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Summary United States took a 5-3 lead over Europe after day one of the Ryder Cup.
The United States steamrolled through the second session of the Ryder Cup to take a 5-3 lead over Europe after day one on Friday, establishing a strong position from which to take back the trophy.Keegan Bradley led an impressive performance by Ryder Cup rookies on both teams at Medinah by teaming with Phil Mickelson for two wins against Europes best two partnerships. Even with Tiger Woods getting shut out on opening day for the fourth time, the United States took a big step toward regaining the cup.Next up for Woods is a session on the sidelines. Sticking to his plan of not wanting his players worn out by the end of the week, U.S. captain Davis Love III decided to leave Woods out for Saturday mornings foursomes. It is the first possible match (he was injured in 2008) he will miss in his Ryder Cup career, dating back to 1997.Leading the way was Bradley, the former PGA champion whom Mickelson took under his wing last year for a series of money games at the majors to prepare him for moments like this.Bradley holed a 25-foot birdie putt in morning foursomes to hand Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia their first loss ever in Ryder Cup foursomes. Next up were Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, and the Americans won the first three holes.Mickelson wasnt there only for support. Right when Europe was trying to rally, the four-time major champion closed it out with a 7-iron to 2 feet that was conceded for birdie.It was a day Bradley didnt want to end.He wasnt the only rookie to shine on a mild day in the Chicago suburbs. Nicolas Colsaerts, the 29-year-old from Belgium, helped Europe avoid getting shut out in afternoon fourballs by single-handedly taking down Woods and Steve Stricker.Colsaerts made eight birdies and an eagle a 10-under 62 if he was keeping score on his own. He teamed with Lee Westwood, who was just along for this amazing ride, for a 1-up victory that ended 11 hours of enormous cheers and plenty of American red on the leaderboard.Woods and Stricker also lost to Ian Poulter and Justin Rose in morning foursomes, making this the fourth time in the seven Ryder Cups that Woods has played that he lost both matches on the opening day.There was nothing he could do against Colsaerts, the biggest hitter in Europe who isnt too bad with the putter, either.Woods turned in a mixed performance. He missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 15th to fall 2 down, and then came back with a bending, 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th and a shot into 4 feet on the 17th that looked as if it might square the match.Instead, Colsaerts rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt for a halve. Woods had a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to halve the match, only it caught the left lip.Love said he told Woods and Stricker they would be sitting out the foursomes matches Saturday morning, and I can guarantee you, neither one of them are very happy about it. Not because they are sitting out; because they have to wait till tomorrow afternoon to come back.Both captains made sure all 12 of their players got into the game early, though European captain Jose Maria Olazabal set himself up for second-guessing when he sat out Donald, Garcia and Poulter for the afternoon matches. They have a combined record of 31 wins from 48 matches in the Ryder Cup.
