Half Of Team USA Fail To Register A Point As Only One Player Goes Two From Two

All 12 of Team Europe contributed at least half a point on day one while half of Team USA are yet to register

Xander Schauffele looking despondent while Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland celebrate by embracing
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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Team Europe leads 6.5-1.5 after day one of the 2023 Ryder Cup thanks to a plethora of stunning performances by players in blue.

Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, and Tommy Fleetwood claimed victory from their solitary outings while Rory McIlroy went one better with two wins from two.

But Jon Rahm was arguably the stand-out player of the day courtesy of 1.5 points from his two matches - including an extraordinary fightback in his fourballs clash on Friday afternoon that featured two eagles in his final three holes.

Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton also contributed 1.5 points from a pair of sessions to put Europe in full control overall, while valuable half-points were recorded by Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai Hojgaard, and Justin Rose - the latter of whom ensured Team USA failed to record a victory all day.

RYDER CUP 2023 PLAYER POINTS - TEAM EUROPE

Rory McIlroy fist bumps during the 2023 Ryder Cup

McIlroy was the only player to win two points on day one at Marco Simone

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Rory McIlroy: 2/2
  • Jon Rahm: 1.5/2
  • Viktor Hovland: 1.5/2
  • Tyrrell Hatton: 1.5/2
  • Ludvig Aberg: 1/1
  • Matt Fitzpatrick: 1/1
  • Shane Lowry: 1/1
  • Sepp Straka: 1/1
  • Tommy Fleetwood: 1/1
  • Robert MacIntyre: 0.5/1
  • Justin Rose: 0.5/1
  • Nicolai Hojgaard: 0.5/1

While Europe enjoyed a seemingly endless supply of good fortune in the Eternal City on day one, Team USA may have felt like they were fighting lions in the colosseum at times.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas combined to put the Americans ahead late on in the top match, only to end with a half against Hovland and Hatton. Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler were unable to put Rahm and Hojgaard away - thanks in the main to the Spaniard’s brilliance - while Max Homa and Wyndham Clark were unable to seal the deal against Rose and MacIntyre.

RYDER CUP 2023 PLAYER POINTS - TEAM USA

Collin Morikawa of Team United States looks across the ninth hole during the Friday afternoon fourball matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 29, 2023 in Rome, Italy.

Collin Morikawa was one of two players to lose both their matches for Team USA

(Image credit: Getty Images)
  • Jordan Spieth: 0.5/1
  • Justin Thomas: 0.5/1
  • Brooks Koepka: 0.5/1
  • Wyndham Clark: 0.5/1
  • Scottie Scheffler: 0.5/2
  • Max Homa: 0.5/2
  • Rickie Fowler: 0/1
  • Brian Harman: 0/1
  • Patrick Cantlay: 0/1
  • Sam Burns: 0/1
  • Collin Morikawa: 0/2
  • Xander Schauffele: 0/2

The Ryder Cup day two pairings are out so we will have to wait and see who picks up more points on Saturday.

Jonny Leighfield
Jonny Leighfield
Staff Writer

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.