The Ryder Cup made a big splash with the fans at the seventh hole in Friday's opening foursomes as players from both sides struggled to carry the pond fronting the mammoth 601-yard par-five.

Europe's Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson hit successive shots into the water to lose the hole to Americans Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan without a putt taken.

The tables were turned with the next group as Americans Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell allowed Justin Rose and Ian Poulter to win without taking a putt.

Spectators crowded around the green on the par-five had seen only two putts attempted from the first three matches in the opening session.

Local favourite Kenny Perry brought the crowd to their feet by sinking a short birdie putt that gave him and Jim Furyk a 1-up lead over European stalwarts Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, who flubbed a short pitch from the rough.

48-year-old Perry, showered with cheers as he left the green, paused to slap five with his elderly father Ken, wearing a U.S. team jacket atop his blue overalls and sitting in a folding chair to watch the action.

"It's very exciting to see all of this," Ken Perry told Reuters. "This is one of the highlights of his career.

"And when he wins on Sunday night it will certainly be the highlight."