Ryder Cup 2012: day one - in pictures

So it's here, the 39th Ryder Cup and the first time the has been held in Illinois. Europe, the current holders, will be looking to win the trophy for only the fourth time on American soil. Let the hostilities begin! Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

As always when the Ryder Cup takes place in the US, there's a lot of flag waving and a helluva lot of noise from the home fans Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The first shot of the tournament is by Europe's Graeme McDowell but it appears nerves, or the home crowd has got to him as he hook a hilariously nervy tee shot towards a temporary wall down the left. Thankfully for the Europeans Jim Furyk slices his shot into the crowd too Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images

Here's another view of the first. This time it's Lee Westwood thwacking his tee shot Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Things didn't get any better for the USA on the first when Tiger Woods hit the rough too Photograph: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Luke Donald swings from a bunker to the 2nd green Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy celebrates after his delicious chip on the 4th hole won the hole for him and McDowell Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Phil Mickelson plays from the rough on the fifth Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Things don't get better for Tiger Woods on the seventh hole as one of his balls clocked a fan on the head resulting in medical attention for the chap Photograph: Erik S. Lesser/EPA

Graeme McDowell hits his second shot out of the bunker on the eighth hole Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Jim Furyk, right, and a rules official examine his team's ball after it landed on a utility cover on the eighth hole Photograph: Tannen Maury/EPA

The long arm of the law keeps an eye on the action, as well as the crowd Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Brandt Snedeker hits from a flower bed on the 10th Photograph: Jeff Haynes/Reuters

Mickelson hits from a bunker on the 14th Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

Keegan Bradley reacts after sinking a long putt on the fifteenth hole to win 4&3 Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

Well done my son! Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

Things still haven't improved for Tiger Woods, he hits a poor tee shot on the 15th Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

The stands are packed around the 17th green Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

A look of sorrow comes across the face of Furyk after he misses a par putt on the 18th Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

There's a jig from a Europe Caddy as Graeme McDowell sinks the putt that wins his foursomes match. At the end of the foursomes the scores are level 2-2. McDowell/McIlroy and Poulter/Rose won for Europe and Mickelson/Bradley and Dufner/Z Johnson won the American's matches Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

European fans – including an obligatory British redcoat – greet the start of the afternoon fourballs.
Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Nicolas Colsaerts of Europe watches his bunker shot on the 5th hole during the afternoon fourballs at the Ryder Cup – he and Lee Westwood were faring better against Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker than the other three European pairs. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson of the USA work together on the 5th green, on their way to a big lead over Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson in the fourballs. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy look on as Phil Mickelson of the USA putts on the 4th, on the way to another sizeable home lead. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty

In the interests of balance... American fans show they can do silly outfits too. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty

The fourballs make worrying viewing for Europe's team captain, Jose Maria Olazabal, and vice captain Miguel Angel Jimenez. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty

Tiger Woods of the USA reacts to a poor shot on the 10th hole – Europe enjoyed the upper hand in his game, against Nicolas Colsearts and Lee Westwood. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty