Ryder Cup Day One - Morning Fourballs

The 40th Ryder Cup started today with the morning fourballs, the only big news being that Rory McIlroy had been partnered with Sergio Garcia, and not Graeme McDowell. The two Northern Irishmen are currently in the middle of a messy lawsuit over their managerial contracts, but were still expected by many to be paired together as they have been in past tournaments. McDowell wasn't included in the morning fourballs team, instead captain Paul McGinley rested him for the afternoon foursomes, in which he is teamed up with Frenchman Victor Dubuisson.

Europe came out worse after the first morning of action, trailing the US team 2.5 - 1.5. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson were the partnership to register Europe's only win, as they convincingly beat Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson 5&4, with the Americans failing to record a single birdie on the day. Rose eased home a putt on the 14th to secure the easy win.

The USA came back in force, with young guns Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed copying the score line of the early game, defeating Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter and his partner Stephen Gallacher 5&4. The Americans wasted no time, taking the lead at the first after Poulter missed a 3-foot putt for par. It was the Englishman's first defeat in four years of Ryder Cup action. In the following match Jimmy Walker holed a last gap putt on the final green to salvage a half against Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn.

The most anticipated match of the day involved world number one Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia up against winless Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. It was a close affair, with the Europeans taking the lead on the 6th hole when the Spaniard holed out from a greenside bunker. The Americans were quick to respond with back to back birdies at 9 and 10 to put them ahead. Europe then won three of the next five holes and were stopped only by a fantastic eagle from Bradley at the 16th to tie the match up once again. Mickelson then won it on the last with a short birdie putt to claim all the spoils and the overall lead of the first round of matches.