Europe's Rees lost his matches

Britain's defence of the Ryder Cup was overshadowed by the team's terrifying journey to Palm Springs.

The plane the players were travelling on plunged 4,000 feet in severe turbulence, prompting several of those on board to think of the Manchester United football team's air crash in 1958.

More than a few were seen to be kissing the ground in relief on their safe landing in Los Angeles, and the team eventually made its way to Palm Springs by bus.

That the Brits did not play well is not surprising, but the US were as strong as ever.

Britain stayed in touch in the foursomes, with Peter Alliss and Christy O'Connor claiming a much-needed point.

But the US took revenge for their singles drubbing two years earlier, when they had lost five of the seven matches, taking five of the seven available points.

Foursomes:
R Rosburg & M Souchak beat B J Hunt & E C Brown (5&4)
J Boros & D Finsterwald beat D J Rees & K Bousfield (2 holes)
A Wall & D Ford lost to C O'Connor & P Alliss (3&2)
S Snead & C Middlecoff halved with H Weetman & D C Thomas

Singles:
D Ford halved with N V Drew
M Souchak beat K Bousfield (3&2)
R Rosburg beat H Weetman (6&5)
S Snead beat D C Thomas (6&5)
A Wall beat C O'Connor (7&6)
D Finsterwald beat D J Rees (1 hole)
J Herbert halved with P Alliss
C Middlecoff lost to E C Brown (4&3)