Ryder Cup: 5 Key Takeaways From Europe’s Day 1 Play

As the European team rallied back after a disastrous early start at the Ryder Cup, what can Darren Clarke take from the opening day’s play?

Considering the 2016 Ryder Cup couldn’t have started any worse for the European team, there’s a real chance that Darren Clarke’s team returned to their locker rooms at the end of the day in a buoyant mood in spite of facing up to a 5-3 deficit.

While Ian Poulter’s late charge is pinpointed as the moment the Europeans managed to turn things around at Medinah in 2012, Rory McIlroy’s closing eagle on the 16th could prove to have a similar effect for this year’s team.

Having dealt with the humiliation of getting swept in the morning foursomes, Europe showed the kind of resilience and determination that has seen them dominate Ryder Cups in recent years to bounce back and win the afternoon fourballs by 3-1.

Heading into Saturday, Darren Clarke and his assistant captains are left with plenty to ponder. Some of Europe’s marquee names are playing well, but will they need a chance to rest?

With disappointing performances from stalwarts of previous Ryder Cup successes, will Clarke feel free to put more faith in his rookies on Saturday or have they not done enough yet to fully earn his trust?

To attempt to answer those key questions and more, let’s look at five key takeaways from Friday’s play from a European perspective.