Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Whistling Straits

The cheerleaders have arrived. Tony Finau, arms pumping and voice roaring, gees up the home fans as he springs onto the first tee.

"Let's go captain!" the punters chant when they spot Steve Stricker. Even his admission yesterday he is a Chicago Bears fan has not put off the Wisconsinites.

Jeers greet the Europeans - but they lap it up. Tommy Fleetwood, who like Finau is not playing in the foursomes, is buzzing. Like he's come out on stage ready to play a gig. Only his bass guitar is missing.

Vice-captain Graeme McDowell encourages the fans to go louder as each of three sides consecutively chant U, S and A.

More like pantomime than hostility at the moment.

Cries of "USA, USA, USA," ringing out as Spain's finest Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia make their way on to the first tee.

Garcia has a smile as wide as Lake Michigan.

Image source, Getty Images

European captain Padraig Harrington has been talking up his side's strength in depth after leaving Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry out of the opening session of the 43rd Ryder Cup.

Fleetwood won all four of his matches together with Francesco Molinari in Paris, but with the Italian not making the team for Whistling Straits three years later, Fleetwood joined former Open champion Lowry in sitting out Friday's foursomes.

"That says a lot about our team that he [Fleetwood] is comfortable after going 4-0 and can look around his team and be confident that there's other people that are taking up that strain," Harrington said.

"He's prepared to sit there and wait his chance in the afternoon, which really just sums up our team how balanced it is and the understanding of the players that they have to give other people their opportunity, as well.

"I want every player on my team absolutely dying to play every match. But I want them to also understand that there's other people in the team, they have to step aside, and they have done that brilliantly."

Are we ready?

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Whistling Straits

This is a real goosebumps moment. And not just because it's a chilly 9C on the first tee.

With the sun slowly rising and an orange skyline over Lake Michigan, the view in the distance could be a Monet painting.

In the foreground, the vista is more akin to an Uncle Sam poster. Red, white and blue EVERYWHERE.

The DJ has been spinning plenty of American beats - apart from a brief Abba interlude (to which there were a few jeers).

And then the ultimate chest-puffer... Eye of the Tiger. Half expecting a Rocky Balboa lookalike to strut onto the first tee...

Things are rocking on the first tee. US golfer Tony Finau gets a rapturous round of applause before the boos ring out for European captain Padraig Harrington and his complement of background staff.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Whistling Straits

“I believe, we will win. I believe, we will win!” chant the 3,500 home fans in the stands circling the first tee.

A small pocket of Europeans respond with an “Ole, ole, oleeeeee”. They get drowned out by boos.

The DJ has disappeared and that leaves a silence which is quickly filled by an acapella version of the Star Spangled Banner.

Whoops and waving flags follow as the Americans congratulate themselves at the end of the anthem.

Image source, BBC Sport

This ain't bad either.

Who's next? Thumbs up if you think Europe have got this.

How good was this image doing the rounds after the opening pairings were announced on Thursday evening? What a quartet of players.

Meanwhile, we have daylight.

A major bonus for the players at Whistling Straits, especially Spanish duo Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm who are working out any last minute kinks in their swing on the driving range.

Always helps when you can actually see where your ball has gone.

Now then, just to whet the appetite how about a little look back at how things panned out three years ago? As if you don't remember...

BBC Radio 5 Live

The atmosphere is absolutely electric. It's a visual but also an audio feast and you can listen to it in all its glory over on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Just 30 minutes from the first match getting under way. Things are bubbling up nicely at the first tee and I've got the snacks in to ensure I don't have to move for the next few hours.

If anyone else is as excited as me hit the thumbs up.

Europe have not won an opening session at a Ryder Cup since the K Club in 2006.

Looking at the foursomes for today it's so hard to predict what the score will look like going into the fourballs later on Friday.

But if the European side are to gain any sort of early advantage you'd have thought the first matche involving Jon Rahm/Sergio Garcia and the final match with Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter will be key.

It's going to be nervy on the first tee but that's what the Ryder Cup is all about," Garcia said.

"I've been there before, and I'm very, very excited and I hope that we can play great like I know we can and get a point for Europe."

Not even 06:35am here in Wisconsin and it’s already popping…

Feels a bit like Christmas doesn't it. Except you don't need to open the wrapping paper with these gifts already being confirmed.

What a set of matches and what about that opener.

The World number one Jon Rahm and record Ryder Cup points scorer Sergio Garcia get Europe under way against three-time major winner Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who won three of their four matches together in Paris in 2018.

Strap in.

Image source, BBC Sport

Around 5,800 people have reached the summit of Mount Everest and 570 or so have been into space.

But when it comes to the Ryder Cup just 164 players have appeared for Europe.

Don't worry I'm not going to ask you to name them all, but doesn't the video below bring back some wonderful memories.

This is brilliant and a bit of an emotional one according to Tommy Fleetwood., external

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Whistling Straits

Not often you walk down for breakfast to see a bloke wearing an American polo shirt, flat cap, plus fours and socks. Oh, and a red, white and blue painted moustache.

You do in Sheboygan when the Ryder Cup has come to town.

Spotting Trent Emmett in the hotel restaurant was a gift for a British journalist tasked with providing 'colour'. So we had a chat over sesame-seeded bagels and crispy bacon.

Image source, BBC Sport

Trent and his wife Jackie, who was also dressed patriotically but a touch more toned down, have arrived from Texas.

"We follow all the golf tournaments and watch every Sunday," says Trent. "We love Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, but also Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood too. So we had to be here."

On the choice of outfits, Jackie adds: "We are very proud to be from the United States of America. He likes to do his moustache. He does it with lipstick! He gets lots of kisses."

Trent wore the outfit at Le Golf National in Paris three years ago. "It didn't bring the USA team any luck there, but I'm hoping it will this time," he says.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Whistling Straits

It's quite chilly - about 12C at present - and still dark at Whitsling Straits.

I got a few strange looks this morning as I walked in in my shorts. We'll see who's laughing later, with the temperature forecast to get up to a positively balmy 21C.

The players are already here and warming up under floodlights. Bobble hats very much the order of the morning.

The first tee is already full, an hour before the first tee shots are hit. There are around 3,500 crammed in - that's about half the number that were round the first at Le Golf National three years ago but if the practice days were anything to go by, then the noise will be just as loud... altogether now... U-S-A... get used to it, because you'll be hearing a lot of it over the next three days.

Few shots of world number one Jon Rahm out on the practice green. Under the lights of course.

In the background people are sprinting through the complex to try and get a seat.

Sergio Garcia, doesn't look quite as hurried strolling towards his fellow Spaniard with hands in pockets at a very leisurely pace.

They are the first pairing out at 13:05 BST and what a match we have in prospect there, against the top US pairing of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

Love a video to get the juices flowing prior to a massive sporting event.

Have a ganders at this.