Justin Thomas has a chance to put a touch of red onto the lower half of the leaderboard with a putt from 12-and-a-half feet.

Going, going...staying up.

A matter of inches for the two-time major winner but this match stays all square.

If you expect these European rookies to suffer from nerves going out in the singles, think again - as nerveless Nicolai Hojgaard wins the first hole against Olympic champion Xander Schauffele.

The 22-year-old hit his approach to five feet and the putting stats this week show the Dane has been brilliant with the putter - so no surprises when he knocks it in without a care in the world.

Rahmbo drew first blood in this opening match but he's now in a sticky situation on the par-five ninth.

He's pushed it.

From the fairway bunker with his drive, he's spooned his second into the thick stuff. You need a sword to find your way around in there.

Dan Rapaport
American golf journalist on BBC Radio 5

It reminds me of an American football match where your team is down three touchdowns and you’re trying to convince yourself that at half- time, we can still come back.

Then you remember, there’s a reason you’re down three touchdowns in the first place.

It feels like Europe, apart from yesterday afternoon, has got off to a fast start and I think when you’re on the road it is so important to put some red on the board early.

They’ve been completely unable to do that.

We’re going to second guess Zach Johnson forever when it looks like you’re going to lose like this but the fact of the matter is that all his players have been outplayed.

Bite back from Collin Morikawa on eight as he chips away at Viktor Hovland's lead.

Granted he needed a horror tee shot from his opponent to get it so no fears just yet.

It's another one for Tyrrell Hatton! Brian Harman finds the rough off the fourth green and the left-hander can't get up and down from there, while Hatton makes a a tap-in par to build a healthy lead after just four holes.

The adrenaline which was pumping through Rory McIlroy's veins last night has somewhat simmered.

He's looking cool, calm and confident.

Plaudits ring in his ears from the supportive European fans as he steadily knocks his drive on the sixth into position A.

It's steady more than spectacular from this match, with both men playing par golf so far - just that one birdie earlier from Patrick Cantlay is the difference so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Bosh, what a response from Matt Fitzpatrick to losing the previous hole.

Par four, tee shot, 15 feet for eagle.

And he drains it. Outstanding.

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

Image source, BBC Sport

"We're here to bring the energy" say Suzanne, Doug, Rich, Betty, Carolyn and Angelo on the way towards the first tee.

They arrived from Chicago on Thursday and have been doing the sights of Rome, so this is their first day on the course and what a day to come.

Three of the group were also at Medinah in 2012, when Europe came from 10-6 down to win 14½ to 13½ in what is widely regard as one of the best sporting comebacks of all time and the greatest in Ryder Cup history.

"We're hoping for the miracle of the Marco (Simone)," says Angelo.

"Zach Johnson (US captain) really screwed up here and we are sceptical of the sickness in the camp story. Scottie Scheffler going out first this morning is a surprise, we thought it might have been Patrick Cantlay."

Just when we thought Viktor Hovland could no wrong, he's blazed his drive on eight way over the masses lining the fairway.

He teases it out to lay up but Collin Morikawa can seize advantage of this hole as he irons into 14 feet.

A chance for the Californian to reduce the arrears.

After being pegged back on the par-three fourth, Rory McIlroy restores his two-hole lead with a birdie three on the fifth.

McIlroy has been very good this week and is looking in fine fettle so far today.

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

I've just walked past Shane Lowry and his coaching team on the practice putting green, although they were also keeping half an eye on a big screen.

They let out quite the roar when that Hovland birdie dropped on two.

Tyrrell Hatton has played a wonder shot out of the fescue on the third hole, knocking it to four feet and then sending the birdie putt home to move two ahead of Open champon Brian Harman.

As is the theme of this European side today, there's a no-nonsense steely determination about Hatton here.

Safety first for Scheffler as he putts from the fringe. Oooh, he's left it short. And we know what he's been like from outside of five feet...

Mad that you're expecting the world number one to miss these.

Only this time he doesn't. Huge confident boost for Scheffler as he halves the eighth.

So close for Justin Thomas to steal a birdie from a horror tee shot.

His lengthy putt just stays up but Sepp Straka can nip Europe ahead from 12 feet? Long.

First hole halved.

Image source, Getty Images

The Americans are desperately trying to get something going here and Max Homa wrestles the fifth match back from Matt Fitzpatrick.

Outstanding tee shot, composed birdie putt. All square.

This has been a fascinating battle already in a rematch of their 2021 Whistling Straits encounter.

Scheffler came out of the blocks there like Usain Bolt, birdieing five of the opening six holes on his way to pushing the US closer to victory there.

A very different vibe today.

Both players are striking the ball confidently and precisely, with the putting proving the difference so far.

Rahm lands on the eighth green in two after Scheffler scuttles through to the back.

Great reply from Collin Morikawa with his tee shot on seven as he flashes it to inside four feet.

Dagger to the heart though as Viktor Hovland tucks it in from 18 feet. The crowd go wild. He is on fire.

Image source, Reuters

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

Jon Rahm will be playing little mind games with Scottie Scheffler now.

‘You set your marker down, I’m not giving you that one. I’ve seen you putt, sir.'

Everything is flowing nicely with Rahm now.