US open up 6-4 lead at Ryder Cup

The United States surged into a two-point lead over Europe at the Ryder Cup in Newport, Wales, on Saturday as the battle for the golfing showpiece intensified in a gripping second session of foursomes.

Leading by one point after completion of the rain-delayed opening fourballs earlier Saturday, the Americans opened up a 6-4 lead over Colin Montgomerie's men following the foursomes at Celtic Manor.

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker wrapped up a comfortable four-up win over Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez as Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan downed Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.

Some magnificent pressure golf from Jim Furyk partnering youngster Rickie Fowler meanwhile snatched a vital half point from Europe's Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.

Europe stayed in touch courtesy of a three up victory by Ross Fisher and Padraig Harrington before Luke Donald and Ian Poulter defeated Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson two and one.

But the pivotal moment of a thrilling afternoon session came on the 17th hole of the final match, which pitted Northern Irish duo Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar.

After McDowell put a superb tee shot to within six feet, the Europeans looked poised to take the lead with one hole to play.

But a magnificent 40-foot birdie putt from Cink turned the pressure back on Europe, and when McIlroy missed his putt to halve the hole, the Americans had taken a lead that they were not to relinquish.

The match was a microcosm of the second session: across the board the Americans were able to deliver when it mattered, in contrast to Europe.

That fact was highlighted in Kaymer and Westwood's battle with Furyk and Fowler, when Kaymer was unable to make a birdie putt on 17 which would have handed the duo victory.

Similarly, the Molinari brothers were unable to hold on for a half after battling back to all square after 16 holes against Johnson and Mahan.

Cink and Kuchar's win also handed a precious two-point cushion to US captain Corey Pavin's team as they attempt to become the first American side to win the Ryder Cup on foreign soil since 1993.

Six more foursomes and fourballs will get under way later Saturday and will be completed Sunday before the final 12 singles matches get underway.

The United States need 14 points to retain the tropy they won at Valhalla, Kentucky in 2008, while Colin Montgomerie's team need 14 1/2 to win outright.

Earlier Saturday, the US had won the opening fourballs 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 when Woods and Stricker clinched a two-up win over Poulter and Fisher.

Woods, who had an off-day in both his fourball and foursome matches, nevertheless was left to reflect on his most successful start to a Ryder Cup ever with two wins out of two.

The troubled world number one was quick to pay tribute to partner Stricker, whose putting was on fire in both matches.

"It's not a bad deal is it?" Woods said. "All you have to do is put him in position, and he's got that go-in look. It's fun to watch."

Westwood and Kaymer put Europe's first point on the board with a three-and-two victory over world number two Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.

There was more for Europe to cheer about in the second fourball, where McIlroy and McDowell clawed back a two-hole overnight deficit to halve against Cink and Kuchar.

But there were no heroics for Europe in the fourth match, where US rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton coasted to a three-and-two victory over Donald and Harrington.

Overton rattled in five birdies over the final 10 holes as the American duo became the first rookies to win an opening session since 1979.

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