Golf: Garcia inspires Europe to two-point lead

STRAFFAN, Ireland - Holders Europe, with Sergio Garcia in inspirational form, took a healthy step towards retaining the Ryder Cup on Friday as they ended the opening day 5-3 ahead of the United States.

One point clear after the morning's fourballs, the hosts pressed home their advantage on the Palmer Course greens in a tense afternoon session of foursomes to take a significant lead into the second day of the 36th edition of the biennial event.

"That was unbelievable. I think my team played exceptionally well, every single one of them," European captain Ian Woosnam told reporters. "It was a marvellous day for us and the spirit in the team room is incredible.

"Sergio just lifted his game. He's on top form, which he always seems to be able do at the Ryder Cup.

"We played every player today which is fantastic. It's different being captain -- you just want to get it right and we got it right out there today."

Playing the alternate-shot format in the afternoon, Garcia and Luke Donald completed a thrilling two-up victory over world number one Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk when the Americans bogeyed the last after finding water with their second shot.

Garcia, an inspirational figure with Jose Maria Olazabal in the fourballs where Europe forged ahead by 2-1/2 points to 1-1/2, and Donald never trailed but were pegged back to all square with five holes to play.

Woods, struggling for form, and Furyk levelled the match with successive birdies from the 13th before the Europeans collected their fifth birdie of the round at the par-four 17th.

It was Garcia's seventh victory in seven foursomes Cup appearances and his third win in four pairs games against Woods.

In the day's final match, Europe's talisman Colin Montgomerie holed a five-footer for birdie to win the last as he and fellow Briton Lee Westwood squared a high-quality encounter with Masters champion Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco.

Three times the Americans led -- after the first, the sixth and the 16th -- before the Europeans signed off in style.

Irish duo Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, cheered on by passionate home crowds, had to settle for a half with Chad Campbell and US rookie Zach Johnson after leading by two with three holes to play.

Johnson hit a brilliant three-wood on to the green at the par-five 16th to set up a two-putt birdie and the Americans levelled the match with their third birdie in a row at the last.

Briton David Howell and Swedish rookie Henrik Stenson, one up with four to play against Stewart Cink and David Toms, had to settle for a half after bogeying the 15th.

The Americans, bidding to end a run of four defeats in the last five Ryder Cups, drew first blood in the morning when Woods and Furyk shaded Cup veterans Montgomerie and Harrington one up despite the world number one's struggle to transfer his individual brilliance to the team format.

Spaniards Garcia and Olazabal then outclassed Toms and rookie Brett Wetterich 3 and 2 before big hitters Paul Casey of Britain and Swedish rookie Robert Karlsson halved a pulsating battle with Cink and first-timer J.J. Henry.

In the final match of the morning, wildcards Darren Clarke and Westwood won a tight and emotional contest with Mickelson and DiMarco one up to put Europe a point ahead.

US captain Tom Lehman, who opted not to use rookie Vaughn Taylor and wildcard pick Scott Verplank on the opening day, said: "It was a tough match, it stings a little, no doubt about it.

"Both teams played well but we could have done with a little more luck on the greens.

"It's 5-3, it's still anybody's ball game. I don't really feel too concerned but I feel a little frustrated."

Montgomerie, who always seems able to lift his game in the team environment of the Ryder Cup, said: "That's a good day, we would have taken that.

"We did well this afternoon, we didn't lose a game."

Fourballs
Europe 2, United States 1

Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk, United States, bt Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington, Europe, 1 up.
Stewart Cink and J.J. Henry, United States, halved with Paul Casey and Robert Karlsson, Europe.
Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia, Europe, bt David Toms and Brett Wetterich, United States, 3 and 2.
Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, Europe, bt Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, United States, 1 up.

Foursomes
Europe 2, United States 1

Chad Campbell and Zach Johnson, United States, halved with Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, Europe.
Stewart Cink and David Toms, United States, halved with David Howell and Henrik Stenson, Europe.
Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, United States, halved with Lee Westwood and Colin Montgomerie, Europe.
Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, Europe, bt Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk, United States, 2 up.

- REUTERS