Golf/Seve Trophy: Lee Westwood had eight birdies, Padraig Harrington six and an eagle, and Paul Casey made six. These were instrumental in giving Britain and Ireland a 3½-1½ lead over Continental Europe after the opening fourball matches in the Seve Trophy.

All three played fine golf on an El Saler course on the Costa Blanca, labelled "a piece of art" by Severiano Ballesteros himself, and were the strong men in partnerships with David Howell, Phillip Price and Brian Davis respectively.

Westwood's brilliance was close to disrespectful given that it inflicted defeat on Ballesteros, the man who created the event, and his partner, Jose Maria Olazabal.

No partnership in the history of golf has achieved what the Spaniards have in the Ryder Cup. But Ballesteros has faded and Olazabal is fading, and whereas once they might have found a way to win, or at least get a half, yesterday's was a match in which the Englishmen were in charge.

They were never down after Westwood had registered his third birdie, at the fifth, and when Ballesteros hit a dreadful drive at the long 15th and Olazabal hit an even worse third, it looked as though they would be dormie three down.

But a soaring Ballesteros six-iron from 180 yards, his third shot, which finished four feet from the hole, was a lash from the past, and forced the English pair to pay attention again.

Westwood, short in two, chipped to five feet and then holed for his eighth birdie.

Ballesteros followed him in for a birdie, and when the two met on the 16th tee the Spaniard put up a mock plea to his tormentor.

"Steady with the birdies," he said.

"I can't help it," said a smiling Westwood. "I'm a professional."

The Spaniards, two down with three to play, needed inspiration, and although Olazabal holed for a birdie two at the 17th, Ballesteros lost a ball in a spiky mixture of marram grass, ice plant and pine bush. He was in an impossible place in a greenside bunker at the next and not even Olazabal can carry his captain the way he plays these days.

Casey had recorded four of his six birdies when he conjured the other two which were required to kill off Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jimenez. One-up playing the 16th, Casey drove into a fairway bunker but hit a massive nine-iron to eight feet, pin-high.

When he holed the birdie putt he just shrugged, a comment on the fickle fates that decree you can do that sometimes; at other times you write a six on your card.

Casey followed that with a 14-footer at the 214-yard 17th for the overall team's second point.

The third came courtesy of Harrington, five under after six holes - a burst that took him and Price to four up against Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia.

That was whittled down to one by the 18th tee, but Harrington, round in eight under on his own ball, holed from 18 feet to slam the door firmly closed.

"Padraig played unbelievably well," said Garcia.

"We did well turning for home, but he had left us just too much to do."

Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, seven down after nine, lost 4 and 3 to Alex Cejka and Raphael Jacquelin.

Asked if he had imposed a curfew in view of last night's Valencia v Maccabi Haifa UEFA Cup match, kick-off 10 p.m., the team captain, Colin Montgomerie, said: "They'll be going to bed early, anyway. They're young and they're grounded."

And if he sees them at the ground?

"Problems," he said with the grin.

He has given them another chance together today against Ballesteros and Olazabal.

Results and Today's pairings

Continental Europe v Britain and Ireland

(at El Saler, Valencia)

DAY ONE (Continental names first)

Fourballs: Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros lost to Lee Westwood and David Howell 2 holes

Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jimenez lost to Brian Davis and Paul Casey 2 and 1

Alex Cejka and Raphael Jacquelin bt Justin Rose and Ian Poulter 4 and 3

Fredrik Jacobson and Niclas Fasth halved with Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie

Thomas Bjorn and Sergio Garcia lost to Phillip Price and Padraig Harrington 2 holes

Fourballs result: Continental Europe 1½ Britain and Ireland 3½

TODAY'S PAIRINGS

(all times Irish)

10.25 - Sergio Garcia and Thomas Bjorn v Lee Westwood and David Howell

10.40 - Raphael Jacquelin and Alex Cejka v Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie

10.55 - Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ignacio Garrido v Paul Casey and Brian Davis

11.10 - Fredrik Jacobson and Niclas Fasth v Padraig Harrington and Phillip Price

11.25 - Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros v Ian Poulter and Justin Rose