World number one Jon Rahm was given the opportunity to lead from the front as Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry were left out of the opening session of the 43rd Ryder Cup.
European captain Padraig Harrington selected Rahm and fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia to lead their side’s bid to retain the trophy in the first foursomes match at Whistling Straits.
And they were handed a tough task when US captain Steve Stricker sent out three-time major winner Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who won three of their four matches together in Paris in 2018.
Their only defeat at Le Golf National came against Europe’s star pairing of Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari, but with Molinari not making the team this time Fleetwood had to sit out the first morning’s action.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland was the only European rookie in action on Friday morning as he partnered Paul Casey against Dustin Johnson and Open champion Collin Morikawa, with Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick taking on Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger.
The final match saw Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter, who won one of their two foursomes matches in Paris, up against FedEx Cup winner Patrick Cantlay and Olympic champion Xander Schauffele.
2021 Ryder Cup betting with Grosvenor Sport
Team USA - 4/9
Team Europe - 9/4
Tie /(14-14) - 14/1
*odds subject to change
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