EUROPE'S golfers will need to pray for the Ryder Cup's return after a disappointing day one.

Rory McIlroy seems to have completely lost his Ryder Cup mojo, so if they do find a savior, it's unlikely to be him.

McIlroy lost both of his matches on the same day, with neither making it past the 15th hole.

In his eight last European colours appearances, the four-time major champion has been defeated in six of his last eight matches.

After a promising start to his Ryder Cup career he lost eleven matches.

McIlroy made a defiance note as he switched roles to cheer on his European team-mates, who had just won five of six of the last six matches.

He stated, "We can return from 6-2." We can return if it is 6-2.

Perhaps he was able to repeat himself to make it more convincing.

Europe was able to achieve McIlroy's modest goal by battling halves in the last two matches of Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood.

He will be a difficult task to convince anyone else that the European team can overcome such a daunting first-day deficit.

It wasn't meant to be one-sided. Most pundits believed Europe had the best chance if the winds picked-up on the links-style course. This would create the conditions Harrington's men need to thrive.

The wind whistled off Lake Michigan at steady 20-25mph, with gusts reaching 32mph. It was the visiting team that was being blown away.

Steph Curry and Michael Jordan, NBA legends, were among the 40,000 cheering crowds. It was clear that the hole appeared as large as a basketball court to some home players, especially Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, and Dustin Johnson who putted from all angles.

Rahm has provided the only European hope, which is not surprising considering he has become the No. 1 player in the world over the past year.

He then followed up his win in the foursomes, where he and Sergio Garcia defeated American studs Justin Thomas (USA) and Jordan Spieth (USA). Hatton was coaxed to a surprising half point against Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau.

In the last ten holes, the Americans led three times but Rahm and Hatton won each time.

Hatton made a stunning birdie on Hatton's 510-yard 18th to make sure it was all square.

The history books say that this was already a lost cause, as the USA had already taken the first Whistling Straits 3-1 session.

On 13 occasions, the Yanks won the opening skirmishes at home and have lifted the trophy each time.

If the record is not broken on Sunday night, and there isn't Wizardry in Wisconsin that can match the 2012 Miracle at Medinah, then the first match on the course could be Harrington's highlight of the week.

It was a great match!

Close your eyes and you can almost picture that we have travelled back in time to when Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros were beating American opponents.

Spanish-speaking excitement, fist slaps and shouts of "Ola" were all back, as were the winning birdies.

This was a dynamic duo from Spain: Rahm and Garcia. They were the highest point scorers in Ryder Cup history.

They faced Thomas and Spieth, who are the current world No. 1 players. They won three of the four matches in Paris together, while their teammates struggled to score a win.

All four of the players are Major champions. And this match lived up to its billing as one of the most powerful opening matches the trans-Atlantic shootout's 94-year old witnessed.

It was sensational from beginning to end, and deserves a place in any Ryder Cup highlights reel.

Rahmbo and his brother in arms, so first blood.

However, that was Europe's only win from the eight first matches.