Brilliant Colsaerts pricks American dominance

After just one game Nicolas Colsaerts can already be called a Ryder Cup star - the man who saved holders Europe from being whitewashed in a session for the first time since 1981.

Belgium’s first player to appear in the match had an incredible eight birdies and an eagle in the final fourball game of the day in Chicago.

Partner Lee Westwood, winning his eighth cap, did not contribute a single birdie or eagle to the cause, but together they were able to celebrate a win that kept America’s lead down to 5-3 going into the weekend.

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker were the pair beaten and so, on the Medinah course where he has played two major championships and won them both, Woods lost his first two games just like he did in 1999, 2002 and 2004.

Woods was all over the show in the morning as Justin Rose and Ian Poulter won 2&1.

It was so bad Davis Love had reason to drop him instantly, but that would be a first and the American captain decided to give him another chance with Stricker.

Woods then played far better and was close to producing a three-birdie finish that would have snatched a half, but he was no match for the inspired Colsaerts, making a bid to become the most famous Belgian in history.