Ryder Cup capsules

FOUR-BALLS

First Round

USA 2 1/2, Europe 1 1/2

Notes: The U.S. last won the opening session on European soil in 1989.

Match Results

Lee Westwood-Martin Kaymer, Europe, beat Phil Mickelson- Dustin Johnson, 3 and 2.

Notes: Westwood, playing in his seventh Ryder Cup, birdied the second hole and won his seventh four-ball match. Mickelson made three birdies, Johnson one. But they mostly sprayed the ball all over the place and were soundly beaten.

Stewart Cink-Matt Kuchar, USA, and Rory McIlroy-Graeme McDowell, all square.

Notes: Cink and Kuchar got it to 2-up through 12 holes, but then rookie McIlroy sank two long birdie pouts on the 13th and 17th, the par-threes’ on the back nine, to draw even. Both McIlroy and Cink went for the green in two on the par-five No. 18 and both ended up in the water, Cink actually landing on the green and having the ball back all the way down the hill.

Tiger Woods- Steve Stricker, USA, beat Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher, 2-up.

Notes: Stricker continued his masterful putting and this team, now a veteran unit in team golf, got the go-ahead birdie on No. 12 from him. It was Woods’ fifth victory in the four-ball and Stricker’s third. Stricker had five birdies, Woods two.

Bubba Watson-Jeff Overton, USA, beat Luke Donald-Padraig Harrington, 3 and 2.

Notes: This was U.S. captain Corey Pavin’s most controversial decision, and when the two Ryder Cup rookies played like world-beaters all the way — especially Overton with six birdies — Pavin looked like a genius. Not only did they beat a couple of Ryder Cup veterans in Donald and Harrington, but Watson and Overton became the first U.S. rookies to play together in an opening session and win since it Lee Elder and Andy Bean in 1979.

FOURSOMES

First Round

USA 3 1/2, Europe 2 1/2 (cumulative score after this round of foursomes, USA 6, Europe 4).

Notes: Because of Friday’s seven-hour rain delay, these six matches were completed in midafternoon Saturday and were followed immediately by the start of two foursome and four four-ball matches.

Match Results

Tiger Woods-Steve Stricker, USA, beat Miguel Angel Jimenez-Peter Hanson, 4 and 3.

Notes: Woods and Stricker shot 32 on the front nine in this alternate-shot format. They were the only pairing to win their first two matches, and the way Stricker continues to putt, they look like Team Invincible.

Zach Johnson-Hunter Mahan, USA, beat Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, 2-up.

Notes: Mahan has yet to lose in the Ryder Cup. He now has three wins and three halves. Johnson was his fourth different Ryder Cup partner. The Molinari brothers struggled to start, scrambled back and then succumbed when Johnson made a long bomb on the par-three 17th.

Padraig Harrington-Ross Fisher, Europe, beat Phil Mickelson-Dustin Johnson, 3 and 2.

Notes: Harrington, winner of three majors and one of the most popular golfers on either the European or American tour, won his first Ryder Cup match of any kind in 11 tries. His last win was against Jay Haas in 2004. He and Fisher found the best matchup to help Harrington heal, because all Mickelson and Dustin Johnson have done so far is scatter shots and hit ugly putts.

Ian Poulter-Luke Donald, Europe beat Bubba Watson-Jeff Overton, 2 and 1.

Notes: Donald, who has now won all five of his foursome matches in Ryder Cup, hit a four-iron close on No. 17 and Poulter, always cool under pressure, made the putt to close out the American rookie team, winners in their opening four-ball match.

Stewart Cink-Matt Kuchar, USA, beat Graeme McDowell-Rory McIlroy, 1-up.

Notes: This was the last match finishing the round, giving the U.S. a surprising 6-4 lead, and it featured some heroics on the part of Cink, the 2009 British Open champion. After hitting a horrible shot out of a trap on No. 15 and over into high rough to cost his team the lead, Cink hit a perfect setup iron on 16 for Kuchar, then sank a huge 30-foot putt on 17 — with McIlroy waiting to roll in a six-footer — and then hit the perfect approach iron again on 18, while McIlroy hit a fat shot into the trap to the right.

Jim Furyk-Rickie Fowler, USA, all square with Lee Westwood-Martin Kaymer.

Notes: This half point was also crucial for the U.S. because Westwood-Kaymer is Europe’s No. 1 team and they had held a steady, yet slim lead throughout. After Westwood uncharacteristically left a winning putt short, Furyk’s iron shot on 18 got Fowler to five feet, and the rookie came through when he made the putt.

— Bill Dwyre

UNFINISHED MATCHES

Foursomes

Luke Donald-Lee Westwood, Europe, lead Steve Stricker-Tiger Woods, 4-up through nine holes.

Graeme McDowell-Rory McIlroy, Europe, lead Zach Johnson-Hunter Mahan, 3-up through seven holes.

Four-ball

Padraig Harrington-Ross Fisher, Europe, lead Jim Furyk-Dustin Johnson, 1-up through eight holes.

Peter Hanson-Miguel Angel Jimenez ,Europe, lead Bubba Watson-Jeff Overton, 2-up through six holes.

Edoardo-Francesco Molinari, Europe, lead Stewart Cink-Matt Kuchar, 1-up though five holes.

Ian Poulter-Martin Kaymer, Europe, lead Phil Mickelson-Rickie Fowler, 2-up through four holes.