Ryder Cup rookie Nicolas Colsaerts has produced a stellar front nine to give Europe their only lead in day one's fourballs at the Ryder Cup.

Tiger Woods seemed to have shaken off his poor from the morning fourballs by birdieing the first before Steve Stricker plonked his tee shot on two to about three feet.

It looked as if the Americans would have an early 2-up lead but Ryder Cup rookie Colsaerts found a long birdie putt to deny them.

The Belgian then tickled another one in at the fourth to bring the match back level before also making a birdie at the short fifth. A four wasn't good enough for the win, however, as Woods knocked in his birdie try from seven feet.

The next two were halved with birdie fours at the short par 5 fifth and par fours at the sixth before Colsaerts found the cup with a pressure putt on seven to half the hole.

Stricker pushed his chance to win the eighth right of the hole before Colsaerts continued to prove his mettle with another save.

The Belgian then birdied the ninth to give Europe a 1 up lead. Westwood has so far contributed little to the match and will look to change that on the back nine.