McDowell hits first shot to launch Ryder Cup
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell struck the first shot of the 39th Ryder Cup on Friday, pulling his drive at the par-four opening hole to launch the morning’s foursomes matches.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell struck the first shot of the 39th Ryder Cup on Friday, pulling his drive well left of the fairway at the par-four opening hole to launch the morning’s foursomes matches.
The 2010 US Open champion partnered compatriot and world number one Rory McIlroy for holders Europe in the alternate shot format while Jim Furyk and rookie Brandt Snedeker led off for hosts the United States in the first of four encounters.
The four players were given a rousing welcome by the fans packed around the first tee, chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole”, “Olly, Olly, Olly” and “USA, USA, USA” echoing across the course at Medinah Country Club.
Furyk, wearing a balaclava, struck the first shot for the US and, like McDowell, his drive missed the fairway to the left. However both teams recovered to par the 396-yard hole.
Ryder Cup veteran Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley will take on Britain’s Luke Donald and Spaniard Sergio Garcia in the second match out before rookie Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson face Britain’s Lee Westwood and Italy’s Francesco Molinari.
In the final foursomes encounter, a mouth-watering matchup pits the potent US duo of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker against Englishmen Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.