• Ryder Cup

America battle back to take lead into afternoon foursomes

ESPN staff
September 26, 2014
Rory McIlroy and partner Sergio Garcia finished all-sqaure with America's Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley © Getty Images
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Phil Mickelson was the hero as America battled back to finish 2.5-1.5 in the morning fourballs, after Europe had made the early running as the Ryder Cup got underway at Gleneagles.

Mickelson pounced on the final hole after Europe's Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia had endured a mixed morning, with the world's No.1 and No.3-ranked golfers failing to make their combined prowess count against Mickelson and his playing partner Keegan Bradley.

Mickelson ensured America took the overall lead with the final shot of the morning fourballs, sinking a short-range putt to send the US pair into the clubhouse 1-up after a morning of back-and-forth golf.

Europe were ahead when Garcia holed spectacularly out of a bunker at the second, but Bradley sunk a tidy putt at the seventh to make it all square.

Mickelson enjoyed a Garcia moment on the ninth as he too holed out from the sand and, after McIlroy failed with his putt for a halve, USA were ahead for the first time. The Americans doubled their lead at 10 when Bradley made birdie.

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However, both of Tom Watson's charges made bogey at 11 to let the European pair back in it before pars at both 13 and 15 from McIlroy looked to have secured the point. However, Bradley's eagle at 16 made sure the quartet would head down the 18th all square.

The final hole proved treacherous for both pairs, with McIlroy and Mickelson finding the same bunker to the right of the green and Garcia sending his ball burrowing into the rough. But Mickelson found his range while the others set about losing their, getting up and down to win the hole and match for the Americans.

Earlier, Europe had claimed the first point of the tournament with Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson beating Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson 5&4 in the opening fourballs.

Watson and Simpson failed to make a birdie in 28 holes between them as the European duo safely secured the opening point - and an early lunch. The Americans endured a torrid time which started when Simpson made a hash of his tee shot at the first; the opening shot of this year's tournament.

Rose and Stenson grabbed the lead on the second hole and pulled away, with Rose making a 15-foot birdie putt at the 10th to go up by four. However, it wasn't all straightforward for the Englishman, who was stung on the hand by a bee before making his putt at 10.

Rose told BBC Radio 5Live: "I deserved to get stung after hitting my second in the water on nine. My thumb is swollen but it's all good.

"From then on I played great and drove it into the fairway for the rest of the match. The view on hole 1 was incredible. I've never seen so many people on a hole.

"It's a new partnership and good partnership, although we're great friends. I'd imagine I'll play with Henrik [in the afternoon foursomes] but it's just nice to get some extra lunchtime."

The Americans soon hit back as rookie pairing of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed levelled proceedings with a 5&4 victory against Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher.

The European pair were not at the races as they found themselves six down thru 11, with Poulter having sent one straight into the water at nine. Despite gaining a hole back at the 12th, Poulter left his putt to win the 14th hole short and the USA levelled.

Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer squandered a two-hole lead as Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler halved their match on the 18th green to steal a share of the spoils.

Europe were ahead all of the away - having gone three up thru four - but debutant Walker kept his nerve, pitching in with chip-ins at the ninth and 14th to put USA back in the hunt. Bjorn and Kaymer walked down the 18th knowing they only had to halve the hole for a point.

However, Bjorn could not finish a tricky one to ensure victory and Walker finally made a putt to gain half a point.

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