the green. 3 Up looms.
8:12 am: Can you imagine if this went in…
Jon Rahm was so close to just the SEVENTH hole-in-one in Ryder Cup history 🤯 #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/phe1vfXc6Y
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 29, 2023
8:10 am: The board is BLUE! McIlroy taps in to get the Europeans 1 Up in yet another match.
8:07 am: Aberg’s 12-footer birdie should settle his nerves as he and Hovland get back to 2 Up.
7:58 am: Rahm’s tee shot sees the US concede after he hit the pin at the par-three seventh.
7:54 am: Lowry/Straka move 2 Up and Harman can’t halve the hole in the second pairing.
7:50 am: Burns finishes off the 6th with a six-footer and brings them back within one.
7:45 am: After Lowry’s sublime approach, Straka finishes it off to put the Europeans 1 Up in that match.
7:40 am: Aberg can’t quite halve the hole and after being 2 Up Thru 2, the US tie it up in the second match.
7:37 am: Rahm holes a four-footer for birdie showing no signs of any nerves out there. I’m sure there are…
7:35 am: We think Shane enjoyed that one…
Getting hype up before his first tee shot 💪
Shane Lowry’s reaction to Viktor Hovland’s chip-in 💯pic.twitter.com/GjE3bfFDd9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 29, 2023
7:31 am: Homa pulls one back for the US with a nice putt to get them back to one behind.
7:24 am: We now have every pairing underway as both McIlroy and Cantlay just miss the fairway.
7:20 am: Hovland rolls in at the second to go 2 Up Thru 2.
7:16 am: Rahm birdies the third to go 1 Up as Europe use the momentum early.
7:14 am: Rory and Tommy against Schauffele and Cantlay is about to get going.
7:08 am: Straka and Morikawa get the third match underway, neither hit the fairway.
7:05 am: The second hole is halved as Burns just pushes his putt wide of the hole.
VIKTOR HOVLAND! 💪#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/olIR1Zq7Jy
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
7:03 am: HOVLAND HOLES IN! He opts for a wedge rather than a putter and boy did it pay off. What a start for Europe! Fist bumps on the first hole? The Ryder Cup is here.
6:58 am: Rahm and Scheffler are both on the green at the second. The US are a little closer so they’ll get a nice read off the Europeans.
6:52 am: Homa and Hovland both find the fairway to get the second match off.
6:48 am: Rahm’s birdie attempt is no good and we go to hole two tied.
6:46 am: Scottie nearly chips in! It just lips out to the right. Meanwhile, back at the tee, the noise is back as Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg arrive to get match two underway.
6:43 am: Tyrrell Hatton hits the green to give Rahm a birdie opportunity and Burns’ effort out of the rough is short.
Jon Rahm gets us under way 💪#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/t0Q68Cp7R8
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
6:38 am: Rahm begins with a perfect tee shot down the right, onto the fairway while avoiding the bunker. Scheffler drives into the rough.
6:35 am: Good morning! Welcome to The Sporting News’ live blog of the 2023 Ryder Cup. The entire month’s excitement has led to this as Europe take on the US in Rome, Italy. Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm have just teed off to get the first foursome pairing underway and officially begin the day’s play.
