Ryder Cup 2014: Twitter Reacts to Day 1 Standings, Results for USA vs. Europe
Golf is traditionally an individual sport, but for one weekend a year, the Ryder Cup allows fans to watch the top names go head-to-head in a team competition.
The top 12 players for Team USA and the top 12 players from Europe went to battle on the course at Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland, and it was clear that the Europeans had the home-field advantage.
After Day 1 Europe leads Team USA, 5-3.
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With the morning featuring four four-ball matchups and four more foursome matches in the afternoon, golf fans were treated to a unique match play experience that only happens every two years.
Here are the Day 1 standings, results and Twitter reaction to a wild start to the 2014 Ryder Cup.
| Europe | 5 |
| USA | 3 |
Breaking Down Day 1 of the Ryder Cup
Day 1 of the 2014 Ryder Cup started with four separate four-ball matchups. Team USA took two separate victories in the morning, with Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson beating Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy (one up) and Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed winning over Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter (5&4).
Garcia and McIlroy took an early lead over Bradley and Mickelson, but the Americans took it back. After the Europeans once again climbed back on No. 15, Bradley hit an eagle on No. 16 and swung the advantage in favor of Team USA. Bradley and Mickelson held on for the win.
As close as the aforementioned match was, Spieth and Reed utterly dominated Gallacher and Poulter, winning the first hole and never relinquishing the lead.
Despite taking the loss on Friday, Poulter told Randall Mell of GolfChannel.com about his excitement for the Ryder Cup events, saying, “There are players on the team that get very pumped up. I'm obviously one of those guys, and I'm happy to help. I loved my football as a kid, and I'm kind of reliving those football moments as a golfer now. I think I played football back in the day like I play golf right now.”
The Europeans didn’t go down in the morning without a fight, though, with Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson taking down Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson (5&4). Just as Spieth and Reed took the lead early and never let up, Rose and Stenson did the same by winning the No. 2 hole and holding on throughout the remainder of the round.
One of the most intriguing matchups of the morning was Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer vs. Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker. After 18 holes, the two teams were all square and finished with a tie.
Bjorn and Kaymer led from the very first hole and maintained that lead through 17 holes. Fowler and Walker managed to keep it close and tied it on the very last hole, cutting the point in half.
After a wild morning at the 2014 Ryder Cup, the afternoon foursomes were next.
The first matchup of the afternoon was Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar vs. Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood. Team USA took the early lead through five holes, but Donaldson and Westwood evened the score on No. 6 and took the lead on No. 7. The Europeans never looked back and won two up.
As well as Donaldson and Westwood played in the afternoon, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson played consistently through the foursome matches and managed to hold off the American tandem of Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson.
".@henrikstenson and @JustinRose99 have been magnificent today. Strong in game and mind.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 26, 2014"
One of the most disheartening moments for Team USA was the tie for Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler against Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia. The Americans were two up after 16 holes, but McIlroy sunk a long putt on No. 17 and Garcia hit an incredible shot out of the rough on No. 18 to tie the match and halve the point.
In the final foursome of Day 1, Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley were unable to capitalize on their morning momentum and lost to Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell, 3&2. Dubuisson and McDowell took the lead on the second hole and never relinquished it.
With Day 2 action kicking off at 3 a.m. ET on Saturday, golf fans will be treated to another day of intense team action. If the second day of the 2014 Ryder Cup is as wild as Friday, this even is must-watch television.
*Stats via PGATour.com.
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