Ryder Cup heroes put on display in UBS Cup Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer reproduced their Ryder Cup form to inspire the Rest of the World to a slender 3½ to 2½ lead over the United States after the opening day of the UBS Cup.
The duo were unbeaten in three matches together at The Belfry last year, earning two-and-a-half points out of three and also then winning their respective singles matches on Sunday.
It was therefore no surprise when captain Tony Jacklin put them together again in Friday's foursomes as the visitors attempted to claim their first victory in the third staging of the Ryder Cup-style event for players over 40.
And the decision paid off when they crushed Ray Floyd and Hale Irwin 5&3 at Sea Island to claim the first point of the contest. Jacklin himself then earned the second minutes later, combining with Nick Faldo to beat 74-year-old American captain Arnold Palmer and Rocco Mediate by one hole.
Carl Mason and Bill Longmuir surrendered a two-hole lead to go down to an 18th-hole birdie from Scott Hoch and 2004 Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton, but Argentinian pair Eduardo Romero and Vicente Fernandez were three under par in beating Tom Watson and Curtis Strange 4&3.
Mark O'Meara and Craig Stadler birdied three of the last five holes to beat Ian Woosnam and Barry Lane by one hole, while Ireland's Des Smyth and Rodger Davis halved their match with Brad Faxon and Bruce Lietzke.
Langer said of his match: "I started off a little shaky but we managed no dropped shots and Colin started off on fire, hitting one perfect shot after another.
"Once we got ahead in the match we never really made any mistakes and Colin was great to play with. We're glad to put a point on the board for the Rest of the World team after losing the past two contests."
Results of Friday's matches in the UBS Cup, Sea Island GC
Friday, Foursomes
USA 2½ Rest of the World 3½
Match 1
Arnold Palmer & Rocco Mediate
lost by 1 hole toTony Jacklin & Nick Faldo
Match 2
Scott Hoch & Hal Sutton
beatCarl Mason & Bill Longmuir
by 1 hole
Match 3
Raymond Floyd & Hale Irwin
lost 5&3 toBernhard Langer & Colin Montgomerie
Match 4
Mark O'Meara & Craig Stadler
beatBarry Lane & Ian Woosnam
by 1 hole
Match 5
Brad Faxon & Bruce Lietzke
halved withDes Smyth & Rodger Davis
Match 6
Tom Watson & Curtis Strange
lost 4&3 toEduardo Romero & Vicente Fernandez