Ryder Cup - Day 2

Day 1 Fourball finish:

Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer put the first point on the board for Europe with a 3&2 victory over the out of sorts Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.

After a superb birdie from Rory McIlroy on the 17th that ignited the crowd, the Irish pair with Graeme McDowell alongside him claimed half a point against Matt Kuchar and Stewart Cink. Starting the morning 2down it could prove to be a vital halve point for Europe.

Match 4 was finished on the 16th as USA claimed their first full point. Jeff Overton was the man on form in the morning as he birdied 10, 11 and the 12th to send them 3up. 3&2 victory for himself and Bubba Watson over Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington who was certainly not at his best.

The last match of the morning also went to the 18th with Woods and Stricker holding on to their advantage and eventually winning 2up over Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher.

Foursomes Pairings

The first match went the distance and in the end went the way of American pairing of Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan. The Molinari brothers were 3DN at the turn and only really started performing on the 11th when they finally cut back the deficit. Come the 17th tee they were all-square but a great putt from Johnson putt the American's 1UP going down the 18th and when the Italians couldn't muster a birdie the match was conceeded. USA lead 3&1/2 to 1&1/2.

The next match went the way of Europe as Padraig Harrington and Ross Fisher beat Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson 3&2.

Shortly after USA regained their two point lead when the solid pairing of Woods and Stricker beat Jimenez and Hanson 4&3.

Jim Furyk and Rickie Fowler managed to salvage a half against Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer as they won the 18th with a birdie. Having been behind all game, USA will feel this is a good half a point.

Europe got within a point when Donald and Poulter won their match against Watson and Overton. It was a tight match but Donald's stunning tee shot on the par-3 17th saw out the match 2UP. The win continued Donald's unbeaten run in foursomes golf with five wins out of five.

In the last match which was tight all the way to the 18th green went the way of the American's again who so far have had the best of the final hole. McDowell and McIlroy were 1UP on the 16th tee but a par from Kuchar against a European bogey there and then a huge putt from Cunk on the 17th really demoralised the Irish pairing. Both laid up on the 18th and after Cink hit the middle of the green, McIlroy duffed his into a greenside bunker and that was that.

Going into the final session of play the score is:

EUROPE 4 - 6 USA

Session 3 - Two Foursomes and Four Fourballs

Fourballs

3. Harrington/Fisher 1UP v Furyk/D.Johnson (9th hole)

4. Hanson/Jimenez 2UP v Watson/Overton (7th hole)

5. Molinari's 1UP v Cink/Kuchar (6th hole)

6. Poulter/Kaymer 2UP v Fowler/Mickelson (5th hole)

Foursomes

1. Westwood/Donald 4UP v Stricker/Woods (10th hole)

2. McDowell/McIlroy 3UP v Z.Johnson/Mahan (8th hole)

Play to continue tomorrow