Ryder Cup - day one in pictures

Welcome to Wales, where it's absolutely tipping it down. Who'd have thought it, eh? Rain. In Wales. In October. This guy has come prepared - that daffodil hat is bound to keep him bone dry Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

Dustin Johnson of Team USA makes the opening shot of the tournament as the fourballs begins. There's been much talk about the pressure of the opening shot ... wonder if he can handle it? Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Apparently not. He's gone and sliced it into the rough - as the fans in the grandstand are only too keen to point out. Worse still for Johnson, his opponents Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer have safely found the fairway. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Next up, the European pairing of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell take on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

McIlroy gives his tee shot on the first a good flogging. He finds the long stuff but he's got a decent enough lie Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Europe captain Colin Montgomerie watches the activity on the on the first tee. It's been a positive start for his team Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Corey Pavin's waterproof jacket is taking a hammering. The Americans have been voicing their discontent about the jackets all week. They claim they absorb the rain, making them too heavy Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Imagine how Bubba Watson must feel - he's wearing about a gallon of water Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Tiger Woods decides there's only one solution - off with the jacket Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The course is looking rather soggy. No one likes playing golf in the wet, apart from Jean van de Velde, obviously Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Predictably, play has been suspended. Pavin, the US captain, drives back to the clubhouse Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Woods gets a chauffeur driven ride. Looks like he's hogging the brolly, as well Photograph: Tom Jenkins

No such luxuries for these scoreboard holders - they've got to traipse back to the clubhouse on foot. As you can see from their scoreboards, Europe have the early advantage Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Seems like this American fan has given up already Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Beleaguered spectators take shelter in the Welsh tourist board exhibition Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... while a snaking queue of less fortune fans are forced to wait outside the merchandise pavilion in the rain Photograph: Tom Jenkins

So much for hospitatilty area. Give it another hour and it'll be a swimming pool Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The rain finally stops but that's not the end of it, the Green staff have to get rid of all the blinking water now Photograph: Tom Jenkins

So, after nearly eight hours play starts again at 5pm, so Phil Mickelson makes his way down the sixth fairway. Hope he remembers where he left his ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Phil Mickelson must have wished it continued to rain after putting his second shot into the water by the sixth green. His caddie is stopping his dropped ball from rolling into the water Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Lee Westwood putts for birdie on the sixth but misses as the ball runs away to the right at the last. He pars the hole with his next putt to take the hole for Europe and go three up Photograph: Tom Jenkins

On to the ninth and Europe are two up as Lee Westwood gives the ball a big thwack as he tees off in front of a setting sun Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Westwood, Kaymer, Mickelson, Johnson and co make their way down the ninth as the shadows lengthen Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Westwood plays his third shot and his ball, along with a large chunk of the fairway, are on their way to the ninth green Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Dustin Johnson's dad watches him play on the ninth though his son probably wishes he didn't as he had a bit of a nightmare - a terrible chip followed by a 10-foot putt which goes well wide of the hole. Though Mickelson sinks his six-footer to halve the hole Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Lee Westwood duffs a chip onto the 10th green - he doesn't look happy with that, and neither will Monty Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Mickelson attempts to putt for a birdie on the 10th... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Mickelson sinks it. Which leads to a bit of bumping fist action with Johnson as they celebrate taking the hole. Westwood and Kaymer are only one up now Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The 10th seems to be a bit of bogey hole for the Europe team as Rory McIlroy finds the bunker and Cink sinks his putt to take the hole and go one up Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Oh dear, it's not a good round for young Rory as he also misses a short putt on the 11th green to go 2 down in his match with Cink and Kuchar Photograph: Tom Jenkins

So an eventful (and wet) day ends with Monty having a bit of thinking to do as Europe find themselves 3-1 down. Tomorrow is another day (hopefully a dry and sunny one), but with a rejigged second session of six foursome matches and two foursomes and four fourball matches in the third session, there's plenty of points out there to be won Photograph: Tom Jenkins