CHASKA, Minn._It certainly felt like the Ryder Cup on Friday.
A cool, foggy morning?
Check.
Home course advantage in the large galleries?
Check.
Silly costumes?
Check and double check.
But where Friday was different from some years past is the Americans look well in control � through one session, anyway.
After the morning foursome matches at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Team USA had a 4-0 lead on Europe. It's the first 4-0 lead for any side after the morning foursomes since Laurel Valley in 1975 ��Arnold Palmer's last Ryder Cup captaincy.
Two years ago at Gleneagles the U.S. was walloped 7-1 in the two foursomes sessions. That was certainly not the case Friday.
Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar were the final pair off the tee for the American side but they put up the biggest statement, defeating Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup rookie Thomas Pieters 5 and 4.
That pair never trailed, and neither did Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who took down Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose 3 and 2. Clutch putting in the end � particularly by Reed � saved the U.S. against a European pair that had some fun with a fan on the putting green in practice Thursday but could not find the right line when it mattered.
America's other two wins both came after rallies.
Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler were able to stave off a pair of impressive birdie putts from Rory McIlroy on Nos. 13 and 14. They won the next three holes, cinching the match 1 up with a putt on 18 but that was only set up when Andy Sullivan plopped his tee shot on No. 17 into the water.
Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson fell behind Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer on the second hole, and watched as Garcia egged on the pro-US crowd with a 25-foot par putt on No. 4. The Americans got back to all-square on No. 12, then won the next four holes as well for a stunning 4 and 2 romp.
