It's all square after the first matches in the Seve Trophy in Druids Glen. Great Britain & Ireland are tied 2-2 with Europe after this morning's greensomes.
Europe put the first points on the board today when the Scandinavian pairing of Thomas Bjorn and Robert Karlsson outgunned Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie 2&1 in the opening tie of the morning.
Having started with three birdies, the Europeans surged further ahead with three more birdies, on the fifth, sixth and eighth, and by the time they reached the turn in 29 shots they commanded a four hole advantage.
Bjorn and Karlsson practically stole the 11th with a miraculous pitch and putt from the scrub for birdie and at 5-up with just seven holes left, the situation looked onimous for the Scots. However, Montgomerie and Lawrie rallied to pull three holes back with a two at the 12th a bogey win at the 13th while taking advantage of a European bogey at the 15th.
Their efforts were all vain as the Europeans squeezed out their opponents 2&1 at the 17th.
"It was nice to get the points on the board, that was important," said Thomas Bjorn, "we played a fantastic front nine but let it go a little on the back nine which is easily done and when you open the door they take advantage."
Britain and Ireland took the next match through Ian Woosnam and Steve Webster.
"It was great, we played really well. When they gave us that putt on the 16th we were six-under ," explained Woosnam who alongside Webster won 4&2 to square the overall match.
The magnitude of their win was not wasted on the Welshman: "I think they are on e of the strongest pairings and it was good that we played well together. Steve drove the ball well so I hit most of the second shots which worked well."
Harrington and McGinley have won after maintaining their one hole lead from the 13th. The Irish pair covered the course in three-under 69.
In the last match heads dropped in the Clarke and Westwood camp and the home pair relinquished a one hole lead by losing three out of five holes from the 12th to eventually lose the match 2&1.
The overall match is tied at two all after the greensomes.
Captains Montgomerie and Ballesteros, have announced their pairings for the afternoon foursomes.
12.40pmFasth & Karlsson v Montgomerie & Oldcorn
12.52Jiminez & Olazabal v Webster and Casey
01.04Jacqueline & Levet v Harrington & McGinley
01.16Cejka & Bjorn v Clarke & Westwood