Team Europe in a full lovefest after early Ryder Cup domination

Team Europe is feeling itself.

The visiting squad went up 3-1 on the U.S. entry in a dominant opening of the Ryder Cup, and there were plenty of good feelings going around between the players.

“This man is a joy to be partnered with, we’ve spent a lotto time together and he can be very, very dependable when things get going difficult,” Spaniard Jon Rahm said of his partner, Tyrrell Hatton, after they took down Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau, 4&3. “I have confidence every single time and that’s why we were able to get it done again.”

Ludvig Abert and Matt Fitzpatrick rolled to a 5&3 final against Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley in their opening foursome, while Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood downed Collin Morikawa and Harris English, 5&4.

“When you’ve got a partner like Tommy you can play with so much freedom and so much trust in your game because you have someone that gonna back you up,” McIlroy said of his partner. “That’s what I’ve felt the two ties we played in Rome and then today. … Knowing I have this man beside me if I do hit a bad shot, that’s very comforting to know.”

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay were able to snag a point for the U.S. side against Robert MacIntyre and Victor Hovland by finishing 2-up, but the damage by the Europeans was done.

It marked the first time in the tournament’s history that the European side clinched the first three matches on the road, and just the third time since 1973 it scored three points in the opening session.

Since 1991, teams that finished Friday morning with at least three points have gone 7-1.

The bond shared by the European team at Bethpage shouldn’t surprise anyone: 11 of the 12 players and captain Luke Donald are holdovers from their 2023 victory. The only newbie is Rasmus Hojgaard, who replaced his twin brother, Nicolai.

The Europeans arrived on U.S. soil early to take a trip to Bethpage’s Black course, which served as equal parts team bonding and reconnaissance.

“This is the first time Europe has ever done this,’’ Team Europe’s strategic director Paul McGinley told The Post’s Mark Cannizzaro earlier this month. “We have never done an away practice trip like this before, cohesively as a unit with all 12 players on site like we are today and tomorrow. It’s another throw of the dice. We’re approaching away matches in a different manner.’’

It seems to be working and has the good feelings flowing early.