Team Europe grabbed a healthy lead over the United States on the opening day of the Ryder Cup 2023.

Team Europe displayed a dominant performance at the end of the opening day of the 44th Ryder Cup event and successfully grabbed a commanding 6.5-1.5 lead over the United States at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.

The Spanish star Jon Rahm dunked two eagles in the final three holes of his afternoon four-ball session which helped team Europe to grab the healthy lead over US.

Jon Rahm teamed up with Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark to pull out a dramatic tie with Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka of the US after Team Europe dominated the morning foursomes matches and won all four points. 

The US team failed to win a single match on Friday. The Americans held leads in each of the first three afternoon matches and ceded draws in all three.

To end the day, Ryder Cup veteran Justin Rose of England won three of the final four holes himself, carrying Scottish debutant Robert MacIntyre to a tie with Max Homa and Wyndham Clark.

In the other afternoon match, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Matt Fitzpatrick of England cruised to a 5-and-3 victory over Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.

The European pair led from the fourth and doubled that advantage after Cantlay found the water at the eighth.

The Americans fought back but Fleetwood's brilliant chip at 11 initially kept them at arm's length. 

The US responded again at 14 and should have drawn level at the next, only to three-putt for bogey as Fleetwood holed from 20 feet for par. McIlroy's stunning tee shot on the 17th sealed the win and completed the whitewash.