U.S. 5, Europe 3 after Friday matches

• By Golf Channel Digital
• Sep 28, 2012 7:19 PM ET

MEDINAH, Ill. – Match-by-match recaps of the 39^th Ryder Cup from Medinah Country Club, where the USA has a 5-3 lead.

Friday total: U.S. 5, Europe 3

Friday afternoon fourballs: U.S. 3, Europe 1

Match 5: Bubba Watson-Webb Simpson def. Paul Lawrie-Peter Hanson, 5 and 4

Recap: Rested after sitting out the morning foursome session, the Odd Couple of Davis Love III’s team combined for six birdies before the turn and never let up on their way to the week’s most lopsided victory.

Match 6: Phil Mickelson-Keegan Bradley def. Rory McIlroy-Graeme McDowell, 2 and 1

Recap: American duo won seven consecutive holes – four to end their morning foursome match and the first three to start the afternoon – and led by as many as four as they rolled over the European juggernaut.

Match 7: Dustin Johnson-Matt Kuchar def. Justin Rose-Martin Kaymer, 3 and 2

Recap: This may qualify as a miscue for European captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who benched Ian Poulter to make room for Kaymer. The Americans made their move early, with Kuchar running off four consecutive birdies starting at the fourth to give the U.S. a lead it would never relinquish.

Match 8: Lee Westwood-Nicolas Colsaerts def. Tiger Woods-Steve Stricker, 1 up

Recap: This match was all about Nicolas Colsaerts, who made eight birdies and an eagle on his own ball. Tiger Woods made seven birdies in the losing effort to go 0-2 with Steve Stricker on Day 1.

Friday morning foursomes: U.S. 2, Europe 2

Match 1: Rory McIlroy-Graeme McDowell def. Jim Furyk-Brandt Snedeker, 1 up

Recap: Europe’s best duo was 3 up after 12 holes and lost the next three in a row. But a bad drive by Snedeker on 18 gave Europe the full point.

Match 2: Phil Mickelson-Keegan Bradley def. Luke Donald-Sergio Garcia, 4 and 3

Recap: Davis Love found himself a power couple and he’ll ride them till the end. Bradley was magical with the putter and Mickelson was a top-notch cheerleader.

Match 3: Jason Dufner-Zach Johnson def. Lee Westwood-Francesco Molinari, 3 and 2

Recap: The morning’s biggest upset match. The U.S. settled down after the first few holes and were super smooth on the back nine. Low-stress match.

Match 4: Ian Poulter-Justin Rose def. Steve Stricker-Tiger Woods, 2 and 1

Recap: Tiger Woods performed terribly from the opening tee shot, which he snap-hooked. It’s a miracle the match got to the 17^th hole.