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Ryder Cup 2018 - as it happened: USA take lead after Friday fourballs
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2018 Ryder Cup is underway at Le Golf National. Jim Furyk has selected Tony Finau and Brooks Koepka to lead the US team out in Paris and they will be up against Thomas Bjorn's strong opening pairing of Justin Rose and Jon Rahm.
Rory McIlroy and Thorbjorn Olesen will play match two against Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler, Paul Casey and rookie Tyrrell Hatton face Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in match three, before the much-anticipated appearance of Tiger Woods alongside the fiery Patrick Reed, who play Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood.
Follow all the action from every hole in Paris with our live blog:
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Preview
What time does it start?
It all gets underway at 7.10am on Friday morning with the opening fourballs.
Where can I watch it?
The whole tournament is being broadcast on Sky Sports Golf. You can also stream it online via SkyGo. It is also available on NowTV.
For those without access to any of those The Independent will be live blogging the entire weekend.
Who's playing?
Some of the very best golfers on the planet. Tiger Woods leads the American team while new world number one Justin Rose is Europe's leading light.
Who's going to win?
USA Evens
Europe 5/4
Draw 11/1
Tommy Fleetwood & Francesco Molinari were absolutely brilliant today and should play both sessions tomorrow. You can't split Rose & Stenson or McIlroy & Poulter now either.
Ian Poulter speaking to Sky Sports after today's round:
The second I got going this morning I felt good. It’s great to play with Rory, the buzz around the golf course, it’s just incredible and to hole a couple of putts. I left Rory a couple of testers and he managed to roll them in. So it was a good match and to put another point on the board, that’s key.
The Americans will have to bounce back early because the European locker room will be more confident than ever... but we've seen how quickly one session can change everything.
The captain speaks to Sky Sports:
We are one team and we did it with all 12 today. That was the plan. Those guys that sat out this morning I’m very proud of what they did because they came out and showed quality, class and this was a wonderful afternoon.
There's a long way to go in this but we go home with a good taste now and then we regroup for tomorrow.
And Alex Noren now comments on his amazing Ryder Cup debut:
Unbelievable. I’m so happy – just to get it out of the way. Get a good point and playing with Sergio was fantastic. It means a lot just to be on the team and to make a point. Great.
And Sergio heaps the praise right back on his partner:
I get so lucky. I get paired with amazing partners every time but we played some amazing golf on the front nine. We held on well and Alex was a rock. I helped him a little bit here and there and it was great fun to get a point.
Tommy Fleetwood, the star of today, reflects on his dream debut:
"We were walking down the sixth and said it sounds a little bit better this afternoon and the energy that comes off those guys going in front. All the preparation you do nothing gets you ready for this. It’s just something else."
Phil Mickelson has lost more matches than other American in Ryder Cup history..
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