Captain Justin Rose hailed Great Britain & Ireland’s response to a slow start as they took a 3½ -1½ lead after the first day of the 2025 Team Cup.
Continental Europe were ahead in the early stages of the first two matches on course, led in three out of five midway through the day and scored the first point courtesy of French pair Matthieu Pavon and Romain Langasque.
But GB&I hit back, with full points for Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin, Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter and then Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai before Paul Waring and Matthew Jordan earned a half in the final match to finish.
“I'm really, really pleased with that,” said Rose.
“Some of the key messaging is how important it is to get off to fast starts and I did notice there was a little bit too much blue on the board for my liking - which I was contributing to as well, unfortunately!
“But the team rallied well. I thought Laurie and Jordan closed it out beautifully down 17 and 18. Paul Waring holing a great putt, about a ten-footer, to halve the hole on 17 and Matty Jordan, nice tricky up-and-down on 18 to halve that match after Thorbjørn hit two great shots.
“They played the 18th hole well to really make the most of the day, I think. I would have snapped that up at the beginning of the day, and certainly when I saw the scoreboard at about nine holes.”
Canter, Jordan, McKibbin, Rai and Waring were all making their first appearances at a Team Cup or Ryder Cup and Rose was encouraged by their strong showings.
“Yeah, huge, especially going into foursomes which I think is the trickier format,” he said.
“I don't think I'm having to hide anybody or come up with a plan for anybody, or try to find one strong guy to kind of prop somebody else up. I really feel like everybody on the team is in good form.
“Obviously foursomes tomorrow, a different format, different style of golf - probably one of my favourite styles of golf. It's tricky.
“So hopefully we can keep the momentum up tomorrow but, yeah, from my decision-making point of view, I'm very happy with what I have at my disposal.”
