Ryder Cup 2014: Europe roar back to lead on gripping opening day

Gleneagles: The Ryder Cup delivered high drama yet again as Europe produced a stirring fightback to win three of the foursomes matches against the United States and take a 5-3 lead after a tense and hugely entertaining first day on Friday. The Americans had much the best of the morning fourballs, the highlight being a remarkable performance by rookie duo Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth to hammer European talisman Ian Poulter and Scottish new boy Stephen Gallacher 5 & 4. That helped the visitors to a 2 1/2-1 1/2 lead after a session in which gusting winds made low scoring difficult but merely added to the drama for the fans who swamped the Gleneagles course. [caption id=“attachment_1732303” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Jamie Donaldson pumps his fist after making a putt. Reuters[/caption] But Europe roared back in the alternate-shot foursomes format as Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson secured their second point with a two-up victory over Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson having earlier hammered Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson 5 & 4. Europe’s strongest pair on paper, world numbers one and three Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia, struggled all day and were well beaten by Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in the fourballs. They looked to be going down again when they trailed Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler by two with two to play in the afternoon but a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th by McIlroy and a brilliant second from deep rough by Garcia on the last enabled them to scramble an unlikely points. “I think that half was as a good as a win,” said European captain Paul McGinley after seeing Europe post their best-ever foursomes result. “We have seen in Ryder Cups over the years how important momentum is and we showed real strength of character to respond to that American surge and get blue back on the board.” That surge was begun by Spieth, 21, and 24-year-old Reed, the youngest partnership in the history of the event who were nerveless and relentless in taking down Europe’s “Mr Ryder Cup” Poulter with a run of five birdies in six holes around the turn. Having delivered such dazzling debuts, however, captain Tom Watson rested the pair for the afternoon in a decision that left many observers scratching their heads. “I take the blame for that,” Watson said. “I assessed that even though they won in the morning, that there maybe was a better team for the foursomes.” Poulter, who had won 11 of his previous 12 Cup matches, also sat out the afternoon but nobody questioned that move as the wildcard selection looked a pale shadow of the demonic player who sparked Europe’s “Miracle of Medinah” comeback two years ago. CHIPPED IN The third American debutant, albeit a 35-year-old one, also had a day to remember as Walker twice chipped in to help secure a morning half, again with Fowler, having trailed Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer by two after 15. Mickelson and Bradley, who won all three matches they played together two years ago, struggled for form in a ragged fourball against McIlroy and Garcia but Mickelson splashed out a trade-mark bunker shot for a point-clinching birdie on the last hole. It was a fitting way for the ever-popular left-hander to mark becoming the first American to appear in 10 Ryder Cups, but, as ever, he deflected the glory. “The eagle that Keegan made on 16 gave us a huge momentum boost, the shots he hit there were just stupendous,” he said. The afternoon did not go so well, however, as hugely impressive French debutant Victor Dubuisson and former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell beat them 3 & 2. Lee Westwood and rookie Jamie Donaldson played some of the best golf of the day to beat Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar two-up after all four had sat out the fourballs. Those matches had begun hours before on a crisp, bright morning amid a tumultuous atmosphere around the huge stand surrounding the first tee. “It’s amazing – we didn’t even have grandstands in 1977, it was just the gallery ropes,” Watson said in comparison with his first taste of the Ryder Cup. Webb Simpson set the tone for a forgettable personal day when he topped the opening drive of the event – perhaps unnerved by being introduced as his partner Bubba Watson, one of the most recognisable figures in the game. Two years ago the duo won both their matches 5 & 4 but this time they failed to muster a birdie as they lost by the same margin to Rose and Stenson. “The captain put a lot of faith in us by putting us out first and then keeping us together,” Rose said. The U.S. now face an uphill battle to claim their first win on foreign soil since 1993 when Watson first captained the side but the veteran was in no mood to concede. “This is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “And it’s all probably going to be really close come Sunday.” Reuters