Morning fourball: Matchplay starts on the driving range, enjoys a brief pit-stop on the putting green, before entering the competitive arena of the golf course.

Players affect nonchalance, trying to offer no emotional "tells" - to borrow from poker parlance - but the façade is often transparent.

The signs can be obvious: smiles that don't reach the eyes, hollow-core jollity, facial ticks that betray nerves.

A little before 8.30am yesterday Darren Clarke quit the range for the putting green, accompanied by Lee Westwood, the pair enjoying a sustained ovation as they made the walk.

Their opponents, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, were already ensconced in pre-game rituals and it was a full eight minutes before "Lefty" offered a smiling "Good morning, gentlemen."

Prior to that it was studied indifference, DiMarco intense and brooding, his partner polishing his languid putting stroke.

Clarke and Westwood grinned and chatted but that changed about five minutes before their tee-time, the Irishman now stalking the edge of the putting green, anxious to be gone, facilitated by his partner holing one final four-footer and signalling toward the first tee.

Mickelson grabbed a furtive look and dropped another three balls. In the opening three fourball matches the Americans had been the first to arrive on the tee; not this time.

The Englishman marched ahead but Clarke took a slightly longer route, savouring an atmosphere that built to a climax when he strode onto the first tee, the applause thunderous and heartfelt.

Westwood would admit later, "I was nearly crying and looked at Billy (Foster), his caddie, and he was nearly crying. That made me worse."

The intense rivalry of the Ryder Cup took a sabbatical, or more appositely, was put aside briefly as Clarke was hugged by the other three players. The Irishman recalled, "It was always going to be a pretty difficult morning for me, especially on the first tee.

"Obviously it was an emotional moment. The reception the crowd gave me is something I won't forget.

"Indeed Lee, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, as well, giving me hugs on the first tee; it was a very, very special moment, very touching.

"If I can have two guys like Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco giving me a hug, that's what the Ryder Cup is all about. It's not about animosity, it's about a match we both want to win amongst friends."

Clarke's ability to marshal his emotions was manifest in his opening tee shot, a booming drive to within 25 yards of the hazard. His wedge, from 126 yards, finished about 10 feet from the pin and he holed the birdie putt as Europe grabbed an early lead.

His progress around the course was easily discernible, resembling a scene from Zulu Dawn as spectators, often 12 deep at the ropes, willed him to succeed: Clarke's Impis were on the march.

The par-three third was to provide the next snippet of golfing theatre, Westwood finding the back bunker with his tee shot, failing to come out first time and then holing his third shot.

His partner shook his head, smiling, while both his opponents graciously applauded.

Mickelson kick-started the contest with a birdie at the par-five fourth and it took a clutch putt from Clarke at the next to maintain parity.

Chances were spurned until arguably the most telling moment of the contest, at the 10th hole.

DiMarco missed from four feet, having elected to play ahead of his partner, who was farther away. They sought to put pressure on Westwood - he was a great foil for his partner all day in every way - but instead the Englishman holed from twice the distance to tumultuous acclaim.

The gritty nature of the contest was epitomised by DiMarco's resilience, holing from 20 feet at the next and then again at the 13th, but this time Clarke responded with a wonderful, snaking 18-footer to leave the match all square.

The tension was palpable in the galleries, the roar that accompanied Clarke's 254-yard, five-wood second shot to the par-five 16th an outlet for pent-up emotion.

The Dungannon man claimed a winning birdie, the contest ultimately to be decided down the last hole.

Once again it was Clarke and his trusty five wood that struck the pivotal blow; the shape of shot identical, this time from 242 yards. He almost holed the putt from the apron for eagle but the conceded birdie sufficed for a one-hole victory.

Hugs ran into double figures before the Irishman had managed to escape the home green.

All his interviews, which Clarke has borne with patience and grace, have demanded he articulate his emotions.

When asked by an American inquisitor at the conclusion of the match to bare his soul once again and explain his feelings, Clarke responded succinctly: "Emotions hopefully you don't ever have to feel. That's basically what they were."

There might not have been a great deal of swash but Clarke and Westwood certainly didn't buckle and in the end, taking in the context of the victory, this will rank up there with their best performances.

Westwood/Clarke beat

Mickelson/DiMarco 1 hole