Ryder Cup: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed set early tone for Americans

Martin Kaymer of Europe hits out of a bunker on the first hole foursome matches at the Hazeltine National Golf Club on Friday. (Photo: AFP)

With a fired-up Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed leading the way, the United States held an early advantage midway through the opening foursomes matches on a chilly Friday at the 41st Ryder Cup.

Thunderous roars of “USA, USA, USA” echoed across the ultra-long Hazeltine National layout as the Americans led holders Europe in three and trailed in one in the four alternate-shot encounters.

Twice major winner Spieth and fellow young gun Reed, who formed an unbeaten partnership as rookies at the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland, were two up on European heavyweights Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson after 10 holes in the top match.

Fan favourites Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, who had been two down after six holes, were one up on Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Englishman Andy Sullivan after 10.

In the anchor match, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar were four up against an out-of-sorts Lee Westwood of England and Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters.

The only blue on the board for Europe on an overcast day in Minnesota came from Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Germany’s Martin Kaymer who were one up on Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson after eight.

Olympic champion Rose and British Open winner Stenson, who went 3-0 when paired together at Gleneagles two years ago, were sent off first by captain Darren Clarke in a bid to give Europe a fast start.

However, they soon found themselves two down after Spieth sank a 12-footer to birdie the par-four second and followed with a five-footer at the par-five third.

A superb approach by Spieth to six feet at the par-four seventh set up a comfortable birdie putt for Reed to put the Americans three up before Stenson and Rose trimmed the deficit to two when their opponents bogeyed the ninth.

Cup veteran Mickelson and Fowler initially struggled against McIlroy and Sullivan but then reeled off three straight birdies from the seventh to edge one ahead.