The Scot, subject of the worst abuse from the crowd at Brookline five years ago, received a loud cheer when he was introduced to the gallery but missed the fairway with his drive.

Harrington also found trouble off the tee, pulling his drive into a fairway bunker, and after Mickelson pushed his tee shot even further left Woods carved his drive way right.

European captain Bernhard Langer had correctly guessed his opposite number Hal Sutton would be the first American skipper to pair Woods and Mickelson together, and responded accordingly with his pairings.

Montgomerie has been top or joint top scorer in each of the last three contests and was relishing the battle.

“They will not like the fact of facing us, they won’t really know what to expect,” said the 41-year-old.

“Padraig is a super partner and hopefully he has as much faith in me as I have in him; I think he asked to play with me which was good because we have respect for each other.

“I actually didn’t realise I had lost only two of the last 16 matches I have played in this competition. I might be 62 in the world but that goes out of the window in this competition, it has to because I wouldn’t have the record that I have.

“This is the start that the tournament deserves. Game on.”

Montgomerie and Woods were in the same fairway bunker but after Woods could only find the centre of the green, Montgomerie fired a brilliant approach to 12 feet.

Mickelson had also found the green after his wayward drive but then became the first victim of the severely undulating greens, failing to get his first putt over the ridge running through the green and the ball trickling back down the slope towards him.

Harrington then secured a par four before Montgomerie calmly rolled in the birdie putt to put the European team one up.