A below-par Woods was no match for Clarke at a rainy K Club

Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke took advantage of a woeful effort from USA star Tiger Woods to secure a 3&2 win for Europe in the Ryder Cup fourballs.

Woods struggled with his approach play and on the greens and only Jim Furyk prevented a bigger European win.

Clarke birdied the fourth and his beautiful approaches to the fifth and 11th secured two more holes.

Despite Furyk's efforts at the 15th, it was fitting that Clarke chipped in to seal it at the 16th.

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Clarke and Westwood were captain Ian Woosnam's wildcard picks, and their displays have justified their selection.

"People said we were a gamble but we were sure it wasn't," Clarke said.

"We know each other's games well and enjoy each other's company."

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Woods, meanwhile, has now lost 13 of his 23 Ryder Cup matches prompting rumours around the K Club that he might even be dropped for the afternoon foursomes.

They proved unfounded but several times on the front nine he sliced drives horribly wide and inexplicably missed a five-foot putt on the ninth, which would have cut the deficit to one hole.

That would have been harsh on Westwood and Clarke, whose approach play was quite majestic at times.

Westwood landed a 15ft putt on 14 to make it four up with four to play and, although Furyk landed a blow back after Woods found the water at the next hole, that all but secured victory.

Lehman insisted he had never considered dropping Woods, adding: "I don't know how you can sit down the best player in the world. That's impossible."