Europe Takes Lead in Ryder Cup Play : America’s Attempt to Regain Golfing Title Falters on First Day of Matches in England

America’s quest to regain the Ryder Cup got off to a faltering start today as Europe’s golfers, led by Seve Ballesteros, used superb wood and iron play to take the first-day lead.

The United States, with Payne Stewart and Mark Calcavecchia showing the way, won the morning foursomes 3-1.

But Europe, hoping to win for the third consecutive tournament, stormed back in the windy afternoon, sweeping the four-ball matches for a 5-3 lead after the opening day’s play.

‘A Great Afternoon’

“It was a great afternoon. I can’t believe it,” European captain Ton Jacklin said.

The United States never led in any of the four four-ball pairings, in which each member of the two-man teams played his own ball but only the better ball at each hole counted.

Europe also swept the first-day four-balls in 1987 when it retained the cup with its first victory in the United States. The Europeans led 6-2 after the first day two years ago.

The Spanish pair of Ballesteros and Jose-Maria Olazabal blitzed Tom Watson and Mark O’Meara 6 and 5. Ballesteros eagled or birdied each of the last four holes.

“Seve played great the last four or five holes, and that’s why we beat them,” Olazabal said. “When Seve gets his Porsche going, not even St. Peter in heaven could stop him.”

Almost as one-sided was the victory by Britain’s Howard Clark and Mark James, beating Fred Couples and Lanny Wadkins 3 and 2.

Sam Torrance and Gordon Brand Jr., two mustachioed Scotsmen, edged U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange and Paul Azinger 1-up. Strange eagled the par-5 17th with a 25-foot putt to even the match, but Azinger then took a bogey-5 on the 18th as Brand rolled in a 10-foot putt for par.

Lose by 2 Holes

Losing by two holes were British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia and Mark McCumber, who stayed even through 12 holes before dropping their match to Masters champion Nick Faldo and British teammate Ian Woosnam.

Calcavecchia, who this summer became the first American winner since 1984 of the British Open, teamed with old friend Ken Green to beat Bernhard Langer of West Germany and Ronan Rafferty of Britain 2 and 1.

Tom Kite and Strange held off a late charge to halve with Faldo and Woosnam, while Watson and Chip Beck scrambled from three holes down with eight left to play to halve with Ballesteros and Olazabal.

The 3-1 lead left the United States in the same position it was here four years ago when the Europeans rallied to win the cup for the first time in 28 years.