Captain Darren Clarke drops Ryder Cup hint with Europe practice pairings

Reed and his bullish attitude was at his best, starting with a wedge he holed out for eagle. His wedge into 5 feet that Rickie Fowler converted was key in the Americans winning three straight holes for a 1-up victory over McIlroy and Andy Sullivan.

Europe trudged off the course with only recent history on its side.

The Americans swept the opening session of the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1975, then hung on to take a 5-3 lead after the first day at Hazeltine.

European captain Darren Clarke said he never had a doubt about who would lead off for Europe. The Americans had momentum when Mickelson made a 60-foot par putt to halve No. 8, won No. 9 when McIlroy missed a short putt, and Mickelson made a birdie on the 10th.

Meanwhile, in the anchor match, Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar were unable to replicate their supreme showing against Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters in the foursomes.

Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) beat Thomas Pieters/Lee Westwood (Europe) 5&4. They birdied the next two, won the 15th with a par and closed out the sweep with a birdie on the 16th for a 4-and-2 victory. The Americans got back to all-square on No. 12, then won the next four holes as well for a stunning 4 and 2 romp. He wants to play. “Tough match”, McIlroy said. You have to keep your concentration out there. “Emotions were so high”.

“I think we all kind of sensed and had a good feeling heading into today that the morning was going to go well”, Mickelson said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them”. Ian Poulter, who sparked Europe to its “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012, is only at Hazeltine as an assistant captain.

CROWD CONTROL: More than 50,000 fans flocked to Hazeltine on Friday, the vast majority of them wearing stars and stripes and cheering for the Americans.

“In foursomes we make one mistake, one bogey, but we didn’t capitalise when we had chances”, said Rose. “It’s going to be a monumental challenge tomorrow”.

“When I saw the draw last night, I was like, “Yes, I get to have a go at him (Mickelson) again”, because my record against him in the Ryder Cup isn’t what I would like it to be”, said McIlroy. Viewers will also have options to stream online with Golf Channel providing a simulcast stream of the TV coverage and a stream dedicated to the first tee. “So we let him have a go”.

But the Reed-Spieth duo, which vanquished the formidable European pairing of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson with a 3-and-2 victory on Friday, still held a 2-up lead with three holes to go.

Then Garcia, who had missed from 18 inches at the 11th to allow the United States to go four up, holed a hard two footer for the half to complete the session and leave Europe trailing by just 6.5 to 5.5.

But Garcia was relatively subdued after his win and, if McIlroy, as well as Stenson and others whose style is less demonstrative, step forward and claim a leadership role, these Ryder Cup matches will be something to see.