Europe facing uphill battle

Ian Poulter took a noisy leaf from Bubba Watson's book as the second day of the Ryder Cup got off to a rousing start at Medinah today.

US Masters champion Watson had encouraged the crowds around the first tee to cheer and shout while he teed off in the first fourballs match yesterday afternoon, and Poulter delighted the fans by deciding to follow suit as he and Justin Rose took on Watson and US Open champion Webb Simpson in the opening foursomes at 7.20am.

With Europe trailing 5-3 after the opening day, Rose hit a brilliant shot to four feet for a winning birdie. Unfortunately for the visiting team, the pair did not hold onto their lead for long, losing the third and fifth to birdies to fall one behind - and Europe were soon down in all four matches as the fast start captain Jose Maria Olazabal needed failed to materialise.

Lee Westwood's miserable form continued as he found water off the tee at the second - he did so twice at the 15th yesterday - to run up a double-bogey five as he and Luke Donald fell two behind to the unbeaten pair of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.

Nicolas Colsaerts, simply sensational in carrying Westwood to victory over Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods, was paired with Sergio Garcia but lost the second to a birdie from Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner, while Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell lost the first in their rematch with Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker.