US have momentum in Ryder Cup (1st Lead)

By Peter Auf der Heyde Oct 2, 2010, 16:03 GMT

Newport, Wales - The US seem to have the momentum at the Ryder Cup as the first of Saturday's foursomes finished with the US ahead in two of them, taking their total to 5 points for a 2 point lead against Europe.

The Ryder Cup, which sees teams of 12 American golfers take on their European counterparts is being played on the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.

Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan dominated play against Francesco Molinari and his brother Edoardo, but then allowed the Europeans to come back on the 16th as they bogeyed the par-4 hole.

But the Americans bounced right back to birdie the next two holes to win the match 2-up after 18 holes.

Francesco said it was disappointing to lose. 'We did not do well at first, but then played much better from the 11th hole. So we are a little bit disappointing that we did not get at least half a point,' he said.

The next pair in were Ross Fisher and Padraig Harrington, who managed to win their match against Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson 3&2.

Fisher, who is playing in his first Ryder Cup and holed the winning putt said he was delighted to have won. 'It feels awesome to win with a putt like that. We played solid golf.'

Playing partner Harrington, who disappointed in the morning session, said that he felt the pressure of being a captain's pick. 'In the afternoon he gave me some responsibility as I needed to give some guidance to Ross. But he played fantastic.

'The atmosphere here is is electric and the competition looks very tight.'

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker proved far too strong for Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez as they won their match 4&3.

Stricker, who has won all six matches in international competition he has played with Woods, said they were very comfortable with each other. 'We compliment each other, we jell well together.'

PGA champion Martin Kaymer and his playing partner Lee Westwood both had putts to win their match for Europe, but both failed, allowing American rookie Rickie Fowler a simple six foot putt to halve a match in which they were behind from the second hole.

Fowler said that he had a good feeling ahead of the putt. 'To have a chance right at the end is pretty awesome.'

His playing partner Jim Furyk was also very happy with the half point they won. 'We were down the entire match, to come back and get a half point was just great.'

In the morning session, during which the fourballs from Friday were finished, the US managed to take a 1 point lead as Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson beat Luke Donald and Harrington and Woods, playing with Stricker, beat Fisher and Ian Poulter.

The only victory of the morning for Europe saw Kaymer and Westwood beat Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, while the match between Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar and Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell ended all- square.

Later Saturday two foursomes, as well as four fourballs will start, though it is very unlikely that they will finish before play ends for the day.

In fourball matches, each golfer plays his own ball and the player with the lowest score on a hole wins the hole for his team. If two or more players are equal the hole is halved.

In foursomes matches the golfers from one team play alternate shots and whichever team has the better score wins the hole.

The changed format was made necessary after organizers were forced to re-schedule the format in an attempt to catch up some time after more than seven hours was lost on Friday due to a lengthy rain interruption.