Woosnam and Faldo: Better apart

Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, playing together for the first time since the 1991 Ryder Cup, lost 6&5 to Thaworn Wiratchant and Thongchai Jaidee.

But the British veterans took new fourballs partners in the afternoon and recorded valuable victories.

Irish pairing Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell combined for two wins.

Europe captain Seve Ballesteros had paired Faldo and Woosnam together for their matchplay nous and experience.

The lack of experience from the Asian team might have been the difference Europe captain Seve Ballesteros

But they were betrayed by rustiness born of three months of inactivity from competition.

However, splitting up for the afternoon session seemed to spark an improvement.

Woosnam and Thomas Bjorn were in control from the start against Wiratchant and Jaidee, prevailing 3&2.

And Faldo, playing with the in-form Henrik Stenson, seemed more at ease on the greens as the duo saw off Keiichiro Fukabori and Yasuharu Imano.

"It was great to get the competitive juices going again," said Faldo after the narrow win.

"Henrik was very impressive and I managed to come in with a few birdies over the last few holes. I enjoyed it out there."

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Europe's only other defeat came when Kenneth Ferrie and David Howell lost by one to Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa in the first of the afternoon's fourballs.

There are eight singles matches remaining on Sunday and Europe require two and a half more points to clinch the trophy.

"I think it has been a wonderful day," said Ballesteros.

"We had a little more luck on the greens and the lack of experience from the Asian team might have been the difference."

Foursomes:
Paul McGinley (Ire) & Graeme McDowell (NI) bt Arjun Atwal & Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 4&3
Thaworn Wiratchant & Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) bt Nick Faldo (Eng) & Ian Woosnam (Wal) 6&5
Thomas Bjorn (Den) & Henrik Stenson (Swe) bt Yasuharu Imano (Jpn) & Zhang Lian-wei (Chn) 1 up
David Howell & Kenneth Ferrie (Eng) bt SK Ho (Kor) & Keiichiro Fukabori (Jpn) 2 up

Fourballs:
Arjun Atwal & Jyoti Randhawa bt Kenneth Ferrie and David Howell 1 up
Graeme McDowell & Paul McGinley bt Hur Suk-ho & Zhang Lianwei 2&1
Thomas Bjorn & Ian Woosnam bt Thongchai Jaidee & Thaworn Wiratchant 3&2
Nick Faldo and Henrik Stenson bt Keiichiro Fukabori & Yasuharu Imano 1 up

Sunday's singles line-up:
David Howell (Eng) vs Yasuharu Imano (Jap)
Paul McGinley (Ire) vs Zhang Lian-wei (Chi)
Graeme McDowell (Nir) vs Jyoti Randhawa (Ind)
Nick Faldo (Eng) vs Arjun Atwal (Ind)
Ian Woosnam (Wal) vs Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha)
Kenneth Ferrie (Eng) vs SK Ho (Kor)
Thomas Bjorn (Den) vs Keiichiro Fukabori (Jap)
Henrik Stenson (Swe) vs Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)