Alliss' wins were not enough to help Europe at Royal Birkdale

In the face of American supremacy, the only realistic hope of victory for the Great Britain and Ireland team came at home, and for a time they did muster a challenge at Birkdale.

The home side made an uncharacteristically good start, sharing the foursomes and keeping pace with the visitors to trail just 9-7 going into the decisive singles.

However, it was in the singles the Americans showed their strength.

Britain would have reclaimed the Ryder Cup comfortably had all the matches been played over nine holes, but when the pressure moments arrived, their rivals held their nerve.

The US team mastered the local conditions far better then the Brits and skipper Byron Nelson saw victory all but assured as his first four players came back with a point each.

Tony Lema was the star performer with five wins out of a possible six.

Foursomes: Morning
L Platts & P J Butler lost to J Boros & A Lema (1 hole)
D C Thomas & G Will beat A Palmer & D Marr (6&5)
B J Hunt & N C Coles lost to W Casper & G Littler (2&1)
P Alliss & C O'Connor beat K Venturi & D January (5&4)

Foursomes: Afternoon
D C Thomas & G Will lost to A Palmer & D Marr (6&5)
P Alliss & C O'Connor beat W Casper & G Littler (2&1)
J Martin & J Hitchcock lost to J Boros & A Lema (5&4)
B J Hunt & N C Coles beat K Venturi & D January (3&2)

Fourballs: Morning
D C Thomas & G Will lost to D January & T Jacobs (1 hole)
L Platts & P Butler halved with W Casper & G Littler
P Alliss & C O'Connor lost to A Palmer & D Marr (6&4)
B J Hunt & N C Coles beat J Boros & A Lema (1 hole)

Fourballs: Afternoon
P Alliss & C O'Connor beat A Palmer & D Marr (2 holes)
DC Thomas & G Will lost to D January & T Jacobs (1 hole)
L Platts & P J Butler halved with W Casper & G Littler
B J Hunt & N C Coles lost to K Venturi & A Lema (1 hole)

Singles: Morning
J Hitchcock lost to A Palmer (3&2)
L Platts lost to J Boros (4&2)
P J Butler lost to A Lema (1 hole)
N C Coles lost to D Marr (2 holes)
B J Hunt beat G Littler (2 holes)
D C Thomas lost to T Jacobs (2&1)
P Alliss beat W Casper (1 hole)
G Will halved with D January

Singles: Afternoon
C O'Connor lost to A Lema (6&4)
J Hitchcock lost to J Boros (2&1)
P J Butler lost to A Palmer (2 holes)
P Alliss beat K Venturi (3&1)
N C Coles beat W Casper (3&2)
G Will lost to G Littler (2&1)
B J Hunt lost to D Marr (1 hole)
L Platts beat T Jacobs (1 hole)