After the rain, the pain: USA snatch Ryder momentum
After a frustrating day at Celtic Manor, the European team probably ended their second session wishing today's earlier downpour had continued for the rest of the afternoon.
Colin Montgomerie's side had led in three out of four of this morning's fourball matches, before torrential rainfall meant play was suspended after just two hours of action - and Monty's men appeared to have lost their momentum this afternoon when play finally resumed at 5.00.
Now it is only Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer who hold a slender lead in their match with Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, the European pair 1up with six holes still to complete when play recommences tomorrow.
It was the USA's forgotten man, Stewart Cink, who will live longest in the memory after today's performance; Cink played the finest golf of the day, last year's Open winner making several fine putts to leave himself and partner Matt Kuchar 2up over the Northern Irish duo of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, with seven left to play.
Cink was was accidentally left out of captain Corey Pavin's team introduction at yesterday's opening ceremony, but the 37-year-old surely did enough today to ensure that he won't be far from Pavin's thoughts over the next few days.
After 10 holes, England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher were all square in their match with Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods, while wildcard picks Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington find themselves chasing the rookie pairing of Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton, who were 1up after 8 holes when proceedings were called to a halt.
Play had initially begun at 7.45 this morning, the USA's Dustin Johnson hitting the opening tee shot of the tournament in the fourballs. But just two hours later the teams were trudging off the Twenty Ten course once again, having endured rain-drenched conditions that officials finally decided had rendered the course unplayable.
And with rain continuing to lash down for much of the morning and afternoon, so it was to remain until 5.00, when the teams belatedly tried to pick up where they had earlier left off - the US with notably more success than Europe.
As a reaction to today's lengthy delay, tournament officials have decided to alter the format, meaning that when the foursomes matches that began today are completed, the next session will feature six foursomes. That means that for the first time in a team event, all 12 players on both teams will participate.
The next session will feature two foursomes and four fourballs, before the final 12 singles, currently scheduled for Sunday.
The changes have been introduced in a bid to avoid the tournament running long - though much will depend on the weather. A further deluge over the weekend could still see play running on into next week.
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