European Ryder Cup player Luke Donald (left) chats with team-mate Sergio Garcia on the fifth green during their fourball golf match at the Ryder Cup tournament at The K Club in County Kildare, Ireland, yesterday. - Reuters

STRAFFAN (Reuters):

Holders Europe, with Sergio Garcia in inspirational form, took a healthy step towards retaining the Ryder Cup yesterday as they ended the opening day 5-3 ahead of the United States.

One point clear after the morning's fourballs, the hosts pressed home their advantage on the Palmer Course greens in a tense afternoon session of foursomes to take a significant lead into the second day of the 36th edition of the biennial event.

"That was unbelievable. I think my team played exceptionally well, every single one of them," European captain, Ian Woosnam, told reporters. "It was a marvellous day for us and the spirit in the team room is incredible.

"Sergio just lifted his game. He's on top form, which he always seems to be able do at the Ryder Cup.

Playing the alternate-shot format in the afternoon, Garcia and Luke Donald completed a thrilling two-up victory over world number one Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk when the Americans bogeyed the last after finding water with their second shot.

Garcia, an inspirational figure with Jose Maria Olazabal in the fourballs where Europe forged ahead by 2-1/2 points to 1-1/2, and Donald never trailed but were pegged back to all square with five holes to play.

STRUGGLING WOODS

Woods, struggling for form, and Furyk levelled the match with successive birdies from the 13th before the Europeans collected their fifth birdie of the round at the par-four 17th.

It was Garcia's seventh victory in seven foursomes Cup appearances and his third win in four pairs games against Woods.