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Tiger Woods takes rare rest

Chicago - The United States head into Saturday's foursomes without Tiger Woods, marking just the second time in seven Ryder Cups the 14-time major winner has had to sit down.

Woods, who locked up the No 1 spot in US team qualifying, will sit with partner Steve Stricker as his struggles in Ryder Cup continued on Friday at the Medinah Country Club course.

"I think Tiger needs a rest," said US team skipper Davis Love. "They told me they would do whatever I asked them to do and I can guarantee you, neither one of them are very happy about it.

"Not because they are sitting out but because they have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to come back. They didn't play great this morning but they were in it for awhile."

World No. 2 Woods and Stricker were the only US team to lose both their matches during Friday's opening day of the 39th Ryder Cup.

Love decided to sit the 36-year-old Woods even though he rebounded in the afternoon fourball session with seven birdies in a losing cause to Nicolas Colsaerts and Lee Westwood.

"I didn't play very good this morning at all," Woods said. "I was hitting it awful and not doing anything well. But drove it great this afternoon and was in position."

Woods sizzled with seven birdies but he had to take a back seat to Colsaerts brilliant performance which included eight birdies and an eagle.

"Nicolas probably had one of the greatest putting rounds I've ever seen," Woods said. "We had a chance to all square on the last hole, and I missed it."

Woods' morning match was put on the clock on the seventh hole after he hit a spectator with one of several errant tee shots during that round.

It smashed into a fan before bouncing back into the fairway. Woods went over to the downed spectator and tried to talk to the injured man before he was taken away for medical treatment.

Woods has a losing record in Ryder Cups and has been part of just one winning Ryder Cup team, back in 1999. His last appearance in the competition on US soil was eight years ago. He played with Stricker at Celtic Manor, two years ago when they won two and lost one.

Woods said he met with his hitting coach in between Friday's sessions which helped him swing better in the afternoon.

"I made a few adjustments and I really hit it well this afternoon."

Pairings for the Saturday morning foursomes at Medinah Country Club in the 39th Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe:

14:20 - Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson (USA) v Justin Rose/Ian Poulter (Europe)
14:35 - Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) v Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (Europe)
14:50 - Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) v Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia (Europe)
15:05 - Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe)

Collated scores in Friday afternoon's session of fourballs counting towards the 39th Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago:

Fourballs


Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson (USA) bt Paul Lawrie/Peter Hanson (Europe) 5 and 4
Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) 2 and 1
Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Justin Rose/Martin Kaymer (Europe) 3 and 2
Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (USA) lost to Nicolas Colsaerts/Lee Westwood (Europe) by one hole

Score: United States 3 Europe 1

Foursomes

Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) bt Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe) 4 and 3
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) lost to Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) by 1 hole.
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) bt Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe) 3 and 2
Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) lost to Ian Poulter/Justin Rose (Europe) 2 and 1

Score: United States 2 Europe 2

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