As a team, Jesper Parnevik and Sergio Garcia went undefeated in four matches.

The oftentimes otherworldly Swede and charismatic young Spaniard have earned 3½ of Europe's 10 points on the first two days of competition. They have combined to beat Tom Lehman, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Payne Stewart and Justin Leonard.

Their grittiest performance may have come in their lone halved match, with Garcia sinking a 7-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole late Saturday afternoon to snatch half of what seemed like a sure full point from the Americans. Garcia reacted with a greenside dance and led the European fans an "Ole, Ole" cheer more reminiscent of a soccer match.

"I'm hoarse from shouting for the rest of the team," Garcia said. "I can hardly speak. It was a great, great feeling, and I think it was a very important half (point)."

Parnevik won one and halved two matches in his first Ryder Cup two years ago at Valderrama. Since then, he's won once on the European Tour (the '98 Scandanavian Open) and twice on the PGA Tour (1998 Phoenix Open, 1999 Greater Greensboro Classic).

Garcia, meanwhile, barely made the European team on points, and there was some speculation as to whether European captain Mark James would use one of his wild-card picks on the 19-year-old, who is the youngest player in Ryder Cup history; James said Saturday that he would have.

But a second-place finish at the PGA Championship -- highlighted by a dramatic back-nine duel with Tiger Woods -- made Garcia golf's latest star of the future.

James said there is nothing magical about the pairing. Like most captain's choices, he was just playing a hunch.

"They wanted to play with each other," said James. "And if they feel comfortable with each other and tell me they want to play, the least I can do is give them a chance."

Saturday, Parnevik and Garcia blitzed Stewart and Leonard n the morning, winning three straight holes to build a 4-up lead after 11 holes before settling on a 3 and 2 victory. And despite leading only once -- for one hole -- in the afternoon, they earned a crucial half-point.

Along the way, Garcia talked to himself, pumped his fist, carried Parnevik down the fairway in celebration and, after holing his putt on 18, pumped his fists several times before embracing his partner.

"He's a live wire," said James. "And I think Jesper's looked after him fantastically because Jesper's been a great check on him."

Now, with Europe four points away from maintaining the Cup, Parnevik draws David Duval in the sixth singles match, while Garcia is next-to-last against Jim Furyk. And Garcia can't wait.

"That putt (on 18 in the afternoon) is the biggest I've made so far in my professional career," Garcia said, "but I hope to make a bigger one tomorrow."

Teeing it up .. finally
Jean Van de Velde, Jarmo Sandelin and Andrew Coltart will finally play for Europe on Sunday. The rules say they have to.

The three European Ryder Cup rookies didn't play in any of the foursome or fourball matches as James opted to stick with just nine players. But Sunday, Sandelin will face Phil Mickelson, Van de Velde faced Davis Love and Coltart draws Tiger Woods early in the singles competition.

How will they do?

"I think they're all keen to play," said James. "And I think they'll play well. They've had plent of practice."

None of the players have shown any sign of ourward frustration about not playing. They have been at The Country Club, hitting balls, signing autographs and, in Sandelin's case, throwing souvenirs to the crowd.

"Jarmo, Jean and Andrew have been tremendously supportive," James said. "It's a great shame they have been left out. But we came here -- I came here -- with the objective of getting 100 percent out of this team, the most points I could. And I feel that we've gone about it the right way.

"Time may prove me wrong; the match isn't over yet, but that's how it's been. And I'd probably do it again the same way."

All three have said that they expect the pressure to be intense, but none have said they fear it.

"They've got a great idea of the pressure they're going to be under from watching," James said. "They're going to be under no illusions as to what it's going to be like."

Miguel who?
Somebody asked James what he knew about Miguel Angel Jimenez before the Ryder Cup.

"Don't know a huge amount about him," James deadpanned. "I know he's got a Ferrari."

And he's got a serious place in Europe's Ryder Cup success, earning a win and two halves while teaming with Padraig Harrington in the foursomes and Jose Maria Olazabal in the best ball.

"Miguel's been brilliant this week" James said Saturday. "He's played extremely solid golf. ... I couldn't have aksed for more from him. I've worked him pretty hard and he's responded magnificently."

Jimenez is an unlikely hero, a 35-year-old Ryder Cup rookie who seemingly lugged Olazabal around The Country Club in the afternoon best ball, counting his ball on 13 of the 18 holes in a match against Hal Sutton and Justin Leonard.