It surely helped that Thomas had been the only member of the U.S. team to play at Le Golf National when it staged the French Open on this Albatros course three months ago, finishing eighth.

Europe captain Thomas Bjorn is delighted with the team's performance, but is wary of a possible fightback from the Americans. We ran against two guys that were both playing well and when one was out of the hole, especially in best-ball, the other one made birdie and vice versa. A third point saw Spieth and Thomas become just the fourth United States pairing to achieve that haul since it became Europe versus the US.

Paul Casey faces a tough clash with three-time major victor Brooks Koepka in match two followed by Justin Rose against Webb Simpson, with Jon Rahm taking on Tiger Woods in a potentially explosive match-up. We need every single man on the course to do their bit and really play hard and be determined to win this back. And you know, we came out today and made a decision to play him 36.

"That's the frustrating thing about matchplay". And he could have easily played with Woods or Mickelson, both of whom long ago figured to play no a few times per day but are sitting here at a combined 0-4.

World number one Johnson and Fowler notched the first point of the first Ryder Cup to be held in France, 4 and 2 against McIlroy and Thorbjorn Olesen.

"I think early in the week, he looked a little exhausted". The U.S. came back from 10-6 down at Brookline in 1999; the Europeans did it at Medinah in 2012.

"I don't know if there is any one match more important than the other", US captain Jim Furyk said.

Spieth and Thomas were magnificent in their thrilling, 1-up fourballs win over Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton, but were off-colour against the excellent Molinari and Fleetwood.

Europe started as they finished the previous day, victory in the opening three fourball matches extending their spell of dominance in this Ryder Cup to a record eight-straight wins before Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas snatched an important point for Jim Furyk's team.

Now he's had two days of Ryder Cup matches with him, as well as Fleetwood, who has now earned the most points by any European Ryder Cup rookie.

Tiger Woods' five-year, 1,876 day title drought has come to an end in style, taking out the PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia this morning.

Finau, a Lehi resident, and Koepka were 4 down with five holes to play in the morning session, but they won Nos.

With the contest all square, Molinari reeled off three successive birdies from the 11th before Fleetwood sealed the match on the 15th as Woods could only manage bogey.

Jim Furyk, the USA captain, went again with Woods and Reed, the Masters champion, despite seeing them cuffed by Fleetwood and Molinari 24 hours earlier.

"Phil is, as you mentioned, a really good friend", said former US Open victor Furyk.

Also on Sunday, Tiger Woods will play in his 37th career Ryder Cup match. Woods is 4-1-2 in singles, his last victory coming in 2010 - against Molinari.

"I'd be disappointed if he said he thought he was going to play two".

It was a barnstorming comeback, the like not seen by a European team in a foursome before.