Europe strike first at Gleneagles

Europe drew first blood in their defence of The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, but the morning fourballs were finely poised with three matches still on the course.

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson put the hosts' first point on the board with a 5 and 4 victory over Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson - who failed to make a birdie between them - in the top match.

With Thomas Björn and Martin Kaymer two up with five to play there was further optimism for Europe but the other two American pairs were making something of a statement.

Rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed belied their inexperience by racing clear of Europe's talisman Ian Poulter and debutant Stephen Gallacher, who found themselves six down with seven to play.

And the United States just had the edge in the final match of the stellar pairings, with Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley one up through 11 having been two up after clawing back a one hole deficit conceded at fourth when Sergio Garcia, partnering Rory McIlroy, holed his bunker shot.

Rose said he and Stenson were pleased they had recorded the first point.

"That's the job, that's the role, when you go out one that's the position obviously the captain put you into to go deliver a point," he said.

"That's what me and the Ice Man (Stenson) came to do today. We got off to a good start and we know how key that was.

"The course was playing hard early and we managed to steal a few birdies when we could."

Poulter and Gallacher pulled a shot back at the 12th after both Americans drove into a bunker.

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America recorded their first point when Poulter left a putt from the back fringe short and the match was lost 5 and 4.

There was some good news behind them, however, as Bradley missed a tiddler for par and with Garcia's putt already conceded the match got back to all square when Mickelson, in trouble off the tee, failed to chip in.

All 24 players were set to feature on the opening day as the pairings for the afternoon foursomes were announced.

Four of those who sat out the morning action were set to contest the first match, with Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood up against experienced duo Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar.

Rose and Stenson remained together to play Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson, with McIlroy and Garcia playing Walker and Fowler in the third tie.

That meant the pair avoided a rematch with Bradley and Mickelson, who instead faced Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson.

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Chipping in is exactly what Jimmy Walker did at the par five 16th to peg Europe back to one up in that game.

Poulter, so often Europe's go-to man, admitted he and Gallacher just did not perform.

"We don't hole enough putts, that simple. Clearly in this format you have to hole putts - we didn't do that.

"They did and obviously it's a point on the board for them."

Talking about the battle with Poulter, Spieth said: "It was very quiet around our group today. It was a goal we had to achieve.

"It was also nice to have a partner that was making everything he looks at."

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