The fickle sun was hiding low in the sky by the time the last shots had been played at the K Club yesterday. The rain was back and the wind was cracking its cheeks but the Ryder Cup, swaddled as usual in great hype and expectation, had finally been cranked into life, writes Tom Humphries at the Ryder Cup.
As an advertisement for the nation's charms, the late afternoon scenes of golfers bent against the slanting rain were scarcely ideal, but the golf at worst was passable and at best exciting. Europe finished the first day of play with a decent two-point lead to cushion them into the weekend.
The best wine was laid out first. Tiger Woods up on the tee early, in the company of, among others, Padraig Harrington. From a European point of view, things augured well.
Woods, not a noted Ryder Cup player at the best of times, traditionally starts poorly. Harrington was partnered promisingly by Colin Montgomerie, a player who raises his game for these partisan events. Montgomerie had lost just two of his previous 18 matches.
The day's first gasps came quickly when Woods dunked his first shot into the water. He was rescued by partner Jim Furyk, however, and the Americans went on to win the hole and the match.
The morning was devoted to the fourballs, the afternoon to foursomes; the distinction for those who are casual in the faith is too arcane for explanation here. The Europeans led by 2½ to 1½ by the lunchtime turnaround that saw Padraig Harrington head straight back out for the foursomes in the company this time of another local hero, Paul McGinley. Harrington's luck improved somewhat and himself and McGinley halved the match with Americans Chad Campbell and Zach Johnson.
The crowd, less avidly European than avidly Irish, saved its lustier roarings for McGinley and Harrington and for Darren Clarke, back at work after his recent bereavement.
As the afternoon drew down and the closeness of the match became apparent, however, the galleries lingered. Three of the four afternoon games were drawn or halved and in the end Europe came through with some breathing space. The continents continue their battle today.