Rahm, Hatton deliver unbelievable shots as Europe takes early Ryder Cup lead
European duo stuns crowd with a tree-shot and other moments of brilliance at Bethpage Black as Team Europe grabs the early edge in the Ryder Cup opener.
Team Europe seized early momentum at Bethpage Black as the Ryder Cup opened Friday, led by Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton with a pair of sensational plays that captivated spectators.
On the seventh hole, Hatton's ball became lodged on a tree branch, yet he drove an iron between two trees and onto the green, setting up a two-putt to win the hole against Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas.
Rahm added to the highlight reel with a remark about the second shot on seven, saying, "The second shot on seven is a little bit of hit and hope. Thankfully, it kind of went straight. We were fortunate to have a clean sort of line. Just hoping the stick won't affect it too much."
On the sixth hole, Hatton's tee shot went awry, prompting Rahm to pull off a remarkable recovery from the brush that cleared the sand traps and landed on the green. The hole was halved, and Europe continued to press its early advantage.
As play continued Friday morning, Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick were routing Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, while Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood led Collin Morikawa and Harris English. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay were the lone USA pairing with a lead over Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland.
The Ryder Cup action continued with momentum building for Europe, as the morning session showcased multiple tight matches and continued to shape the early narrative of the competition at Bethpage.
