Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson defeated Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson 5 and 4 in the leadoff Ryder Cup fourballs match at Gleneagles on Friday.
"We got off to a good start and we managed to steal a few birdies when we could," said Rose. "For us to get off to this sort of start is tremendous."
Playing for the first time together, Rose and Stenson went 1-up when Watson three-putted the second and doubled that advantage thanks to an eight-foot birdie putt from Rose at the fourth.
Close friends Watson and Simpson were paired together in the Ryder Cup for the fourth time, having won two and lost one for the United States at Medinah two years ago.
They failed to convert a favourable position at the fifth with the European pair both struggling and so nearly went 3-down at the eighth when Stenson's birdie putt nestled the hole but failed to drop.
The big Swede made no mistake from seven feet at the next though as the lead match reached the turn with the European pair in control at 3-up despite Rose being stung in the hand by a wasp walking up the ninth.
The insect incident did little to unsettle Rose, though, as he landed a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-3 10th and the Europeans were coasting at 4-up.
The next three holes were halved before Rose sunk the winning birdie putt from six feet at the 14th.
Source: AFP
