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MEDINAH, Ill. -- Reversing a slow start, the Americans rallied in the morning matches to tie the Europeans 2-2 after the first session of the Ryder Cup at Medinah.
Charlotte's Webb Simpson will team with Bubba Watson in one of four afternoon best-ball matches, getting his first Ryder Cup action.
Ryder Cup rookie Keegan Bradley worked the crowd and rode the momentum as he and Phil Mickelson came back to post a 4 & 3 victory over Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald, who had never lost when playing together in the Ryder Cup.
Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson also picked up a point for the U.S., beating Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari 3 & 2.
The morning's most dramatic match was a 1-up victory by Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell over the U.S. team of Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker. Trailing by three holes with six to play, the Americans stormed back, pulling even with a brilliant birdie at the par-4 16th where Furyk hit a 220-yard hybrid to within four feet of the hole.
"We played some beautiful golf from No. 12 in. We put some heat on them. You could tell," Furuk said.
However, Snedeker pushed his tee shot badly to the right on the par-4 18th hole, forcing Furyk to lay up with the match even.
"I haven't hit a shot that bad since I can't remember when," Snedeker said. "It's Ryder Cup pressure. I'm not real happy with myself right now. But we're a team and hopefully they can pick me up this afternoon."
McIlroy played his third from a bunker and Graeme McDowell holed a six-footer for par to win the match.
"That match just personifies the Ryder Cup," McDowell said.
In the final match, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose defeated Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 2 & 1.
The afternoon matches pit Mickelson/Bradley against McIlroy/McDowell; Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar against Justin Rose/Martin Kaymer; and, Woods/Stricker against Westwood/Colsaerts.
