A fired-up United States team erased some of their recent Ryder Cup pain by storming ahead by 5½ points to 2½ over holders Europe at Valhalla Golf Club yesterday. Two points clear after the morning's foursomes, the hosts pressed home their advantage late in the afternoon fourballs to tighten their grip.
It was the first time the Americans had led after the opening day since Oak Hill in 1995 and their biggest advantage going into day two since The Greenbrier in 1979 when they headed Britain & Ireland by the same margin.
Although Europe clinched their first full point when British duo Ian Poulter and Justin Rose crushed Ben Curtis and Steve Stricker 4&2, Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan eased past Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez 4&3 soon afterwards.
Phil Mickelson and rookie Anthony Kim came from one down after 12 holes to beat the Irish paring of Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell two up after a fluctuating battle.
In the bottom match, Kentucky native JB Holmes and Boo Weekley squandered a one-hole lead playing the last to halve with Britain's Lee Westwood and Dane Soren Hansen.
Both Holmes and Weekley drove into water off the tee, effectively handing the Europeans a half-point on a platter.
The fiery display by Mickelson and Kim epitomised the American Cup revival as they overcame Harrington and McDowell with a strong finish.
"We played with a lot of heart and emotion," said Mickelson, who rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt at the 17th to put the duo one up.
The Americans, bidding to end a run of five defeats in the last six matches, had mounted a gritty fightback in the morning to win the opening Cup session for the first time in 17 years.
Leonard and Mahan drew first blood with a 3&2 victory over Britain's Paul Casey and Swede Henrik Stenson after recovering from a bogey-bogey start.
Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell came from one down after 12 holes to scrape past Poulter and rookie Rose one up before Mickelson and Kim halved a tight tussle with three-times major winner Harrington and Swede Robert Karlsson.
In the final match of the morning, European heavyweights Garcia and Westwood fought back from two down with two to play to finish all square with local favourite Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk.
Garcia, an inspirational figure for Europe since his Cup debut in 1999, extended his unbeaten record in foursomes matches to 8-0-1 (win-loss-half).
"I was real proud of them for the way they hung in there, scratched and clawed and were able to finish," US captain Paul Azinger said after the Americans won an opening session for the first time since the 1991 matches at Kiawah Island.
"It's early, but I feel like we're in a pretty good place mentally right now and I just want to keep everybody on point."
The United States are seeking their first triumph since their come-from-behind success at Brookline in 1999.
FOURBALLS RESULT
Match 1:Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/McDowell - US win 2up
Match 2:Stricker/Curtis v Poulter/Rose - Europe win 4 & 2
Match 3:Leonard/Mahan v Garcia/Jimenez - US win 4 & 3
Match 4:Holmes/Weekley v Westwood/Hansen - Halved
FOURSOMES RESULT
Match 1:Mickelson/Kim v Harrington/Karlsson - Halved
Match 2:Leonard/Mahan v Stenson/Casey - US win 3&2
Match 3:Cink/Campbell v Rose/Poulter - US win 1up
Match 4:Perry/Furyk v Westwood/Garcia - Halved
US lead Europe 5.5 - 2.5
