Fourballs and foursomes on day one at Gleneagles
Gleneagles through a lens: Tom Jenkins gallery
Interactive: Darren Clarkes Ryder Cup top 25 players
And feel free to email scott.murray@theguardian.com
10.18am BST
Anyone for a little hot-faced Bubbafunk? Of course you are! This is a magnificent story from our man on the spot, Andy Bull:
Someone here green side at the 8th took your etiquette advice to heart. Bubba hit his approach left into the crowd. It landed about a metre away from me. An enthusiastic American lady shrieked loudly, ran forwards, picked up his ball and tried to put it in her pocket. She dropped it like it was hot before the dozens of people stood nearby had even finished screaming NO! at her. Then she ran off, giggling to herself.
She only moved it about a foot, but it was on top of the rough when she picked it up, and buried in it after she had dropped it.
10.15am BST
But neither Fowler nor Walker can make their putts, and Bjorn knocks in a testing four-footer to halve the hole! Thats a superb save. The winds really up at Gleneagles. Poulter is forced to step away from a long birdie putt on 7. Hell make par, but Spieth and Reed both have makeable birdie putts. Reed, from the apron 15 feet away, sends his to the left. Spieth dribbles his downhill effort straight into the hole, though, and these brilliant rookies are on course to seriously jigger Ian Poulters 80% winning average. This is a jaw-droppingly good performance by the young men, who could easily be 5up had Poulter not scrapped tooth-and-nail at 4 and 5.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (8)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (8)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 3 UP (7)
1 UP García/McIlroy v Bradley/Mickelson (6)
10.08am BST
Bradley seriously overcooks his birdie putt, sending it a good ten feet past the hole. McIlroy cant make his birdie putt either. Mickelson has a ten-footer for birdie, and the hole. It looks like heading straight for the cup, but slides off to the right at the last and lips out. That really did look in. Unlucky for the USA. At 7, Spieth lands a gentle approach to eight feet. Hes playing marvellously. Gallacher and Poulter are in a bit of trouble here. And Europe are in a spot of bother at 8 too, with Kaymer plugged in a bunker at the back and hitting a weekend-hacker style hot one straight out of the sand and back down the fairway! With Bjorn also forced to splash out of sand, Fowler and Walker have putts to win the hole, both from roughly 15 feet.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (8)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (7)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 2 UP (6)
1 UP García/McIlroy v Bradley/Mickelson (6)
9.59am BST
McIlroys tee shot at 6 is pin high, kicking off the bank to the right of the green and settling 15 feet from the hole. Just as well, because Sergio is nowhere near, while Bradley arrows his straight at the flag, leaving a 20-footer uphill, and Mickelson is half the distance inside him with a fine chance to make his birdie.
9.55am BST
Ah no, hold on, McIlroy and Bradley are both still alive. Mickelson knocks in for his par, allowing the errant pair to have ambitious hacks at holing out for unlikely birdies. Nope! Sergio is left with a tricky four-footer to halve the hole, and he makes it. Brilliant. But what problems this hole is causing some of the worlds top players! Rickie Fowlers birdie looks ever more superb by the minute. Up on 8, Rose and Stenson take turns to watch 20-foot birdie efforts fail to drop by the width of a dimple. Theyll have to settle for a half. And on 6, Reed rakes in a birdie putt from the back of the green, and Poulter cant match it from the front, 30 feet away. Tom Watsons youngsters are the stars of the US show right now.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (8)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (7)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 2 UP (6)
1 UP García/McIlroy v Bradley/Mickelson (5)
9.48am BST
Rory goes straight for the flag on 5. Its tucked away to the back right of the green, near the hazard. He loses his 6-iron to the right, and his ball is swallowed up by it. I think Bradley might have followed Rory in. If hes not in the hazard, hes snookered by a tree. What a hole this 5th is! Meanwhile in fashion news, heres a look at the European sweaters:
Loving Rory's Ryder Cup oven gloves. pic.twitter.com/o5VE5ERi4x
9.40am BST
Europe throw away another golden chance, Rose pushing his birdie putt at 7 out to the right. That allows Bubba to scramble a half. On 5, its Spieth turn not to hit one, his nervous birdie putt dying right of the cup. His miss gives Poulter the chance to knock in his par putt from six feet for a half, and its not one hes of a mind to turn down. Poulter was all over the place at the start, but hes stopped Spieth winning the last two holes with some stubborn golf. Thats exactly what Paul McGinley will want to see. Hes been very impressive in a match-play sense, if not in terms of quality golf. A lot of nervous play right now.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (7)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (6)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (5)
1 UP García/McIlroy v Bradley/Mickelson (4)
9.34am BST
Rose lifts a sand wedge to five feet on 7. He has been simply wonderful so far today. Watson and Simpson havent done too much wrong, and yet theyre two down, facing a three-hole deficit. On 5, Gallacher sends his second near that hazard front right of the hole. He might be in that, game over. What a mess hes made of this hole. Poulter knocks his second into the heart of the green, but quite a way from the hole. Advantage Spieth and Reed here, with both on the green and Spieth pin high, 15 feet from the flag. And on 6, Kaymer hits a dreadful birdie putt to throw away the chance of going 3up. Lucky he didnt give up on his stroke like that on the 18th at Medinah, huh.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (6)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (6)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (4)
1 UP García/McIlroy v Bradley/Mickelson (4)
9.29am BST
Super Sergio Garcia! Hes found the bunker to the left of the long par-three 4th. And what an escape! He blasts out, the ball dropping just before the downslope in the middle of the green, and rolling straight into the cup from 40 feet! Always going in! Mind you, if it wasnt dead on line, it was racing a fair old way past the flag. Mickelson, true to form, nearly chips in from a tight lie to the right of the green for a half, but not quite. Brilliant effort, though. More good news for Europe on 6, where Kaymer caresses his tee shot to eight feet, though on 5 Gallacher sends a massive slice into nonsense down the right. Hes going to get a free drop, but hes got trees and a water hazard to cross, hitting blind. This holess up to Poulter, one would have thought.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (6)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (5)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (4)
1 UP García/McIlroy v Bradley/Mickelson (4)
9.23am BST
Rose sends his tee shot at 6, Mickle Skelp, over the flag. Hell have a 30-footer for birdie from the back of the green. Stensons is superb, half the distance inside. Watson and Simpson join Rose at the back. Theyll not be making their birdie putts, but neither does Stenson, missing a decent chance to put some distance between Europe and the Americans in that match. On 5, the second group are making a better fist of the hole, Crookit Cratur. Kaymer finds the heart of the green, while Fowler is pin high, and brilliantly so. Kaymer cant make his birdie putt, but Fowler can, rolling in a right-to-left breaker from the edge of the green, 15 feet from the hole! Thats outstanding golf from Fowler. Theyre back in the match, 2down, with a birdie on the hardest hole! On 3, Bradley wedges his third shot stone dead. Thats par, likely to save the day unless McIlroy can roll one in from distance. Which he cant. Brilliant from Bradley, and McIlroy shows his frustration. And on 4, Poulter cant knock in his birdie putt, but neither can Spieth, who misses abysmally from six feet. Poulter applied the pressure on the young man there. Hes back!
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (6)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (5)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (4)
García/McIlroy A/S Bradley/Mickelson (3)
9.13am BST
Komik kutz on 5, the hardest hole on the course, where Rose nearly finds the 6th tee with a wayward drive, Simpson finds the hazard front right of the green, and Bubba plugs his ball in a bunker. Stenson has a 20-footer to win with par (!) but yet again he doesnt hit his putt, and thats a half with a pair of bogeys. Spieths tee shot at 4 is in Rose-Kaymer Country, another chance for the Americans to turn up the heat on Gallacher and Poulter. But Poults caresses a hybrid to ten feet himself. Hes outside Spieth, but thats turned the hole into a shootout on the green. Meanwhile on 3, the Americans are in a spot of bother, with Bradley short in two and Mickelson over a cart path on the right. McIlroy meanwhile finds the heart of the green with his second.
9.06am BST
Sheer brilliance from Martin Kaymer! From 15 feet, after that glorious tee shot at the monster par-three 4th, he rolls a confident birdie putt into the cup, the ball curling in beautifully from the right! Europe are 3up! Kaymer modestly punches the air and smiles a very content smile. And will the real Ian Poulter please stand up? Oh hes stood up, as you always knew he would! Eventually. He knocks in a very missable ten-footer on 3 to halve the hole. Eyes not quite bulging yet in the trademark style, but he strides off with determination. Thats a pleasing sight for Europe. This pairing are hanging on here after a shaky start; will Poulters magical saver turn the tide?
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (4)
3 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (4)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (3)
García/McIlroy A/S Bradley/Mickelson (2)
8.59am BST
Neither McIlroy nor Garcia make a particularly good fist of going close with their third shots at 2 from short distance. Fairly ordinary pars, leaving the door open for Bradley to nick the hole. Hes got an uphill 15-footer for an unlikely win, but the birdie effort slides by, never going in. Poor stuff from all four players there in the morning marquee match. Up on 4, Kaymer cant quite replicate Roses stunning tee shot of earlier, but hes not far off, and in the box seat. A chance for Europe to take a serious early stranglehold on that match.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (4)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (3)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (2)
García/McIlroy A/S Bradley/Mickelson (2)
8.53am BST
The suns out over Gleneagles. As a popular US indie popster once trilled, god damn right its a beautiful day. Thank the lord, then, that weve got our top snapper Tom Jenkins out on the course today. Well bring you some of his best action shots later on, but for now heres the best of Mr Js beautiful photographs from the practice rounds, showcasing the course in all its glory.
8.49am BST
Not a single player in the final match has found the fairway with their drive on the par-five 2nd. Sergio lays up. Mickelson wangs one into more rough down the right. Bradleys in a deep bunker and can only take his medicine. Rory joins Sergio near the front of the green. Advantage Europe on this hole right now. Up on 4, Rose rattles in his birdie putt! That was the least his superlative tee shot deserved. Europes opening pairing are now 2up. And their second paring are still 2up too, with Bjorn knocking in a 12-footer for a half. Its a strong start for Europe, though the two American rookies Spieth and Reed look to have rattled Ian Poulter, who has been very shaky so far, and can thank his debutant partner Stephen Gallacher for ensuring the pair arent further adrift.
2 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (4)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (3)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (2)
García/McIlroy A/S Bradley/Mickelson (1)
8.42am BST
Justin Rose has creamed a 4-iron into the heart of the long, uphill par-three 4th. He uses the ridge in the middle of the green to send his ball rolling back towards the pin. Hes got an eight-footer for birdie. A par might even be enough, as neither Watson nor Simpson can find the putting surface. Meanwhile theres a settler for Gallacher on 2, who finds the par-five green in two strokes, though his eagle putt is a bit timid. With Poulter having fannied around in a bunker, only just getting his ball out of the sand and into the fringe, then duffing his chip, its all down to the debutant here. Especially now that Patrick Reed has rolled in from the fringe himself for birdie. But Gallachers up to the task, knocking in the five footer he left himself to half the hole in four!
1 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (3)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (2)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (2)
García/McIlroy A/S Bradley/Mickelson (1)
8.37am BST
Bubba has a chance for birdie at 3 after a delicious pin-high approach. Hes 12 feet from the hole, but his ball stays out to the left, and the States are still down in that match. A birdie for Bjorn at the par-five 2nd, and thats a perfect start for Europe in the second match! Theyre 2up. Europe are under pressure a little on 1, though, as Mickelson clips a gorgeous approach to three feet, if that. Hell surely be given that for his birdie. Yep. Rory does his best to keep the pressure on, by wedging to 12 feet - and he rolls in the birdie putt to save Europe! He punches the air in delight. The crowd erupt. A half that feels like a win. Thatll hurt Mickelson after such a wonderful second shot.
1 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (3)
2 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (2)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (1)
García/McIlroy A/S Bradley/Mickelson (1)
8.30am BST
Up on the 1st green, Speith cant make his birdie putt. That gives Poulter, who has splashed out from the bunker to three feet, a chance to halve the hole. But he misses the tiddler, as it lips out on the right. He bends down to throw his ball away in disgust, but cant even manage that properly, the dappled orb slipping through his fingers before he finally bats it out of his sight. Hes sick. And after all that pre-match big talk, a tad embarrassed Ill be bound. Hes plenty of time left to make good on his promises. But thats not a good start by Mr 80%, and its the first splash of red on the board for the USA at the 2014 Ryder Cup.
1 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (2)
1 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (1)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed 1 UP (1)
García/McIlroy v Bradley/Mickelson
8.24am BST
Europe are struggling on 1, though. Poulters second shot is always heading right, and it flops into the bunker front right of the green. Spieth, from the centre of the fairway, finds the centre of the green. Hell have a fairly straight putt across the green from 12 feet, maybe a little left-to-right. Back up on the tee, the crowd burst into a chant about Rory McIlroy, set to the tune of Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep by Scottish pop sensations Middle Of The Road. Ah the early 1970s, McIlroy will be able to tap into that. First up in this match, Keegan Bradley, who pushes one miles to the right. Thats a far from ideal angle to be approaching the green from, never mind the fact hes in thick rough. Phil Mickelson finds the fairway, but its not the longest tee shot. Sergios next up! The Ryder Cup stalwart gets out the big stick, and blooters it into the first cut down the left. Not brilliant, but hes got an inviting route into the green. Finally its Rory. And when hes hot with the driver, hes hot. Thats gone miles down the middle. OK, thats everyone out this morning, then, the first-tee nonsense over with. Lets see how this pans out, then.
8.15am BST
Back on the tee, the third match tees off. Reed guides a careful 3-wood down the fairway. Not long, but on the short stuff. Spieth is a little longer, in very good nick. Gallacher, saltire running down the right-hand portion of his sweater, hits a nightmare first shot, his ball ending right up in the face of a bunker down the right. Its all up to Poulter on this hole, then. His gameface suddenly on, he batters a drive into the first cut down the left. Not ideal, but hell have a good route coming into the green if nothing else. Up on the short-ish par-five 2nd, Rose is left with a 40-foot birdie putt up a ridge. Once again, hes a drop of energy short of making it. Par, though with the other three players in the match within 12 feet, that probably wont be enough. Simpsons birdie putt is poor, never in from the moment it left his putter. Hes started sluggishly. Bubba is four feet from the hole, so Stenson will have to knock his 10-footer for birdie. Which he does, always going in. And Bubbas putt turns away to the right! He stares, mouth agape, at his caddy, in total shock. That was awful! Stensons won the hole with a birdie! Early days, to such an extent that this observation is pointless, but Europe are ahead in the first two matches.
1 UP Rose/Stenson v Watson/Simpson (2)
1 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (1)
Gallacher/Poulter v Spieth/Reed
8.06am BST
First blood to Europe! Fowler and Walker concede Kaymers tiddler, which means Walker needs to knock in his 12-footer to halve the hole with a birdie. He cant make it, the ball sliding by to the right, kinking off just before it reaches the hole. A long way to go.
Rose/Stenson A/S Watson/Simpson (1)
1 UP Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker (1)
8.02am BST
Theres only one Ian Poulter, one Ian Poulter, walking along, singing this song, walking in a Poulter wonderland. Yes, its that time. I wonder what the shy, retiring Stephen Gallacher makes of all this? Never mind poor Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed. But enough of the nonsense on the first tee: down the fairway, Martin Kaymer has nearly holed his wedge! What an extraordinary shot! It pitched to the right of the hole, bounced a couple of inches behind it, then span back to the left! A full 360-degree tour! Hell be left with an easy birdie chance from three feet. Walker, with his team-mate Fowler in the bunker to the front right of the green, gives himself a chance of a three with a pin-high wedge to 15 feet. Thats a decent response in the circumstances. Do you think European vice captain Miguel Ángel Jiménez will be downing rioja next to McGinleys Guinness on Sunday? wonders Gareth Noonan. Well, only a fool would try to predict the outcome of a Ryder Cup with any confidence. But I do think Jiménez will be downing rioja on Sunday evening, yes.
7.55am BST
The crowd at the first tee are cheering every practice swing. Hooray! Olé! That must begin to grate. It must get old quite quickly. This is match number two, trumpets Ivor Robson. Representing the United States of America, Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker. The polite clapping. Representing Europe, Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer. Rah rah rah. Fowler is up first, and he hoicks his drive in Bubba Country down the left. Walker is more accurate, his first shot in Ryder Cup competition, hit as a 37-year-old, straight and long. Bjorn, fully bearded and with a determined look in his eye, finds the fairway safely, if not with much distance. Kaymer is up last, and the first Ryder Cup shot he hits since making the putt that secured the trophy in Medinah finds the left-hand side of the fairway. A good start from the tee for Europe. Up on the green, a little heartache, though. Bubba makes his par, leaving Rose with a fairly straight uphill 10-footer for the hole. But he doesnt hit it. Dead on line, but it needs an extra joule of energy. A solid hole, but honours even.
Rose/Stenson A/S Watson/Simpson (1)
Bjorn/Kaymer v Fowler/Walker
7.47am BST
Rory McIlroy has just been asked about the ligitation jibe made by Phil Mickelson in the phoney war ahead of the action. He smiled, but there was a detectable frost forming around the teeth. Does that have an effect? Of course it does, he said. Not quite a seethe, but not far off it. Gauntlets are down! Bjorn and Kaymer take to the first tee, with all the brouhaha that entails. Up the hole, Bubba finds the centre of the green with his second, but only the front portion with a ridge between his ball and the hole. Rose wedges to 12 feet, though. This is a fine start by Europe. Speaking of starts, Simpson just about makes the front of the green with his long second shot, a real face-saver after that hellish opening tee shot. He can also take heart that his opener wasnt any worse than Graeme McDowells at Medinah - G-Mac nearly clattered his into a wall - and look what happened to Europe there.
7.41am BST
OK, then, ladies and gentlemen. The waiting is nearly over, because its on! To screams of olé, olé, olé and Europe, Europe, Europe!, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson make their way to the tee. Bedlam. But as the captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson offer each other best wishes, and then chat to their players, a silence descends as the nerves kick in. This is really happening. The legendary Open starter Ivor Robson picks up his microphone, and welcomes the gallery to the first days play. This is match number one. Representing the United States of America ... Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson! Plenty of polite, warm applause. Representing Europe, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. Bedlam, bedlam, bedlam, Europe, Europe, Europe. The United States have the honour in all matches. On the tee... Bubba Watson. Sure enough, Webb Simpson steps forward, to great laughter. Its going to be Webb Simpson, ahems Robson. Simpson steps up, and a terrible short 3-wood, off the top of the club, only just reaches the fairway. Oh dear. Bubba, having encouraged the crowd to scream as he tees off, with a nod and a broad smile, whistles his drive into the thick stuff down the left. Not an ideal start for the Americans. Then Rose steps up. Absolute silence as he splits the fairway with as good an opening shot as he could have hoped for. Poor old Stenson is last up. What a wait. But hes down the middle too. His 3-wood outstrips Simpsons by a good 100 yards! Advantage Europe, but theres oh such a long, long road to travel.
7.31am BST
Paul McGinley is out on the first tee, and hes whipping up a storm. The crowd are eating out of his hand. On Sky, Colin Montgomerie makes the very good point that from the second shot on, this is a golf match. The first shot? Thats not a golf match. Thats theatre. None of these players will have experienced this before, not in front of this many people. Nervous yet? Imagine how Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson are feeling! Ian Poulter, playing in the third game with the debutant and home favourite Stephen Gallacher, is nonchalantly chewing gum. Its going to be amazing, he smiles. Scotland, Stevie G, Gleneagles, were wearing the colours, its going to be absolutely sensational. I cant wait to get through the tunnel, give Seve a little wink, and get out on the golf course.
7.25am BST
Justin Rose is out in the first match, and hes feeling good despite the pressure that brings. We feel confident and strong going into today. Each man is up for it. Its all about getting a good start and playing as hard as you can. Also feeling fine, you can be sure of it, is the marvellous Rickie Fowler, wholl be contesting the second match this morning. No word from him today as such, but if this passionate statement of intent wasnt enough ...
7.15am BST
Its a beautiful morning in Perthshire. Its always a beautiful morning in Perthshire. Theres been overnight rain, and though its dry now, the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles will be playing long - even longer - as a result. As expected, the winds up, at 20mph. Thats no small concern, as accuracy is essential with the rough penal. Theres already a huge crowd at the first tee awaiting the opening matches. The fans have been there for over an hour. And theres you thinking its early, drinking your mug of breakfast tea, hunched over the computer in the warm. These brave souls have already been on the shuttle buses and through security. I doubt half of them bothered to go to bed! What an atmosphere at Gleneagles! The 2014 Ryder Cup is nearly with us.
7.05am BST
Here are the pairings for the Friday morning fourballs, as announced last night at the Opening Ceremony by Paul McGinley and Tom Watson:
7.35 am BST: Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson v Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson
7.50 am: Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer v Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker
8.05 am: Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter v Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed
8.20 am: Sergio García and Rory McIlroy v Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson
7.00am BST
So ... how on earth do you follow that? How do you follow the Miracle of Medinah, one of the most astonishing performances in the history of All Sport, which saw 12 European heroes overturning a seemingly unassailable lead built up by a brilliant USA team, every man operated by strings, levers and pulleys from the heavens, by Seve. (Well, you try to give a rational explanation for what happened.) How on earth do you follow it?
Well, you dont. You cant. Once in a lifetime. Its just not possible.
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