Carin Koch
Last year's European Solheim Cup captain on BBC Radio 5 live

They will try to get that point back and really play well. This morning they played well but didn't make the putts. Hopefully they get the putts dropping.

They have to get off to a good start, but it was the worst imaginable losing that first hole. They have to stick to their games and hopefully it will be a little bit more of a blue match this afternoon.

Patrick Reed is flag hunting on the second. Twirling the club with some panache after his strike, both he and Jordan Spieth are relentless in their beat down of Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, both are within 12ft.

Stenson, looking to loft over two bunkers, takes a solid swing and his ball rests close to that of the Americans, terrific golf everywhere you look on this second hole.

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera-Bello are great friends and great buddies and obviously Spanish history goes back a long way in this event.

It's advantage Europe after the tee shots. A nervous start for the Americans.

It's so bright out there now. This morning we couldn't see because of the fog, now it is hard to see because it is so bright.

What can rookie Rafa Cabrera-Bello do? He's a European Tour regular and he's not overawed on the tee here, he's the only man of the four to make the fairway. JB Holmes almost drives the ball to Missouri, that's well wide. Ryan Moore - who pushed Rory McIlroy so close last weekend - is also in the rough with Sergio Garcia.

My money is on Europe in this one and this is an early opening.

Justin Rose, his putter was cooler than air conditioning in an igloo this morning. No sign of it thawing out either as he slides one past. Henrik Stenson was off target from range, so it comes down to Patrick Reed and a birdie putt for the win. I just can't see him missing, he thinks he owns Minnesota right now. In it goes. The momentum builds.

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live

It could get ugly this afternoon. It is essential the Europeans get off to a good start and put some blue on the board.

The two top players have great records you would think what happened this morning was a bit of an epiphany and they will come good.

Essentially they have to play good golf. You can't play defensive golf. This morning they just didn't look in full flow. They have to make birdies and hold putts.

The Americans' tails are up. With a 4-0 whitewash it is hard not to, but the Europeans are good players.

As four balls rain in on the first green it's advantage USA. Patrick Reed is white hot right now, his iron from the fairway lands around 8ft from the pin and that's the best of the bunch. Justin Rose is a few feet further away from the cup. 

Back on the tee the Spanish pairing of Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera-Bello are in good spirits. The body language is that of two men who have given one another a good pep talk. Cabrera-Bello has his arms over the shoulders of his pal as they wind one another up.

Image source, PA

Europe captain Darren Clarke on Sky Sports: "They didn't fire on all cylinders. They have been playing nicely in practice. it's one of those things- foursomes is difficult. We thought we were looking strong, but they played better than we did. Four nil is probably a fair result.

"There are so many points to play for. Obviously it's not ideal, but we have come back in the past.

"These pairings weren't really affected by the morning. I wanted to get Danny and Rafa out there."

Image source, .

Marginal gains. Two words we hear more and more about in sport thesedays.

Captain Darren Clarke has turned to Ireland rugby legend Paul O'Connell to deliver inspirational words to Europe's golfers this week. If that's not enough, the team room is plastered in inspirational quotes.

From Winston Churchill to William Clement Stone, quotes which seek to get the blood pumping can be found. 

"These guys are at the pinnacle of our sport," says Clarke. "It's my drop to look after them with the respect they deserve. They deserve whatever they want this week and if that in some way helps them perform then that's what I want to do."

Clarke's mantra for the team is 'shoulder to shoulder'. You can watch him offer a tour of the team room by clicking here.

The two Europeans let rip first, Justin Rose splitting the fairway with perfection, Henrik Stenson finding the left rough. Remember, the best score counts for each team.

Patrick Reed - he said he "lives for these moments" - just an hour or so ago. He follows Stenson, Jordan Spieth finds the fairway. 

The jumpers have been put away, we have Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Patrick Reed in short sleeves.

Talk about intense. I've got myself a soup in and not even had chance to eat it. We ride again. Someone of a European persuasion has to stop this American horse and do so quickly.

Right, players are on the tee and will be teeing off in a few minutes. The locals are still in good voice. And those voices will only get gooder and gooder if their team can keep up the momentum of the morning matches.

USA player Jimmy Walker: "This is different to Gleneagles. There is red, white and blue everywhere.

There's nothing like it in golf. No matter what tournament you play in there's nothing like this."

USA vice captain Tom Lehman talking to BBC Radio 5 live: “The US team really played well - two really good comebacks and two matches that got off fast and kept the pedal to the metal.

“It’s probably more than we could hope for. We have great teams and the guys are all playing well. The most difficult thing for us was simply finding who to sit. They all delivered.

“Our goal is to win every session, by half a point, one point or four points. The first one is out of the way and we will see what happens in session two.”

Europe's Martin Kaymer speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "We all know what has happened in the past, it doesn’t really matter how far you look behind, it is only the first part of the Ryder Cup. 

"We need to get some momentum and it’s a different game in the afternoon. We want to keep that trophy, bring it home to Europe."

Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer in Minnesota

The Miracle of Medinah last time the Ryder Cup was played Stateside, the Horror of Hazeltine for Europe thus far this time. When Patrick Reed was driven through the whooping crowds on a golf buggy on his way to some quick lunch before the afternoon's fourballs, it was like watching a corpulent emperor being feted on his chariot. A European uprising required this afternoon.

Greg: Thank goodness they have put Rose out of his misery. He missed every single putt. 

Fi: May only be the 1st morning but Europeans look out of this already. Could be a long 3 days. Must win the afternoon session.

Europe's Sergio Garcia speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "It is a massive crowd. They are very excited and they should be, but it is our job to hopefully quieten them down a little bit and hopefully we can do that this afternoon."