Ryder Cup Friday: fourball gallery

The best images from the first day's play at Gleneagles

Ryder Cup 2014
Justin Rose leads the Europeans off
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Some images from the first day's play in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles

Below and above, we take a look at some images from the first day's play in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

After huge anticipation, the 40th edition of the biennial contest finally got underway with huge galleries present in Perthshire.

European captain Paul McGinley and American counterpart Tom Watson each selected their opening fourball pairings at yesterday's Ryder Cup opening ceremony.

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson took on Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson in the first match, with Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer up against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker in the second.

European talisman Ian Poulter teamed up with Scottish debutant Stephen Gallacher to play US rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed in the third, while the final pairing saw Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia pitted against the undefeated duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.

Simpson hit the first shot for the USA, with his three-wood coming off the top of the club and barely making it to the fairway.

It was a sign of thing to come, with Rose and Stenson putting their foot down early on and running out 5&4 winners.

Bjorn and Kaymer also made a good start, but Poulter/Gallacher slipped to 5 down after 10 holes and eventually lost 5&4.

In the final match, things were all square at the turn.

Ryder Cup Friday images:

Ryder Cup Friday

Justin Rose hits the first tee shot for the Europeans

Ryder Cup Friday

The teams were given a raucous reception on the first tee

Ryder Cup Friday

McGinley gives Rose and Stenson some encouragement as they head down the 1st

Ryder Cup Friday

Veteran Thomas Bjorn acknowledges the crowd as he heads to the first tee

Ryder Cup Friday

Gallacher and Poulter's morning deteriorated quickly after the first tee shots

Ryder Cup Friday

Last-minute words of advice for Reed and Spieth

Ryder Cup Friday

Stenson and Rose looked in complete control throughout their match

Ryder Cup Friday

Garcia celebrates after holing a bunker shot

Ryder Cup Friday

Beautiful Gleneagles

Ryder Cup Friday

American supporters show their patriotism

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x