US golfer Keegan Bradley (R) celebrates with teammate Phil Mickelson after sinking a birdie on the 15th green to win the match during the morning foursomes round at the 39th Ryder Cup matches at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, Friday. — Reuters MEDINAH, Illinois — The United States and Europe split the opening foursome matches at the 39th Ryder Cup Friday after a gripping, birdie-filled session that tested the nerves and skill of every player. Despite trailing early on in all four alternate-shot encounters, the Americans fought back to tie the scores at 2-2 after the morning session. They earned their first point when Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson beat Britain's Luke Donald and Spaniard Sergio Garcia 4&3, then a second when Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner defeated Englishman Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari of Italy 3&2. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell came through for Europe when they edged Furyk and Snedeker one up after a tense, fluctuating battle in the top match before Ian Poulter and Justin Rose squared the ledger by beating an out of sorts Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 2&1. Cup rookie Bradley drained a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-four 15th as the US duo came from one down after eight holes on a cool, breezy day at Medinah Country Club. US captain Davis Love III has set up Medinah's par-72 No. 3 course with virtually no rough in a bid to create a birdie fest this week and both teams took advantage in the first session. Mickelson and Bradley made a good start after being sent out in the second match, going one up on Donald and Garcia after four holes before losing momentum. The Europeans won the fifth and sixth holes to gain the lead before Bradley sank a six-footer to birdie the ninth to level the match. However, the Americans took control after the turn, going three up after Mickelson drained a 15-foot birdie putt at the 13th before Garcia missed a three-footer for par at the 14th. Donald missed the green well to the left off the tee at the driveable par-four 15th and Bradley secured the first point for the US with his monster birdie putt. World No. 1 McIlroy and fellow Northern Irishman McDowell had been three up after 12 holes before the Americans pegged them back with three consecutive birdies from the 14th. McDowell wrapped up victory by sinking a five-foot par putt on the 18th green after both teams had trouble reaching the green. The final encounter had been heavily anticipated with Stricker and Woods having compiled a 6-2 record in team play at the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup but they struggled against good friends Rose and Poulter. Rose drained a curling 15-foot birdie putt at the fourth to put the Europeans one up and they maintained control for the rest of the match. Woods was woefully erratic off the tee and struck a spectator on the head with a wayward drive at the par-five seventh, the bystander having to wipe the blood away with a towel. — Reuters
