Ryder Cup: Keegan Bradley makes Donald Trump claim after US lose opening session 3-1

US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley defiantly said he has a feeling things are going to turn after he watched his side slump to a crushing 3-1 defeat in the opening session at Bethpage Black. 

The Europeans, led by Luke Donald, have traditionally always played well in foursomes and this was again the case this morning in New York. 

Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas, who arrived on the first tee draped in a United States flag, got Bradley's side off to a perfect start. 

DeChambeau nearly drove the green and, after Thomas chipped close, the two-time major champion rolled in a birdie putt to give the duo an early lead against Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton in the opening match. 

But the LIV Golf recruits turned the tide, rattled home five birdies and won 4&3. 

Then it was nearly all blue.  

Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and England's Matthew Fitzpatrick dismantled the top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and the World No.3 Russell Henley 5&3. 

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood reunited in the foursomes and comfortably defeated Collin Morikawa and Harris English 5&4. 

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay provided Bradley's team with the only point of the morning, seeing off Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland 2UP. 

Bradley told reporters the start was "not what we wanted". 

"But we know the Ryder Cup is going to be ebbs and flows, and I've got a lot of faith in our boys."

Asked what the most important thing to see from his team this afternoon, Bradley said: "Well, we just had the President fly over in his Air Force One, so I've got a feeling things are going to turn here."

Donald said: "It's not quite the same welcome we had in Rome but that's what we expected. It's still an electric atmosphere like all first tees, and our boys are ready for it."

Both captains decided to play all 12 of their players on day one. 

Scheffler played the afternoon session with rookie JJ Spaun against Rahm and Sepp Straka. 

DeChambeau teamed up with Ben Griffin against Fleetwood and Justin Rose.

New York's Cameron Young partnered Thomas against Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard. 

Schauffele sat out the afternoon session. Instead, Cantlay partnered Sam Burns against McIlroy and Shane Lowry. 

Watch Trump's arrival here: