BLOOMFIELD, Mich., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington starred while Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson faltered Friday as Europe took command of the Ryder Cup matches.
The Europeans grabbed a 6 1/2-1 1/2 lead after the first day of the three-day competition. The five-point advantage equals the largest first-day lead in Ryder Cup history.
Montgomerie and Harrington teamed to win both their matches Friday, defeating Woods and Mickelson in the morning and defeating Fred Funk and Davis Love III in the afternoon.
After falling in their morning match, Woods and Mickelson took a 3-up lead after four holes against Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood in the afternoon. But the Europeans rallied and won the match, 1-up.
The match was even going to the final hole and the Europeans bogeyed it. But Woods and Mickelson suffered a double bogey.
Montgomerie, a wild card selection by Captain Bernhard Langer, ran his career Ryder Cup record to 18-7-5.
The only American win came in the afternoon from Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas, who scored a 3 & 2 victory over Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Levet.
