Americans start fast in Ryder Cup

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan teamed to win two matches Friday and pace the United States to a three-point lead after one day of the Ryder Cup.

The Americans have lost to their European rivals in the last three renewals of golf's top team event, their longest losing streak ever, but seized the advantage after the opening day for the first time since 1995.

The U.S. team lost only one of the eight matches played Friday and had a 5 1/2 to 2 1/2 lead going into Saturday's eight team matches. The competition will conclude Sunday with 12 singles matches.

Leonard and Mahan lost the first two holes of their morning foursomes match against Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey, but came back for a 3&2 victory. In the afternoon fourballs, Leonard and Mahan never trailed and defeated Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez 4&3.

Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim fell behind by three holes in both their matches, but came back to halve one of them and win the other. The 1 1/2 points earned by Mickelson Friday equaled his contribution in the last two Ryder Cups combined.

Mickelson and Kim halved with Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson in the morning and defeated Harrington and Graeme McDowell in the afternoon 2-up.

The only full point won by the Europeans came from Ian Poulter and Justin Rose in the afternoon. They defeated Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis 4&3.

The teams of Leonard-Mahan and Mickelson-Kim will be in action again Saturday morning. European captain Nick Faldo shook up his lineup and will leave Garcia out of action in the morning matches.