Europe are fresh off the back of their best ever Ryder Cup start, with a 4-0 sweep over the team USA in the morning foursomes.
Remarkably, the US didn't lead once in any of the matches this morning, with the scores as follows:
Jon Rahm/Tyrell Hatton - 4&3 - Scottie Scheffler/Sam Burns; Viktor Hovland/Ludvig Aberg - 4&3 - Max Homa/Brian Harman; Shane Lowry/Sepp Straka - 2&1 - Colin Morikawa/Rickie Fowler; Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood - 2&1 - Xander Schauffle/Patrick Cantlay.
After his victory, Rory McIlroy spoke to Sky Sports and detailed some of the tactics that Europe have been working on this week that gave them every opportunity for a quick start.
It's been an unbelievable session. We switched the format this year to go foursomes first because statistically that's our better session.
And all week all we've been talking about it getting off to fast starts, playing little three hole matches in practice, three holes go again, three holes go again, something that the captain Luke has drilled into us and we were ready to go from the first tee shot obviously as you could see and how everyone played.
Rory McIlroy Goes Into Detail On Europe's Early Ryder Cup Tactics
"We were ready to go from the first tee shot" 😤
Hear from a very happy Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood 😁 pic.twitter.com/5PrPREa27c
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 29, 2023
READ HERE: Brooks Koepka Was Less Than Complimentary About Mentality Of Other Ryder Cup Stars
"It was an absolute pleasure to have this man [Tommy Fleetwood] alongside me," added McIlroy.
"He can play with anyone, I'm just so happy that he's my partner this week and so happy to get a point on the board for Europe."
Since 1993, every Europe held Ryder Cup has begun with four-ball matches, and when asked earlier in the week about the intriguing switch-up, captain Luke Donald stated the blunt simplicity behind the reasoning for change.
"Pretty simple really. We feel like as a team, statistically we are stronger in foursomes within our team than we would be in four-balls. Why not get off to a fast start? That’s it."
SEE ALSO: Paul McGinley Thinks "Dominoes" Falling In Europe's Favour
