ROME: Last-gasp heroics from Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Justin Rose helped Europe hold off a United States fightback to seize a massive 6.5-1.5 lead after the opening day of the Ryder Cup on Friday.Rahm, Hovland and Rose all holed clutch putts on the 18th green to snatch dramatic halves in their afternoon four-ball matches to extend the hosts' advantage to five points after sweeping the morning foursomes.

The Americans, bidding for a first Ryder Cup success away from home in 30 years, failed to win a match in a day for the first time.