Mixed start for Europe at Medinah

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 forego their usual silence, and cheer and shout while he teed off in the first fourballs match on Friday afternoon.

And despite having to hit the opening shot in Saturday’s first foursomes at 7.20am local time, Poulter delighted the fans by deciding to follow suit as he and Justin Rose took on Watson and US Open champion Webb Simpson.

The European pair had beaten Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker in foursomes yesterday – improving Poulter’s record to nine wins from 12 matches – and it was no surprise to see them together again as Europe looked to recover from 5-3 down.

Poulter’s drive found a fairway bunker but Rose hit a brilliant shot to four feet for a winning birdie as the players and fans noticed a sign written in the sky which read ’Do it for Seve – Go Europe’.

Unfortunately for Europe, Poulter and Rose did not hold onto their lead for long, losing the third and fifth to birdies to fall one behind, and the visitors were soon down in all four matches as the fast start captain Jose Maria Olazabal needed failed to materialise.

Westwood’s miserable form continued as he found water off the tee at the second - he did so twice at the 15th on Friday – 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 Stricker and Woods yesterday, 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.