RYDER CUP (US 3 - 1 EUR):The US won the first session of the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1991 and set down a marker for consistency which Europe must heed if they are to retain their title. Padraig Harrington had the privilege of hitting the first shot of the tournament in the foursomes. And the half he and Robert Karlsson gained against the US's strongest pairing could prove a score badly needed come Sunday evening.
As chants of "USA, USA" and "Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé" echoed across the course, Europe got off to a good start in the early stages with three of the foursome pairings leading over the opening holes.
However, Justin Lenoard and Hunter Mahan, who were second out, set the trend the US was to follow by beginning bogey-bogey to go two down against Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson before powering their way through the back nine.
The match finished on the 16th with a half which put Leonard and Mahan three up with two to play and the first pairing to score in this year's Ryder Cup.
"I told Hunter I lost the first two holes for us on purpose. I think losing the first two relaxed me some," a relaxed Leonard said afterwards.
Up ahead, Harrington and Karlsson of Sweden let a three-shot lead on the 13th slip against Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim. But in halving the game it looked like they would score Europe's point of the morning session at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.
In the third match Justin Rose and Ian Poulter squandered a three-hole lead after seven. A disastrous three-putt from 12 feet 547-yard 18th allowed Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell to take the hole and the match.
Europe's captain Nick Faldo's surprising decision to put his best pair - Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood - at the bottom of the order failed to reap dividends.
They also squandered an early lead against Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk who kept ahead of their opponents until the last two holes when the Europeans went birdie-birdie to salvage a half.
The outcome meant Westwood is only one game away from equalling Arnold Palmer's 12-match record unbeaten run in cup history.
The Englishman admitted his relief at salvaging the half and hopped it would inspire a comeback in the fourballs which are beginning now.
"Any time you get out of jail it makes a massive difference and can be a momentum swinger," Westwood said.
His prediction may be coming true. In the early stages of the fourballs Europe lead in three.
Harrington has been paired with Irish debutant Graeme McDowell and they lead by a hole over Mickelson and Kim after nine holes.
Another one-nation paring Miguel Angel Jiminez and Sergio Garcia are struggling. After five holes Leonard and Mahan are continuing their good form earlier and lead by two shots.
Rose and Poulter are looking to make amends for letting a good lead slip in the foursomes and are so far succeeding against Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis with a one-hole lead though six. Soren Hansen and Lee Westwood have a similar lead after four against Boo Weekley and JB Holmes.
FOURSOMES RESULT
Match 1:Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/Karlsson - Halved
Match 2:Leonard/Mahan v Stenson/Casey - US win 3&2
Match 3:Cink/Campbell v Rose/Poulter - US win 1up
Match 4:Perry/Furyk v Westwood/Garcia - Halved
