DeChambeau’s strong start erased by Rahm-Hatton as Ryder Cup’s main event turns into a big Euro win

FARMINGDALE N Y AP Everyone desired to see the first shot The last one described the story better Justin Thomas needed to make a -foot putt on the th green to keep the biggest match of Friday morning going at the Ryder Cup But that putt like so a great number of others skimmed the edge Thomas slumped his shoulders and headed over to shake hands with Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton after the European unit s -and- win over the U S power pairing of Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau A match that was supposed to build momentum did just that but for Europe not the United States Not exactly what we desired U S captain Keegan Bradley reported summing up a morning that left the U S staring at a - deficit on home turf with one match left on the module The Americans pulled out a win in the final match to make it - It started with so much promise With the sun still coming up over Long Island DeChambeau and Thomas walked to the first tee draping an American flag over their shoulders DeChambeau took out driver and just as he d been practicing all week hit it over the trees on the right and tried to drive the green The ball landed in the fairway about yards short of the putting surface A meager minutes later he made a -foot birdie to go -up Bradley couldn t have drawn it up better He also maybe couldn t have imagined it would be the only hole his lead gang would win all day It was a loss punctuated not by great drives but by putters that did not cooperate The U S missed seven putts from feet and closer any of which would have won or tied holes Europe meanwhile got breaks and took advantage of them The best picture of the day was Tyrrell Hatton in a plank position in the seventh rough checking out Jon Rahm s errant drive that was perched awkwardly behind a stick Hatton sized it up and hit onto the green from that tricky lie and Europe made par Thomas missed a -footer to tie and America s -up lead was gone A bit of a hit-and-hope Hatton called the approach on No Thankfully it went straight I was happy to have a clean line and to see that the stick wouldn t affect it A fan blurted out Let s Go Europe after that hole a cheer briefly drowned out by boos from an American crowd still holding out hope A hole later Rahm made a -footer to give the Europeans the lead for good Majority of the rest of this match was played in near silence on what s supposed to be one of America s the majority raucous golf courses Bethpage Black One exception came on No when Hatton lined up a putt then stepped away to flick away a gnat Fans showered him with boos Then Hatton lined it up again and made the -footer to make it -up Europe Rahm improved to - lifetime in Ryder Cup foursomes The Rahm-Hatton duo is now - - Rahm conceded the start was a bit intimidating all that shouting and DeChambeau hitting a perfect shot under pressure We stayed in it and started hitting good shots and getting positive vibes he explained Tyrell is very very dependable when things get intricate I ve got full confidence in him every single time AP Ryder Cup coverage https apnews com hub ryder-cup Source