Stewart Cink, one of Hal Sutton’s wild cards, made a 30-footer at seven, only for McGinley to follow him in from 25, but there was no matching Riley’s birdie on the eighth and they turned all square.

It remained that way until McGinley’s par took the short 13th, but Cink answered that with a 10-footer for birdie two holes later. The next two were shared and at the last Riley made a seven-footer for half after Donald’s 20-foot downhill had missed.

Donald had a chance to win it on the 18th but missed a long putt while Riley holed to give the US their first score on the board.

Earlier it was a start to dream of for Europe.

Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed the first point 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.

Next to score were Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington in the battle of the big guns against the top US pairing, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

The Europeans won 2&1 to put Europe 2-0 up in the morning fourballs with two matches to play.

Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood proved far too strong for David Toms and Jim Furyck with five to play before McGinley and Donald picked up another half point against Chris Riley and Stewart Cink.

Foursomes:

1845 Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas v Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Levet

1900 Davis Love and Fred Funk v Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington

1915 Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods v Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood

1930 Kenny Perry and Stewart Cink v Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald