Attempting to put the 2018 Ryder Cup loss in France in the rear-view mirror, the United States jumped out to a 6-2 lead over Europe after Friday's matches.
Dustin Johnson, who failed to live up to his high ranking this past season, won alongside Collin Morikawa in the morning session and Xander Schauffele in afternoon play.
Tony Finau and Harris English crushed Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, and Ryder Cup newcomer Patrick Cantlay was a part of two points.
Now, it's onto the Saturday morning foursomes:
- Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm vs. Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger
- Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton vs. Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa
- Bernd Wiesberger and Viktor Hovland vs. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth
- Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick vs. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele
Our GolfBet team has gone over the matchups, and here’s where they see the most value:
Brooks Koepka/Daniel Berger over Jon Rahm/Sergio Garcia (-105)
Jason Sobel: With the U.S. team holding a 6-2 lead entering the second day, this opening match is massive for momentum — especially for Europe — as captain Padraig Harrington is throwing out undoubtedly his best pairing in the opener once again.
Let’s think of it the other way, though: If the Florida State duo can take a full point here, it could be a dagger toward the overall total.
In regular PGA TOUR events, I often like playing the plus-money side when I see an edge. Koepka and Berger will absolutely relish being the underdogs, knowing what it would mean to take down two of the opposition’s studs.
It would be easier to go with one of the U.S. favorites later in the lineup, but I see an upset in this one. Koepka has something to prove after all the recent talk about him being maybe a bit negative toward this event and Boog is a more fiery competitor than most people realize.
We all knew Rahm and Garcia would come back out in the first match for the Europeans. I wouldn’t be surprised if Koepka and Berger — who each rested in Friday afternoon’s fourballs session — told captain Steve Stricker that they wanted a shot at them.
Expect some fireworks, but I think the Americans are primed for a big victory.
Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay over Lee Westwood/Matt Fitzpatrick -180
Chris Murphy: I will start by saying that I hate laying big odds in matchplay formats because truly anything can happen. The reason I'm still going here is that I honestly don't think -180 is enough in this particular situation.
Schauffele and Cantlay were dialed in as they rolled up wins in the first six holes against Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter on Friday morning. They separately carried that into the afternoon for another 1.5 points. These two guys are documented as close friends and have been rolling in foursome matches together dating back to the President's Cup.
Meanwhile, Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick were a questionable pairing for me going into Day 1, and I'm absolutely shocked they are running it back.
I will eat the juice here and lay the number on the top American squad against what I see as a really weak pair from Europe.
Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia (-115) over Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger
Matt Vincenzi: The Spanish duo was my best bet Friday and I'm going right back to them in this spot.
This match is an absolute must win for the European team and they need an early spark if they want to get back in this thing. While Rahm may be a bit worn down after 36 holes on Friday, Garcia will be well rested after sitting out the Friday afternoon four-balls.
Koepka and Berger were solid, but underwhelming on Friday. I expect the tandem of former Florida State Seminoles will have a hard time against the European’s best team playing with their backs against the wall.
Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay over Lee Westwood/Matthew Fitzpatrick (-180)
Shane McNichol: On paper, this matchup jumps off the page. This American team collected the biggest win of the day in Friday’s foursomes, winning the first five holes and wiping McIlroy and Poulter away with ease.
Schauffele continued rolling, picking up a second point in four-ball, with Cantlay earning a half point in Friday’s final match.
Westwood and Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, lost their foursomes match, Neither played well, with Westwood looking shaky with his putter at times.
According to DataGolf’s True Strokes Gained, Schauffele and Cantlay have been two of the six best players in the world over the last six months. Wiesberger ranks 39th in that metric over that time frame, with Westwood even lower at 114th.
You’ll pay for the Americans at these odds, but it’s worth it. Cantlay and Schauffele aren’t likely to be slowed down this weekend, with the Westwood-Fitzpatrick pairing looking like sacrificial lambs against the strongest American duo.
