Half a point. That’s all it was. World No 1, and world No 3, played as a team over 36 holes. Half a point. Yet somehow, in the dwindling light of day one at Gleneagles, it felt almost like a win. Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia were the Ryder Cup’s marquee pairing. They were Paul McGinley’s banker, without equal in either team on current form. Yet standing on the 17th tee, they were two down with two to play, having already lost their morning session. Garcia was staring at the worst day of his life as a Ryder Cup player. He had been sent out morning and afternoon on nine previous occasions and had never drawn a blank. Now it was a real possibility.
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Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia take just half a point from the opening day
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Europe's Garcia and McIlroy lost to USA's Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson in the fourballs morning session on Friday
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Duo ended all square against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler in foursomes
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McIlroy paired with Ian Poulter for Saturday's fourballs against USA's Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler on day two of the 2014 Ryder Cup
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Europe take a two-point lead into Saturday's play against USA
Europe led by a hole coming away from the 15th, but @placeholder eagled the 16th and Mickelson did the rest.