With an historic six-point lead, the lads felt they could blow off some steam.
Another morning foursomes massacre for Team Europe, and the Americans were feeling confident of winning The Ryder Cup. Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger got the celebrations started a bit early.
Berger may have lost his match, along with a petulant Brooks Koepka, to Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, but a red wave followed. One of the winners for Team USA, in the morning, was Thomas. He teamed up with Jordan Spieth to see off Bernd Wiesberger and Viktor Hovland.
The Americans winning another three matches saw them lead the holders 9-3 heading into the afternoon fourballs.
Ahead of those afternoon matches, Thomas and Berger stopped by the first tee to gee up the already juiced Team USA fans. BBC reporter Jonathan Jurejko, who is at Whistling Straits, reported:
‘The Americans are so confident that this is over – and who can blame them – that Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger are chugging beers thrown to them from the crowd on the first tee.’
Sure enough, in this age of camera phones and social media, the videos soon surfaced. And, sure enough, Thomas and Berger were having a slurp on some suds.
CHUG A BEER! CHUG A BEER! Justin Thomas obliges the fans at #1 tee before the afternoon session at the #RyderCup at Whistling Straits pic.twitter.com/0SdWT8oUD8
— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) September 25, 2021
Neither of the Americans are in action, for the fourballs, so they may have felt entitled to celebrate a rocket of a start for their side.
Fans: “CHUG A BEER!”@JustinThomas34 @DanielBerger59: “okay”
Normal sport #RyderCup @rydercup @RyderCupUSA pic.twitter.com/RDTl2ZtCKE
— Jeehae Lee (@jeehaeda) September 25, 2021
Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger tossed beers into crowd. A couple were thrown back and the U.S. golfers were implored to chug them. They complied with vigor. pic.twitter.com/wSYmZDQdjA
— Ben Steele (@BenSteeleMJS) September 25, 2021
The Americans only need five and a half more points to snatch The Ryder Cup from European hands. There are still 16 points to play for, so the Europeans would have to win 11 more to hold onto their cup.
After sitting Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry from the morning session, Team Europe captain Padraig Harrington dusted them off for the afternoon fourballs.
McIlroy was paired with Ian Poulter, who also missed out on the morning matches, while Lowry is going out with English star Tyrrell Hatton.
It is backs against the wall stuff and unless the Europeans sweep or win the afternoon session 3-1, the cup looks destined to go back to American hands.
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