Friday at the Ryder Cup is in the books and the Americans are in the driver’s seat. With a full house expected, Saturday is sure to be full of fireworks. Here are five storylines to watch on Day 2 at Whistling Straits.
European mettle
Day 1 at Whistling Straits was all USA. The Americans took control early and never relinquished momentum. As the sun set over Wisconsin, the leaderboard read 6-2 in favor of the Yanks. Now, the pressure is squarely on the Europeans. Facing a four-point deficit, they’ll have to chip away at the lead to get within striking distance heading into singles. If they don’t have a big day, Sunday could become a coronation for Team USA.
Will Rory find his form?
Rory McIlroy has been a stalwart for the European Ryder Cup squad over the last decade, but on Friday at Whistling Straits he couldn’t translate that experience into any points. McIlroy played in both sessions on the opening day but never reached the 16th hole, losing 5 and 3 in the morning and then 4 and 3 in the afternoon. It marks the first time the 32-year-old has lost twice in one day in his Ryder Cup career.
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Considering his struggles, captain Padraig Harrington has elected to sit his superstar for the morning session on Saturday. Will the rest rejuvenate McIlroy and give him a much-needed boost? The bigger question might be, will it matter? If the Euros don’t win the morning session tomorrow, things could get out of hand quickly.
Tony Finau’s putting
Tony Finau’s putting came to life during the FedEx Cup Playoffs as he won at The Northern Trust for his first victory in five years. And after Day 1 at Whistling Straits, it appears he brought the same smooth stroke to the Ryder Cup.
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Finau played the afternoon session with Harris English as the duo took down McIlroy and Shane Lowry 4 and 3. A big reason why? A hot flatstick. The big Utahn carded eight 3s in 15 holes, with seemingly everything inside 10 feet finding the bottom of the cup. If he can keep rolling the rock the way he did on Friday, watch out.
Can Rahm rally the Euros?
Jon Rahm is the No. 1 player in the world, and on Friday he proved why. The Spaniard won the lone point for his side in the morning session, and then gutted out a half point with Tyrrell Hatton in their match against Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler in the afternoon. While most of the Europeans struggled to hit quality shots while they mattered most, Rahm never wavered. His team has a lofty climb ahead of them to get back within striking distance, but if it’s going to happen, Rahm will need to serve as the catalyst.
American coronation?
Although the Americans have struggled this century in this competition, they’ve set themselves up for a stress-free victory if they can take advantage on Saturday. With six points on the board already, they need just 8.5 points over the next two days to claim back the Cup. The competition could turn into a rout if Day 2 is anything like today. Will the Americans turn this into a blowout.