Azinger's men take a firm grip

Lee Westwood dramatically matched a Ryder Cup record, but it was very definitely America's day when the Ryder Cup began at Valhalla.

Paul Azinger's side, pumped up just in the way he wanted, opened up a 5.5-2.5 advantage - and they have never lost from such a position.

But it could have been worse and it needed two great fightbacks from Westwood to limit the damage for Nick Faldo's men, favourites before a ball was struck but no longer.

First Westwood and Sergio Garcia won the last two holes for a half with Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry in the foursomes.

Then the Worksop golfer and Danish newcomer Soren Hansen won the final hole of the final match to square things up with big-hitting JB Holmes and Boo Weekley, both of whom found water with their closing drives.

With that Westwood took his unbeaten run in the event to 12 games - his last defeat was to Scott Verplank in the 2002 singles - and matched Arnold Palmer's record.

Hansen deserves some of the credit, though. Looking like going two down with two to play he chipped in at the 16th before Westwood saved another half on the next by matching Holmes's birdie.

Earlier Padraig Harrington, winner of golf's last two majors, was unable to prevent America making a magnificent start.

Despite being three up in both his foursomes with Swede Robert Karlsson and fourballs with cup debutant Graeme McDowell, Harrington ended the first day with only one half-point.

That was his total contribution to the European cause at The K Club two years ago, but with the United States crashing to a second successive nine-point defeat there it did not matter.

This time it was mattering a lot.

The home side, beaten in the last three matches and five of the last six, won the opening session for the first time since 1991 and when the two Irishmen lost on the final green to Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim it took them 5-2 ahead.

Harrington and Karlsson had managed only a half against Mickelson and Kim from three up with six to play.

In the afternoon it was three up after only four, but Mickelson's 25-footer on the 17th - he was the furthest from the hole in two of the entire quartet - meant he and his young partner came to the last one-up.

A drive into a bunker meant Harrington could do no better than par and McDowell, in sand by the green, could not get up and down either.

Ian Poulter and Justin Rose had moments earlier registered Europe's only win of the day, beating Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis three and two and so making up for throwing away a three-hole lead themselves before lunch.

But Garcia went down four and three with Miguel Angel Jimenez to America's star pair Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan.

In the foursomes the home pair beat Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson, who were then rested. Oliver Wilson did not get to play , whereas Azinger had got all his 12 into the action.

Westwood said of his morning escape: "Any time you get out of jail it makes a massive difference and can be a momentum swinger."

Faldo said: "We had a very tough morning, but the guys gave 100 per cent.

"The crowds are really fair. Unfortunately they are outnumbering us pretty heavily up that 18th, but I warned the guys that would be the case."

Opposite number Azinger did not deny, meanwhile, he had told fans at a downtown rally the night before it was okay to cheer misses.

"Essentially, when we go over there they cheer when we miss," he said. "I don't think that the American fans are really into what the Ryder Cup is all about.

A delighted Poulter commented: "We managed to play well through holes 12, 13 and 14 where this morning we let it slip a little. It was nice to get a point back."

Rose added: "I am familiar with the US, but never this partisan.

"The European fans are real troopers, though. They make themselves heard and keep us going."

By Mark Garrod