37th Ryder Cup - USA v Europe
Venue: Valhalla, Kentucky Date: 19-21 September Coverage: Daily highlights on BBC TV and BBC Sport website, Live on BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky Sports and updates/commentary on Red Button and BBC Sport website

Weekley was firing up the American crowd on the first day

Lee Westwood has criticised American Ryder Cup rival Boo Weekley's behaviour in Friday's fourball clash at Valhalla.

Weekley, who partnered JB Holmes, apologised for whipping the crowd into a frenzy before Westwood and Dane Soren Hansen fought back to halve the match.

And Westwood said: "I don't mind the arm-waving, but at least wait until we're off greens, not between shots.

"Boo holed from off the green on 12 but I still had a putt for a half. There's no need to do it between shots."

USA built an impressive 5½-2½ lead on the first day, backed by vociferous home support around the greens, although Westwood and Hansen did give Europe a lift after winning the final hole in their match to earn a half.

RYDER CUP BLOG Boo Weekley filled a void that has been missing in Team USA for a while. He became their firecracker and mascot BBC Sport's Alex Trickett

Westwood, who tied Arnold Palmer's record 12-game unbeaten run in Ryder Cup history, added: "You walk a fine line when you start doing that sort of thing.

"It was interrupting the flow of play and the game was slow enough as it was.

"I didn't say anything to Boo. It's not my job to tell the people how to behave, but it gave me a more burning desire to win some holes."

Ian Poulter, who with Justin Rose in the afternoon fourballs defeated Ben Curtis and Steve Stricker for Europe's only victory of the day, was asked whether he had witnessed anything similar to Westwood.

"It was close to the mark. I think everybody can see it was a little close to the mark at times."

606: DEBATE The way Boo Weekly behaved was exactly the way the Americans behaved back in 1999 in Brookline captain2149 (U4990793)

Weekley, making his Ryder Cup debut and playing alongside Kentucky native Holmes, said: "I didn't mean to (cross the line) if I did.

"You can't control the crowd but at the same time we were trying to keep them positive and keep us positive."

European captain Nick Faldo insisted he had no problem with the American players trying to whip up the crowd.

"This is America, you're rallying your troops," he said. "We heard that you're out in the streets of Louisville running up the 13th man. That's fine."

Meanwhile, Faldo has taken a gamble by omitting Westwood and Sergio Garcia from his foursomes line-up for day two.

Westwood is unbeaten in six years at the Ryder Cup and Garcia has claimed 8½ points from his nine foursomes contests.

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