Europe draw first blood of Ryder Cup
Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed the first point of the 35th Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills for Europe today as they beat Davis Love III and Chad Campbell 5&4.
Three birdies in the first five holes put Clarke and Jimenez in command against Davis Love and rookie Chad Campbell, and a par on the ninth was enough to increase their lead at the turn to four holes.
Jimenez then holed another curling birdie putt from 15ft on the 11th to put them five up and they finished the match just a few holes after.
Meanwhile Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington are involved in a thrilling, high-quality contest with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the opening fourball. Monty and Harrington are 3 up thru 15 holes.
Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood are also carrying on where they left off at The Belfry two years ago, three birdies in the first four holes putting them three up on the strong pairing of David Toms and Jim Furyk. They are 3 up thru 11.
The third match on the course between Paul McGinley and Luke Donald and Chris Riley and Stewart Cink is much closer, a birdie from Riley on the eighth getting the Americans back on level terms at the turn. Since then McGinley and Donald are 1 up thru 13.
"I’m thrilled,” admitted European captain Bernhard Langer. “It’s a fantastic start. I could not have asked for more.
“Let’s enjoy it while it lasts and hopefully it will last a long time. This is definitely what I was hoping for.”
