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Roundup:
USA Dominate First Day of Ryder Cup
Afternoon Fourballs:
Belgian Bomber Colsaerts Carries Europe to Win
Johnson and Kuchar Win for USA
Mickelson/Bradley Hang On to Beat McIlroy/McDowell
Watson and Simpson Crush Lawrie and Hanson
Morning Foursomes:
Poulter/Rose Defeat Woods/Stricker
Dufner and Johnson Win for USA
Macs Put Europe Back Level with USA
Bradley/Mickelson Strike First for US
Overall Score:
USA Dominate First Day of Ryder Cup
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - The United States emerged victorious from a pulsating first day's play in the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club on Friday, dominating the afternoon fourballs to take a 5-3 overall lead.
In a format that habitually favours the Europeans, Davis Love's team took the fourballs 3-1 after sharing the alternate ball foursome 2-2 in the morning's play.
All 24 players were in action during a day which started so promisingly for Europe but which ended so positively for the United States who are out to regain the trophy lost in Wales two years ago.
"Just everybody played real well and hung in there and had a lot of fun. Seemed like as the sun came out, we just got better and better," Love said.
The American heroes were rookie Keegan Bradley, showing passion and talent in securing two points with Phil Mickelson, who was winning a record ninth US cap, and Bubba Watson who fired up the big Chicago crowd with his attacking game.
"This is one of the most emotional days playing in a Ryder Cup that we'll ever have," Mickelson said.
"It gets emotion out of every player, good or bad, and this has been one of the biggest highs that we've had.
"I just love playing with Keegan. He's just played so good all day and it's just kept me up the whole time. It's been awesome."
Tiger Woods was out of sorts for most of the day, losing twice with established partner Steve Stricker.
"I didn't play very good this morning at all," Woods said. "I was hitting it awful and not doing anything well. But I hit it good this afternoon."
For Europe, Belgian rookie Nicolas Colsaerts excelled with an eagle and eight birdies, but eyebrows were raised over captain Jose Maria Olazabal's non-selection of Ryder Cup firebrand Ian Poulter for the fourballs after he and Justin Rose had beaten Woods and Stricker in the morning.
World No.1 Rory McIlroy played both sessions with fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell and they met with mixed success, winning in the morning and losing in the afternoon.
"Obviously it was just a high to end this morning and then to try to get ourselves back for the afternoon, just didn't start as well as we would have liked," McIlroy said.
The US charge in the afternoon was spearheaded by crowd-pleaser Watson who teamed up with US Open champion Webb Simpson to crush Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson 5 and 4.
Then, the on-fire pairing of Mickelson and Bradley led all the way to see off a tired-looking McIlroy and McDowell 2 and 1 in what was the pick of the later matchups.
Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar made it 3-0 with a 3 and 2 win over Rose and Martin Kaymer before Colsaerts put on one of the greatest-ever putting displays in Ryder Cup history to carry Lee Westwood on a one hole win over Woods and Stricker.
Europe's most experienced Ryder Cup player Westwood said that Colsaerts effort in winning a point was vital.
"It's a massive point," he said. "If we would have lost the day three and a half to a half, it would have been difficult to come back.
"We've still got our backs against the wall, but two down after the first day, it could have been worse."
Earlier in the day, the atmosphere at Medinah, at 7,658 yards the longest course in Ryder Cup history, was electric as McDowell got proceedings under way shortly after the crack of dawn in chilly conditions.
But it soon deflated as Europe took an early command, leaving US skipper Love complaining that it was all too quiet for his liking.
Europe were ahead in all four of the foursomes as the lead group stood on the eighth green, but it was Mickelson and Bradley that led the US fightback.
At one stage the advantage was briefly with the Americans, but a share of the spoils to get things going seemed a fair result for the morning's play.
It was the first time that had happened in the opening session of the Ryder Cup since 1997 at Valderrama in Spain.
All that was to change in the afternoon though as the United States took command and Europe will need to quickly redress the balance in Friday's second round of foursomes and fourballs.
In the last 15 Ryder Cups the team leading after the first day has eventually gone on to win the trophy 12 times.
Belgian Bomber Colsaerts Carries Europe to Win
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - Belgian bomber Nicolas Colsaerts was a one-man wrecking crew Friday, spearheading Europe to a 1-up win over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker in Ryder Cup afternoon fourballs.
Colsaerts finished with eight birdies and an eagle as the European Tour's driving distance champ flashed his all-around game Friday at the Medinah Country Club.
Woods led a late charge by the Americans, posting three birdies on the final five holes after struggling mightily off the tee in the morning foursomes.
But the 14-time major winner played second fiddle on Friday to Colsaerts who made most birdies in an opening round for a Europe Ryder Cup rookie.
Colsaerts and Lee Westwood took their first lead of the match on the ninth hole when Colsaerts hammered home a 22 footer for his fifth birdie on the front nine.
Colsaerts is the longest hitter on the European Tour with a 317 yard average and he is the first player from Belgium to play in this event.
The 29-year-old Colsaerts posted his first top 10 in a major championship this summer by finishing tied for seventh at the British Open.
