Whenever Patrick Cantlay has the putter in his hand, the hole is in danger.

A long birdie putt on the third almost drops, meandering it's way slowly and surely to sit on the shoulder.

Over to Rory McIlroy... this is also for a birdie and therefore the hole.

Off it goes... he's expecting some turn but it doesn't arrives.

Halves.

Yikes, that's ugly for Sepp Straka who goes for the green on the short fifth hole but miscues and plunges it into the lake.

Collin Morikawa is not holding back though and his fierce tee shot clings onto the back of the green.

You have to think advantage America there.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

A huge cheer from the direction of the sixth green just as Rory was about to strike his putt.

No nerves there. And he walks off the green a yard in front of me, Tommy close behind him. On to the third tee, Rory to hit, so Fleetwood’s caddie Ian Finnis takes a knee next to me a bit 20 yards down the fairway.

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More swings than your local playground in this one.

Aberg gets away with one after a poor chip left Hovland with too much to do, Harman unable to level from way downtown.

A poor hole from both pairs but the par edges Europe back ahead.

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Tyrrell Hatton duly tidies up after Jon Rahm's stunning tee shot.

Two-hole advantage restored for the home side.

Fleetwood has a monster of a putt to win the hole... realistically it isn't going to happen. It doesn't.

But it is a lovely-judged weight and leaves McIlroy with the most straightforward of conversions for a par.

Cantlay follows suit and we're still square.

Shane Lowry has come to play.

After setting up the victory on the previous hole, he whips a wonderful tee shot to inside seven feet.

Fill your boots Sepp Straka. A perfect start for Europe.

Oh! Jon Rahm nearly dunks it!

His tee shot on the par-three seventh is laser-like, takes three bounces and clinks off the flag. Just imagine.

Still, unless Sam Burns can chip in from off the green, Europe will be restoring that two-hole advantage.

We all know what Viktor Hovland did here yesterday on his practice round... he landed a hole-in-one on the par-four fifth! Albeit with his second effort after finding the water with his first.

Not today.

But Team Europe are in a better position than their American rivals, with Max Homa finding the thick stuff as he tries to drive the green.

Schauffele is on the side of the second green, where the fringe quickly morphs into thick and testy rough.

This is the American pair's third shot on the par-four second and leaves Europe with a chance...

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Well, that's what USA will want from this opening duo.

Wizardry from Scottie Scheffler and nerveless putting from Sam Burns.

They halve the deficit.

John, you can go your own way with puns like that.

John: Fleetwood Mac look like a top pairing. Or is that just Rumours?

First blood Europe in the third pairing as Shane Lowry's wand of a second shot gets the birdie putt it deserved from Sepp Straka.

Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa have not got going yet.

Hole six is an undulating par four and Jon Rahm is taking aim at the flag with Europe's second shot.

It's delightfully judged and Tyrrell Hatton will have a 20-foot look at birdie.

He may have to sink it though as Scottie Scheffler shows his stripes for the first time, spinning it in tight and leaving Sam Burns six feet.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

“Oh my god, do you want to turn that off,” barks Tyrrell Hatton’s caddie Mick Donaghy, as a radio goes off by the fifth green.

Donaghy, who started working with the Englishman in 2019, had a face like thunder but thankfully the world number 11’s chip on a few moments ago was a decent one.

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner

I am so surprised Matt Fitzpatrick is not playing and I really did not see the Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry combination.

On the US side, I am surprised Brooks Koepka isn’t playing.

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This is how quickly things can change.

Ludvig Aberg has been the centre of a lot of attention this week - more on that later if you've not heard much about him - but a poor tee-shot on the fourth leaves Europe in trouble.

The young Swede almost redeems himself by chipping in for a par - and a half.

Ball flirts with hole before whistling past. Aberg can't believe it's not dropped.

Immaculate approach shot from Shane Lowry who picks out the curve of the bank behind the third green beautifully and rolls it down to six feet.

On the US side, it's wild from Rickie Fowler as he hooks his effort left. It carries the bunker but could be a sketchy up and down, especially with Europe looking good for birdie.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

Ferrari Formula 1 star Carlos Sainz - winner of the recent Singapore Grand Prix - is among those walking behind the first match supporting his fellow Spaniard and pal Jon Rahm.

He’s looked pretty happy with the way things are going so far on what is becoming a very pleasant Friday morning stroll.

Image source, BBC Sport