The Ryder Cup began on Friday morning with foursome matches featuring some of the world's top players. The morning session ended with a 2-2 tie.
Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson were able to earn the first point of the tournament for the U.S. after defeating Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald 4 & 3.
The pairing of Donald and Garcia had never before lost in foursomes. Previously the duo was 4-0 together and Garcia had an 8-0-1 record in alternate-shot play.
Mickelson and Bradley took the second hole, but the Europeans came back on five and six to take a 1-up lead through eight holes. The Americans stormed ahead on the back-nine, winning five of the next seven holes to take the match.
"He played some of the best golf and to be his partner was an awesome experience," Mickelson said of Bradley to the Chicago Sun-Times. "I love, love playing with this man. He's just so fun, loves the game and plays with such excitement and man, can he roll the rock."
After the Europeans bogeyed on 12 and the American duo birdied on 13, Garcia missed a four-foot putt to bogey 14.
On the 15th hole Bradley was able to roll in a 20-foot birdie-putt from the wide side, which left Donald to attempt a bunker shot to extend the match, which he missed. Mickelson and Bradley were noticeably excited after the match, slapping each other on the back and getting the crowd into the action with fist pumps.
At 11 holes the match was even, but Mickelson and Bradley took four straight holes to close things out.
"It was one of the most memorable days of my life so far," Bradley said.
Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker lost to Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, bringing the Europeans into a 2-2 tie going into afternoon play. The American duo lost 2 and 1 when Stricker failed on a long birdie putt on the 17th hole. It was the third straight loss for the duo of Woods and Stricker in match play.
The top European team of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell earned a 1-up victory over Brandt Snedeker and Jim Furyk, while Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson beat Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari 3-and-2.
McIlroy and McDowell were expected to cruise to a victory and it looked that way after the two took five of eight holes in the first half to go 3-up on the 11th hole. But the U.S. stormed back, winning three of four holes to tie it up at the 18th hole.
The U.S. bogeyed the holes after Snedeker hit a drive long and Furyk missed his opportunity. McDowell converted a par putt and saved the point for the Europeans.
The Cup is tied at 2-2 with a better ball session set for the afternoon.
Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson will play Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson followed by Mickelson and Bradley facing McIlroy and McDowell. Then Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar play Rose and Martin Kaymer and Woods and Stricker again close the day against Lee Westwood and Nicolas Colsaerts.
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