Ryder Cup: Darren Clarke's emotional win helps Europe to a 5-3, first-day lead over U.S.

Prior to Day One of the Ryder Cup, many pundits questioned European captain Ian Woosnam’s choice of Darren Clarke as a Captain’s pick. However, still mourning the loss of his wife Heather to breast cancer, Clarke and Lee Westwood beat the U.S. team of Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, for one of three outright victories on the day for the Europe side, as they took a 5-3 lead after Day One …

Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk beat Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington in fourball in the day’s first match, but it was the only victory of the day for the U.S. Woods and Furyk later lost to Sergio Gargia and Luke Donald in the afternoon, which saw the other three matches end even.