The United States today drew first blood in the 37th Ryder Cup in a rollercoaster opening session at Valhalla.

Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan recovered from two down after two holes to beat Europe’s Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey 3&2 in the second foursomes match out on the course.

It was Leonard’s first victory in nine matches, coming on his first appearance since his part in the controversial victory at Brookline in 1999.

“It feels great,” said Leonard. “I told Hunter I lost the first two holes for us on purpose to take the pressure off. We had a lot of fun out there.”

It gave Paul Azinger’s side the ideal start as they attempted to avoid a fourth straight defeat following two nine-point hammerings at Oakland Hills in 2004 and the K Club in 2006.

And things were going America’s way elsewhere too with Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim fighting back from three down with six to play to level their match with Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson heading to the 18th.

Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell had also turned a three-hole deficit into a one-hole advantage over Justin Rose and Ian Poulter with four to play, while Europe’s top pairing of Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood were one down to Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk with five holes remaining.

Garcia has won all eight of his previous foursomes matches, and he and Westwood have been Europe’s joint top points scorers in the last two victories.

Mickelson and Kim looked to have the advantage on the 18th after finding a greenside bunker in two on the par five, but Kim left his escape shot on the bank of the bunker.

Mickelson’s chip came up five feet short but Kim bravely holed for par to halve the hole after Harrington had missed from 10ft for a winning birdie.

“We are disappointed,” admitted Harrington, who won just half a point from five matches two years ago. “We had a chance on the last to win and I thought I had holed it.

“But apart from that we can’t complain, we fought hard and turned a lot of holes over.”

Poulter and Rose drew level on the 15th with a par four but then made a complete mess of the 18th to gift Cink and Campbell victory.

Rose charged a 12ft birdie putt five feet past the hole and when Poulter missed the return, Campbell did not even have to try to hole from three feet for birdie.

Westwood and Garcia were still battling to avoid defeat however, winning the 17th with a par to take their match down the 18th.

Pairings for the afternoon fourballs on the opening day of the Ryder Cup (USA names first):
Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim v Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell
Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis v Ian Poulter and Justin Rose
Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan v Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez
JB Holmes and Boo Weekley v Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen

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