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Europe fight back in Ryder Cup fourballs

Europe end the opening day of the Ryder Cup facing a 5-3 deficit after launching a fightback in Friday's fourballs at Hazeltine.

Europe have reduced the deficit to USA to two points after they launched a fightback in Friday's fourballs at the Ryder Cup.

The visitors went into the second session at Hazeltine having lost each of the foursomes matches on Friday morning, but they ended the day strongly to get back to 5-3 down.

USA had started the day with Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed getting the team's first point on the board against Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, but it was a role reversal in the afternoon as the European pairing won 5&4.

Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka made light work of Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett as they won by the same scoreline, but Sergio Garcia and Rafael Cabrera-Bello withstood a late comeback from JB Holmes and Ryan Moore to claim victory on the 16th hole.

With the way the scores were looking in the first three matches, Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar's clash with Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters held plenty of significance and at one stage, it appeared that the European duo would ease to the win.

However, errors began to creep into McIlroy's game and although Pieters effectively battled on valiantly on his own, their opponents clawed their way back into the contest and were just two down with three to play.

McIlroy rediscovered his touch, however, and after finding the green in two at the par-five 16th, he rolled in a 20-foot putt with sublime control to secure his side's third point of the afternoon.

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Andy Sullivan of England plays a shot during the second round of the South African Open at Glendower Golf Club on January 9, 2015
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