- Hosts lead 6-2 after stellar display at Whistling Straits
- Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele lead US charge
What a gory opening day this became for Pádraig Harrington and Europe. The captain would have been forgiven reaching for smelling salts as the United States inflicted blow after blow on his beleaguered Ryder Cup holders. As Harrington contemplated how on earth to retrieve this situation, he would know only too well that history is not on his side. Harry Houdini died just across the water from Whistling Straits, in Michigan; his form of escape act is needed by Europe here.
Since the Ryder Cup was modified to include Europe rather than Great Britain & Ireland from 1979, the US had never led 6-2 after the first day. Until now. The overwhelming favourites played like overwhelming favourites, especially with putters in hand, on what for Steve Stricker was close to the perfect day. The US are already within eight and a half points of victory.
