Photos: Ryder Cup day two

Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood kept Europe on the winning track with an easy 5&4 victory over Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas in the Ryder Cup foursomes.

A double bogey at the first set the pattern for the USA pairing, who did not manage a birdie until the ninth.

By then, they were three behind after Clarke's stunning shot to the 482-yard par four eighth, a six-iron which stopped just two inches from the hole.

Birdies at the 11th and 12th put Europe five ahead, and they never looked back.

The win put the holders 9-4 ahead overall, and ensured they would lead going into the final day.

Westwood and Clarke said they were fired up for Saturday's first foursomes match by the late fourballs triumph of debutants David Howell and Paul Casey.

Report: Rookies lift Europe

The rookies' 18th-hole win was Europe's only victory of the fourball session.

Westwood said: "We all owe David Howell and Paul Casey a beer.

"That was the biggest point of the week. It's made a massive difference. Morale-wise, it's a crushing blow for the team that lose."

Saturday's foursomes All the action

It was the second foursomes win for Westwood and Clarke, following their defeat of America's top-ranked pair Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson on Friday.

Clarke said: "We know each other's game so well. We have complete trust in each other."