USA 7 Europe 5: Important contributions from rookies Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose and Oliver Wilson narrowed the US Ryder Cup lead to two points after the morning foursomes at Valhalla Golf Club. The Europeans won two of the four matches, halved one and lost the other to trail 7-5 going into the afternoon fourball competition in which the US lead in two games after the opening five holes.
The US, striving to end Europe's run of three victories in a row and five of the last six, had led by three points after yesterday's opening day.
But the Europeans came roaring back today to make a cotest out of what was in danger of becoming an anti-climatic procession.
"They had their day yesterday and we're here in good spirit and golf's amazing, isn't it," said Europe captain Nick Faldo.
"It's a bumpy road at times to get to a victory. So you come off the road a bit and we're back on the road again now."
Rose and fellow-Briton Ian Poulter led off for Europe and set a positive tone by racing to a five-hole lead after seven on the way to a 4 & 3 win against Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell, who had beaten them 1-up in yesterday's foursomes.
Wilson, the only player from either team to sit out both of Friday's sessions, made the most of his first Ryder Cup opportunity, sealing a stunning comeback victory with partner Henrik Stenson over an erratic Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim.
The 28-year-old Briton rolled in a 25-foot, left-to-right curling birdie putt at the 17th, to clinch a match the Americans led by four holes after the first six.
McDowell sank a four-foot birdie putt to win the 18th and earn a half with partner Miguel Angel Jimenez after a tight contest against Texans Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan, who had won both their matches together on Friday.
Jiminez set the Irishman up with a brilliant sand shot, after Leonard had put the Americans ahead at 17 with a big-breaking birdie putt.
"He's a fantastic partner," McDowell said of the Spaniard. "I don't get a chance to make five-footer on the last unless he hits a fantastic bunker shot."
The lone American bright spot on a humid, cloudy day came from local favourite Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk, who defeated Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson 3 & 1 in the key match of the morning session.
FOURSOME RESULTS
Match 1:Cink/Campbell v Poulter/Rose - Europe win 4 & 3
Match 2:Leonard/Mahan v Jimenez/McDowell - Halved
Match 3:Mickelson/Kim v Stenson/Wilson - Europe win 2 & 1
Match 4:Furyk/Perry v Harrington/Karlsson - US win 3 & 1
USA lead 7-5
FOURBALL PAIRINGS
Match 1:Weekley/Holmes v Westwood/Soren Hansen
Match 2:Curtis/Stricker v Garcia/Casey
Match 3:Perry/Furyk v Poulter/McDowell
Match 4:Mickelson/ Mahan v Stenson/Karlsson
