Tiger Woods was humbled by Europe for the second time in a matter of hours and he largely had himself to blame for this foursomes defeat.

Woods was beaten twice on the opening day and it was his mistakes that proved so costly as Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood made him pay.

Playing partner Mark Calcavecchia had given the Americans the early initiative by winning the fifth hole, but Woods then made a spectacular collapse on the back nine.

He missed two putts from inside five feet at 11 and 12 as Europe turned the match on its head.

The formidable Garcia and Westwood were able to claim four holes out of a possible five and three of those victories were chalked up with mere pars.

There was no way back for Team USA after that and, though Woods won the 15th and lipped out at 16, he cut a disconsolate figure as the match was settled on the 17th green.

Garcia refused to gloat over his great friend and rival as he played down the significance of the result.

Asked if it was special to beat the world's greatest player, he said: "It's something you don't focus on. We are playing America and it doesn't matter who you are up against."

Woods' Ryder Cup record now stands at just three-and-a-half points out of a possible 12 and Curtis Strange may consider dropping him for one of Saturday's clashes.

Before the event got under way, that prospect seemed pretty much unthinkable.

Watch a round-up of day one's action