U.S. vs. Europe- The Ryder Cup begins

A very interesting Ryder Cup this year as Tiger Woods is home resting his knee and Europe now boasts the current PLAYING #1 player in Padraig Harrington. Paddy has shown incredible "testicular fortitude" in winning 3 of the last 6 majors (and a little help from reverse testicular fortitude by Sergio Garcia). Interestingly he has only a career record of 7-8-2 in Ryder Cup play (his "bitch" Sergio, by contrast, has a 14-4-2 record).

10:24AM EST
Todays early matches pit the U.S. top player, Phil Mickelson with Anthony Kim against Paddy and Robert Karlsson. Thru 9 holes the matches is all squared.
Other matches Have U.S. Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan leading Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey 2 up thru 8.
Europe's Justin Rose and Ian "Mr. Pink" Poulter have a 3 up lead thru 7 on Stewart Cink and controversial Captains pick Chad Campbell.
U.S. Kenny Perry and The People's Champ favorite, Jim Furyk are all square with Lee Westwood and Sergio just underway.

10:47 EST
Paddy and Karlsson now up 2 thru 11 on Philly Mick and Kim. Looks like their #1 is better than our #1 right now.
Leonard/Mahan now 1 up thru 11 on Stenson/Casey
Rose/Pinky 2 up thru 9 over Cink and Campbell (I hate that pairing)
Furyk/Perry 1 up thru 8 on Sergio/Westwood.

11:24 AM EST

Phil and Kim are trying to stage a comeback, winning the last 2 holes, 1 down after 14. This could be a major boost to TEAM USA if they can squeek out tie or better yet a victory.
Rose and Pinky's lead has also shrunk to 1 up, now thru 11. The other scores are holding as is.

11:34 EST

BIG TURN OF EVENTS. Phil just birdied 15 to square the match and Poulter just put a wedge shot in the water that will square up that match after Campbell putts (putt was conceded but Campbell makes it anyway). Amazing! US still leads the other two matches.

11:38 EST

Hometown favorite Kenny Perry birdied 12 to give the US a 2 up lead thru 12 in that match.

11:46 EST

Be back in a few hours. Europe hasn't won a hole in an hour!

2:20 EST

U.S. up 3-1
Mickelson-Kim and Furyk -Perry earned halves.
Leonard-Mahan won 3 and 2, Cink and Campbell won 1 up.
Big early pleasant surprise for the U.S. squad.
Afternoon matches:
Paddy and McDowell lead Phil and Kim 2 up thru 5
Leonard-Mahan up 1 thru 1 over Garcia and Jimenez
Stricker-Curtis all square with Poulter Rose thru 3.
Holmes Weekly up 1 thru 1 over Westwood-Hansen

Leonard just missed a hole in 1 on the 3rd by an inch!
Interesting both Perry and Furyk are sitting out the afternoon matches for the U.S.