Clarke and Bjorn leave Tiger licking wounds

ALL THE talk in the pubs around Birmingham on Thursday night centered on the extent of the lead the Americans would enjoy by lunchtime yesterday after the opening fourball skirmishes.

Clarke and Bjorn against Woods and Azinger? American win. Garcia and Westwood against Duval and Love? 2-0 Yanks; Monty and Langer should take Hoch and Furyk, but Harrington and Fasth would succumb to Mickelson and Toms. Three-one to the US, and Sam Torrance's brave but doomed Europeans already chasing the game with only one session of golf completed.

The scoreline was accurate but it was the blood-red tops of Europe in the driving seat and Curtis Strange was left wondering where all the much-vaunted security at The Belfry was after his men were mugged, relieved of their superiority complex and left licking their wounds.