Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen fought back to halve their match late in the day(Getty Images)
Europe face uphill battle after trailing on day one
By Steve Todd- Europeantour.com
Europe trail the United States 5½-2½ after a rollercoaster first day at The 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla, with Lee Westwood and Søren Hansen claiming a vital half on the final hole of the last match.
The US Team won two of the Friday morning foursome with the other two matches halved. Justin Rose and Ian Poulter claimed Europe's first victory in the afternoon fourballs, defeating Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis 3&2 before Phil Mickleson and Anthony Kim defeated Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell in an enthralling Match that saw the Irish pair 3 up after four holes.
Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan then defeated the Spanish pair of Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jiménez 4&3 before Westwood and Hansen took advantage of the American pair JB Holmes and Boo Weekley finding the creek on the last to halve their match. It means the US will take a handsome advantage -their largest opening day margin since 1979 - into Saturday's matches.
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