Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson were 3-up for Europe at the turn over Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson in the lead-off Ryder Cup fourballs match at Gleneagles on Friday.
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 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.