Thousands of Ryder Cup fans desperately sprint to grab a seat around the raucous first tee in Rome at 6:30am with 4,700 expected to attend day one of the clash between Europe and the USA

• Excited golf fans race for a seat at first tee at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club
• Europe are hoping to reclaim the Ryder Cup following Wisconsin defeat in 2021 
• Ryder Cup LIVE: Follow all the action on Day 1 via Mail Sport’s live commentary

The 44th Ryder Cup got off to a lively start as an estimated 4,700 spectators raced to grab the best seats at the first tee. 

In scenes reminiscent of the Grand National, fans gathered at the entrance of the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club before being let loose as dawn broke.

The seats at the first tee were filled within minutes as many enjoyed a rush before the action had even gotten underway.

Video footage shows supporters giving their all to be sure a good view of the start of the action in Rome.

Although ticket sales among locals have been underwhelming for the first-ever Ryder Cup in Italy, there were plenty of British golf fans among the opening day crowd. 

Golf fans could be seen racing to the seats at the first tee on the opening morning of the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup

Around 32 per cent of the 50,000 expected each day will hail from Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Team Europe are looking to recover from their heavy 19-9 defeat two years ago in Wisconsin. 

There is plenty of hope that they can regain the trophy though, as it has now been 30 years since the US claimed victory on European soil.

With the early morning battle for seats out of the way, fans have been treated to an exhilarating start to the tournament.  

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler got the action underway this morning at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

But Europe have made a strong start in the opening foursomes clash, with Jon Rahm chipping in at the 10th hole

The European pair of Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton got the competition started at 06:35 (BST) against the USA’s Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns. 

World No.1 Scheffler played the first shot of the day but it is the European team who have made the stronger start in Rome.

Captain Luke Donald selected 2023 Masters winner Rahm for the opening foursomes clash to ‘unleash fire’ on the US team, and the decision has paid off so far. 

Norwegian Viktor Hovlund, who landed a stunning hole-in-one during the final day of practice, also chipped in at the first hole to improve Europe’s start further. 

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