Europe's Ryder Cup team, led by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, charged towards victory in spectacular fashion on Saturday, establishing a commanding 9.5-2.5 lead over a stunned USA team in Rome.
Captain Luke Donald's call for a "historic week" from Europe is already becoming a reality, as they seek to reclaim the Ryder Cup following a devastating 19-9 loss to the USA two years ago.
The Marco Simone course in Rome witnessed a historic moment when Hovland and Aberg achieved a stunning 9 and 7 victory over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, making it the largest-ever Ryder Cup foursomes win and eclipsing a record set 44 years ago.
Scheffler and Koepka struggled to maintain their composure in the face of the relentless assault and ultimately conceded the match at the 11th hole.
Hovland, one of the world's most in-form golfers, praised his partner Aberg, saying, "He's a stud. He doesn't miss a shot, so it's easy when I'm playing well and he's playing well, and we are just feeding off of each other."
Captain Donald's decision to start with alternate-shot foursomes instead of fourballs paid off handsomely for Europe. While Max Homa and Brian Harman managed to secure a win for the USA with a 4 and 2 victory over Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka, Europe continued their dominance with Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton securing a dramatic 2 and 1 victory against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood sealed another morning rout with a 2–1 win over Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
As Europe basks in Ryder Cup glory, the USA faces a significant deficit, and their chances of a comeback rest on the afternoon's fourballs.
The passionate European fans, waving banners depicting Ryder Cup legends, have created an electric atmosphere, fueling the European team's impressive performance. The USA must turn the tide in the afternoon session to have any hope of salvaging their chances.
