Phil Mickelson, wrapped up like a family heirloom in layers of thermals, chases the ball out of the rough and up onto the green on five. Rory McIlory's approach is a little haywire, dropping short, left and ugly.

Keegan Bradley, your turn. Not a lot better. Dumped right up against the foot of a tree.

This match needs someone to grab it by the scruff.

In she goes. Ian Poulter's putter is warming up, keeping himself and Stephen Gallacher one down through five. Here's Mike Henson.

Ooohhh, Justin Rose. For the win on seven, wiping its feet and opting not to drop. Bubba Watson tidies up from no distance for the half. Not many putts being conceded on this first morning. On five, Ian Poulter has a tricky six-footer for a half.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Gleneagles

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The percussion of the first big roar rings around the fourth green as Sergio Garcia holes a spectacular bunker shot. Wind is filling in now, chillier than pre-dawn. Long wait on 5th tee. Keegan Bradley douses himself liberally in some form of spray. Anti-insect or hair?

Sandy Lyle
Five-time European Ryder Cup player on BBC Radio 5 live

Thomas Bjorn has been a little crooked in places but he's made some remarkable putts and chips. It's ham and egg and it's been good stuff.

...no, the German doesn't like it. Europe remain two up after six against the pair of Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.

On the sixth, Martin Kaymer to put Europe three up. Ten feet, left to right...

Where are we? Europe up in three, the US in one. That one is Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher against the rookie pair of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed. Gallacher having a horrible time, a drop at the edge of the fairway, then nowhere near the green. Up on the seventh, Justin Rose arrows in on the flag to create a birdie chance.

Keep up to date on our live scores page.

Ryder Cup Team Europe:, external Boom. #ElNino

Nicolas Colsaerts
2012 Ryder Cup player from Belgium

I called that bunker shot impossible because he had no room to land the ball. Exceptional shot there from Garcia. We expected this game to be really, really good and that kicked it off.

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Sergio Garcia! In from the bunker at the side of the fourth green! Horrible lie, Garcia barely visible because of the depth of the pit. Chipped to the top of the ridge, down the slope, speeding towards the hole. And in! And in! Garcia out, punching the air, Gleneagles roaring. Mickelson has to hole from the rough, but falls short. Europe one up after four.

Too much action to keep on top of and there's only four matches out there. Imagine Sunday's 12 singles? Henrik Stenson on the sixth, 10 feet for birdie and the win. Very fast, left to right, the Swede bending his knees as the ball slides by. Europe remain two up.

Rory McIlroy has a monster to win the third, but he doesn't like it. The bottom match stays all square after three. Rickie Fowler on the fifth...for the win...right to left...sneaks in. The US get one back.

Bernard Gallacher
Three-time European Ryder Cup captain on BBC Radio 5 live

"I remember playing in 1969 and Eric Brown put Maurice Bembridge and myself, two rookies into the match, against Lee Trevino. We went out and won it. But I am surprised Tom Watson has chosen two rookies here against Poulter. The rules go out the window: it depends on the personalities and the characters."

Poulter and Spieth both missed those birdie putts, so the third match have halved the fourth in par threes. Mike Henson, my live text colleague, has just informed me that his dream last night involved him hugging Ian Woosnam. Cuddly.

Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, already in deep trouble, are on the fifth. Much better from Fowler, his second teasing the flag. Henrik Stenson with a wonderful tee shot to the par-three sixth, birdie chance. Keegan Bradley on the third, wonderful scramble to have a chance of saving par. Even Webb Simpson has hit a green. All happening.

4th (Gowden Beastie)

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Par three, 211 yards

The longest par three and protected by a little bunker short right and one to the left of the green.

Bradley, Mickelson and McIlroy all building sandcastles on the third. Superb from Rory, an escape to the green. Poulter teeing it up on the par-three fourth, following Jordan Spieth to within six feet. A putting showdown for the win.

Andrew Magee
American golfer on BBC Radio 5 live

Webb Simpson needs to help his partner (Bubba Watson) out here but he hasn't done so yet in five holes. He had the whole of the green to aim at there but he hit it right again like he did on the fourth.

How often do you see all four players fail to par the hole? Stenson leaves a par putt, for the win, achingly short, meaning the US escape with a half. Webb Simspon has been anonymous so far, Bubba Watson may as well be playing by himself.