He made a birdie putt on the par-four fourth to win the hole for Europe after Woods rolled his birdie attempt six feet past the hole.
Woods and Stricker are coming off a loss in the Friday morning foursomes, while Westwood teammed up with Francesco Molinari to win his foursome.
Woods, who was all over the place off the tee in the the morning foursomes, gave the US the lead with a birdie on the par-four No. 1.
Johnson and Kuchar Win for USA
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar defeated Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer 3 and 2 in the third of the afternoon fourballs at the Ryder Cup on Friday.
Rose, who grabbed a point with close friend Ian Poulter in the morning foursomes, continued his good form by birdieing the first to put Europe one up in the contest.
But a huge putt from the edge of the par-three second from Johnson restored parity before birdies from Kuchar at four, five and seven gave the Americans command at 3 up, where it remained at the turn.
Rose and Kaymer had their chances to cut back the deficit, but failed to take them before Rose finally got one to fall at the 12th to get back to 2 down.
But Johnson bested Rose in putting for birdies from mid-distance at the 15th and Kuchar finished it off at the next.
Both the Americans were winning their second caps, having sat out the morning foursomes. Germany's Kaymer got into the Europe team as the 10th and final automatic quaifier.
Mickelson/Bradley Hang On to Beat McIlroy/McDowell
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley stormed out to an early lead then held on to defeat Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell 2 and 1 in afternoon fourball Friday at the 39th Ryder Cup.
The American duo didn't skip a beat between the morning and afternoon sessions, beating McIlroy and McDowell after coming off a rousing 4 and 3 victory in the foursomes over Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia.
McIlroy and McDowell also won their morning foursome by beating Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker 1-up.
Mickelson won it for the Americans by hitting his elevated tee shot on the par-three 17th to two feet from the pin for the concession birdie on a sun-splashed Medinah Country Club course.
Mickelson and Bradley birdied four of their opening five holes before McIlroy and McDowell climbed back into the match by winning the ninth and 14th holes.
Mickelson, who was playing in his 36th Ryder Cup match, and rising star Bradley started quickly with three consecutive birdies to go 3-up.
Bradley sunk a 10 footer for a birdie on the par-four No. 1 and then Mickelson rolled in an eight-foot putt on No. 2.
Bradley gave them a sizeable early lead with another birdie on the par-four three.
World No. 1 McIlroy got a break on the fifth when he ran his second shot through the bunker and onto the green but the Europeans couldn't capitalize and ended up halving the hole.
Europe got one back on the sixth when McIlroy parred the hole after Bradley missed the fairway off the tee and Mickelson missed an 18 foot par putt.
McIlroy made his debut in the event with McDowell at his side two years ago in Wales when they won one, lost one and halved one together.
Watson and Simpson Crush Lawrie and Hanson
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson scored a crushing 5 and 4 win over Europeans Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson in the first of Friday afternoon's Ryder Cup fourballs.
Poor putts from the European pair allowed the Americans to win the first two holes and when Simpson sunk an 18-footer for birdie at the fourth they were already on the way at three up.
The situation became even more dire for Lawrie and Hanson as birdies from Watson won the sixth, seventh and eighth to put the Americans a stunning six up.
At that stage they had birdied seven of the first eight holes, the exception being the second, and they won that with a par.
It was nearly seven up by the turn, but Simpson's birdie putt slipped by.
It was a lost cause for Lawrie and Hanson down the back nine, although they managed to stay out on the course a while longer with a birdie from the 43-year-old Scot at the 11th.
The coup de grace came at the 14th hole when Watson was the executioner as the Americans finished at 10 under par.
Watson, whose caddie urged the crowd to make noise as he hit his tee-shot at the first, was winning his second Ryder Cup cap, while US Open champion Simpson was one of four rookies in the US team.
Scotland's Lawrie was back in the Europe team for a second cap, 13 years after winning his first, and was playing for the first time with Swede Hanson, a second time Ryder Cupper.
Poulter/Rose Defeat Woods/Stricker
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - Ian Poulter and Justin Rose defeated an out of sorts Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 2 and 1 in the last of Friday morning's opening foresomes at the Ryder Cup.
Poulter and Rose won three of four holes in one stretch on the back nine against the Americans who couldn't overcome Woods' errant drives despite Woods getting two breaks when he hit a spectator in the head and bounced another one off a tree.
Woods and Stricker had proved to be a formidable paring in the past but they got off to a rocky start as both hit wayward opening tee shots in their foursome match.
The Europeans, who wore dark pants with lime green sweaters, were 1-up through nine against the Americans, who wore dark pants, white shirts, with red hats.
The 36-year-old Woods teed off for the USA pair in the morning alternate shot matches at Medinah but he hooked his drive way left up against temporary fence. That left Stricker with no choice but to chip it back into the fairway.
They still managed to halve the hole when Poulter ran his putt three feet by the hole.
On the par-three second hole, Stricker hit a seven-iron left and into the water. Rose's tee shot found the green as he and Poulter went on to win the hole and go 1-up. Rose won the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March.
The Americans won the third hole but Europe regained the lead by taking the par-four fourth when Rose nailed a long putt. His 40-footer snaked right to left and in for a birdie.
Woods' match was put on the clock on the seventh hole after he hit a spectator with another errant tee shot that travelled way right.
It smashed into a fan before bouncing back into the fairway. Woods went over to the downed spectator and presented the man with an autographed glove before he was taken away for medical treatment.
Woods has been part of just one winning Ryder Cup team, back in 1999, and his last appearance in the competition on US soil was eight years ago. He played with Stricker at Celtic Manor, two years ago when they won two and lost one.
Woods caught a break on the par-four 15th when his tee shot sailed way left but the ball hit a tree and ricochetted back onto the fairway and landed in front of the green.
Stricker then hit his shot to gimme range and Poulter missed his birdie putt as the US won the hole.
Englishmen Rose and Poulter, close friends for years, struck up a winning partnership at Valhalla, Kentucky in 2008 where they won two and lost one.
They finished it off by halving the final two holes Friday, giving them the 2 and 1 win.
Dufner and Johnson Win for USA
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson hit back to defeat Europe's Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari 3 and 2 in the third of Friday morning's opening foursomes at the Ryder Cup.
Europe took the first hole when Johnson missed a five-footer, but it was back to all-square at the par-three second when the same player made amends by hitting a seven-iron over the lake to seven feet. Dufner made the birdie putt to win the hole
A bogey five from the Americans at the fourth gave the advantage back to Europe, but Westwood put too much pace on a short par putt at the sixth to hand back the lead.
Molinari then sunk a 10-footer to put Europe back ahead at the seventh, but at the ninth, Dufner's 12-footer for a winning birdie hung on the lip of the cup for a couple of seconds before toppling in.
Dufner was at it again at the next sinking from a similar distance for another birdie to put the Americans ahead for the first time in the match.
It stayed there until the short par-four 15th hole when Lee Westwood went for the green off the tee but only landed in the water to the right which cleared the way for the Americans to move two ahead.
They then clinched it at the 17th when Westwood missed a short putt
Macs Put Europe Back Level with USA
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - World No.1 Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell put Europe back level at the Ryder Cup on Friday morning by defeating Americans Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker by 1 hole in the first of the foursomes.
The US pair drew first blood at the par-three second after McDowell's request for relief from a sprinkler head was denied following a lengthy delay which saw all four players arguing. McDowell over-cooked his chip and McIlroy missed the putt coming back.
But it was back to level at the fourth when McIlroy chipped in for birdie drawing an appreciative high-five from his playing partner.
McDowell then supplied the ammunition at the sixth with a stunning approach to three feet and the ensuing birdie was enough to put the Ulster duo one up.
A McIlroy 10-footer made it four birdies in a row for the European team at the seventh although it was not enough to win the hole.
Snedeker sunk a five-footer for birdie at the par-three eighth to level the match, but his approach to the ninth bounced off a sprinkler head and flew well over the green to hand the Europeans a one hole lead at the turn.
It got worse for the Americans when they were penalised at the 10th when their ball moved slightly on the slope into a bunker after Furyk had began to address it. They eventually conceded the hole to go two down.
When they fell three behind at the next, the Americans were left with a mountain to climb, but a bogey from the Irishmen at the par-three 12th opened the door and then the Americans won the 15th and 16th to pull level.
It all came down to the last and Snedeker handed it to the European pair with a wild drive into the trees. McDowell sunk the winning putt from four feet.
Bradley/Mickelson Strike First for US
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 28, 2012 (AFP) - The Americans drew first blood at the 39th Ryder Cup as Keegan Bradley sank a long putt on the 15th hole Friday to give the US a 4 and 3 victory over Europeans Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia.
Bradley and Phil Mickelson finished off the match by winning four consecutive holes and defeated the former unbeaten pairing of Donald and Garcia.
The US were all square through nine holes against Donald and Garcia in the morning alternate shot matches before they caught fire on the back.
On the 245 yard par-three 13th, Bradley hit his tee shot on the green for a sinkable putt. Mickelson got one of the biggest roars of the day from the partisan US gallery when he drained the putt then celebrated with a chest bumped with rising star PGA star Bradley.
The Americans went 3-up on the par-five 609 yard 14th when Garcia missed a six foot putt to the right.
That set the stage for Bradley to drain his long put on the par-four 15th to win the match.
Europe ran into trouble on the final hole when Donald put his approach into the bunker.
The Americans fittingly finished it off on the redesigned 15th hole of the Medinah course which US skipper Davis Love set up to try and give his troops the advantage.
Overall Score: United States 5 Europe 3
Fourballs
Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson (USA) bt Paul Lawrie/Peter Hanson (Europe) 5 and 4
Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) 2 and 1
Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Justin Rose/Martin Kaymer (Europe) 3 and 2
Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (USA) lost to Nicolas Colsaerts/Lee Westwood (Europe) by one hole
Score: United States 3 Europe 1
Foursomes morning scores
Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) bt Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe) 4 and 3
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) lost to Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) by 1 hole.
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) bt Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe) 3 and 2
Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) lost to Ian Poulter/Justin Rose (Europe) 2 and 1
Score: United States 2 Europe 2