The first day of the Ryder Cup has arrived with Friday foursomes kicking off the showdown between Europe and USA in Rome from 3.35pm (AEST).
Massive crowds have descended upon Marco Simone Golf Course with many arriving before dawn in an attempt to secure their seat at the first tee.
There were early fireworks once play started, too, with Europe’s most in-form player Viktor Hovland chipping in from on the green on the first hole to give him and Ludvig Aberg the early lead over Max Homa and Brian Harman.
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RYDER CUP PAIRINGS (ALL TIMES AEST)
3:35pm: Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton (EUR) v Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns (USA)
3:50pm: Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg (EUR) v Max Homa and Brian Harman (USA)
4:05pm: Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka (EUR) v Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa (USA)
4:20pm: Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood (EUR) v Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (USA)
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Earlier, Brooks Koepka took a thinly-veiled swipe at fellow American Dustin Johnson, insisting he should “play better” amid the latter’s complaints about his Ryder Cup snub.
Koepka, who competes on the LIV Golf circuit alongside Johnson, was the only player from the Saudi-backed tour to have been selected for the Ryder Cup as one of Team USA captain Zach Johnson’s six picks.
As for Johnson, he believed his ability should have earned him a spot on the team despite his poor form in LIV this season.
“I would love to be a part of the team,” Johnson said earlier in September.
“But to be honest, I haven’t really played that well this year … Was it good enough to make the team? I think so.
“If I would have been playing on [the PGA Tour], yeah, I would have made the team.”
However, Koepka took umbrage to his fellow American’s claims.
When quizzed on whether those on the LIV circuit were treated unfairly when it came to the selection process, Koepka didn’t hold back.
“I don’t make the decisions,” Koepka said.
“Everybody had an opportunity to get there. I mean, I had the same opportunity as every other LIV player, and I’m here.
“Play better. That’s always the answer.”
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RYDER CUP PAIRINGS REVEALED
The pairings for the first day of the Ryder Cup have been announced, with plenty of mouth-watering match-ups on offer.
In the first group of four, world No. 2 Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will represent Team Europe against world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and captain’s pick Sam Burns for Team USA.
In the second foursome, American Ryder Cup rookies Max Homa and Brian Harman face Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, who is also a Ryder Cup first-timer.
The third group features Shane Lowry and rookie Sepp Straka for Europe against Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa for America.
The fourth group pits Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay against Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.
It means Brooks Koepka, captain Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Wyndham Clark will all sit out the first day.