Ryder Cup: US Leads Unfinished Fourballs at Celtic Manor

The US Ryder Cup Team takes a complicated overnight lead to bed on Celtic Manor Resort, but none of Fridays fourballs was finalized before the sun went down in Wales.

Europe had the lead on 3-1 when play was suspended at 9:45 due to heavy rain, but after almost nine hours delay the US team came back to even things out.

Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer is still up in the first match against Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, and has a one hole lead after 12 holes. But an remarkable Stewart Cink turned 1down through four holes to a two hole lead after 11 against Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

In the third match Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher was 1up through three holes against Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker before the break, and only a cool putt from Poulter on 10th ended that match for the day at all square.

Rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton was 2up against Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington after two holes before the break, and they are 1up when the game start at the eighth tomorrow. However, Donald chose not to putt for a short putt so the Brit can bring the European back to even, first thing Saturday morning. But for now, the US team is up 2½ - 1½.

When the play resumed Friday afternoon things did not seem particular European. The Crowds were smaller, and they were almost not verbal, making a stark contrast to the heavy chanting in the morning. Things seemed quite tranquil, and the slow green about nine feet on the stimpmeter seemed to suit the Americans best.

Cink holed three birdies from insane distances and a stable Stricker kept himself and Woods in the game against Poulter and Fisher. So far the US team has produced 15 birdies and 5 bogeys while Europe has made 7 birdies and no bogeys.

Tomorrow things will be different again in more than one way. While the home crowd will be back the advantage will be back on the Europeans, but for the first time in Ryder Cup history, the format will be changed in an effort to try to keep up with the time plan and still play for a full 28 points.

Ryder Cup officials are rearranging the schedule to try and finish the matches on Sunday.

The new schedule calls for six foursomes in the second session instead of the normal four, and two fourballs and four foursomes matches in the third session. That means all players will be out on the course for both sessions.

Officials say they hope to finish the team play Sunday morning, then try to fit in the 12 singles matches. This way all 28 points will still be at stake. Officials said both captains agreed to the changes.

However, the weather forecast for Sunday is for rain, though, meaning there still could be a Monday finish.