Phil Mickelson missed several key putts during both sessions Friday.

They left it to captain Ben Crenshaw to try to explain what happened.

"What was it, 6-2?" asked Crenshaw, who knew darn well his team's deficit. "I don't think it indicates how people played today."

All indications pointed otherwise.

The Europeans hit greens and hit putts and, despite some youth, didn't fold even against the likes of Woods and Duval, who battled youngsters Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke in the final match of the day but, except for a fleeting moment at the turn, could never catch them.

"I think that we saw some outstanding golf from the Europeans," said Crenshaw. "I'll just say that. They played wonderful golf."

In fact, the Americans didn't play badly. Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk shot a combined 60 in the afternoon best-ball matches and lost. Lehman and Woods played well in the morning alternate-shot matches. Davis Love III and Stewart had ample opportunity in the morning but could only get a half-point.

The biggest rout was 3 and 2, hardly a whipping. Yet the Americans are down four points and need to win at least 12½ of the remaining 20 to regain the Ryder Cup.

"They play well in this format," said Love of the opponents. "For some reason, they raise the level of play for this tournament. Our teams seem to come in and not play to their capabilities."

Put Duval in that category. Duval, who has struggled since June, had trouble driving the ball, struggled with his irons and putted poorly. On the 18th hole in the afternoon match with Woods, he drove the ball into another fairway, hit an iron that cut 60 yards right into the deep rough and chunked his wedge to the the collar of the green. Somewhere scattered in the pandemonium that 40,000 fans created around the final green was a smattering of boos.

Other than that, Duval had a decent day.

"David tried as hard as he could today," said Crenshaw, whose history with Duval is checkered, especially after Duval called the Ryder Cup an "exhibition" at the PGA. "He was just a beat off, just a beat off. And I'm telling you, he tried as hard as he could. And it just didn't happen today."

Duval said nothing and left quickly after a U.S. team meeting which Crenshaw characterized as positive.

"We had two captains come in and say a few words," he said. "This team is together, very together. And they're dependent on each other. It's wonderful. And it was tremendous to see."

How tremendous it turns out tomorrow is anybody's guess. Woods will see his third partner in three matches when he teams with Steve Pate. Mickelson will take the morning matches off to practice his putting. Duval is getting some time to get his thoughts together. Lehman and Love will also be held out until the afternoon, when the Americans can only hope that things haven't gotten completely out of hand.