European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo sprang a surprise on Friday by dropping two of his top players, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, from Saturday's foursomes matches against the United States.

With holders Europe trailing by 2- points to 5- after the opening day, Faldo omitted the duo from a Cup session for the first time since their respective debuts in the biennial team competition.

"Everybody is giving everything," Faldo told reporters at Valhalla Golf Club. "You'll see from the pairings a few changes because we need some fresh legs for tomorrow.

"I know every single man is giving 100 percent on every single shot. And I've been there before.

"This is the way it turned out on this particular day. Tomorrow will be a different day."

Spaniard Garcia, in partnership with Westwood, halved his opening foursomes match on Friday before losing his afternoon fourball with compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Briton Westwood ended the opening day with two halves to extend his unbeaten Cup run to 12 matches.

"Lee is a very strong character here," Faldo said of his fellow Englishman.

"He produces great tee shots when they're needed, great shots, great putts. He thrives on it and, like all the guys, he's done a grand day's work."

Faldo retained two pairings for Saturday's foursomes encounters, British duo Ian Poulter and Justin Rose and Irishman Padraig Harrington partnering Swede Robert Karlsson. Poulter and Rose had also combined in Friday's fourball matches.

In new combinations, Faldo will send out Jimenez with Britain's Graeme McDowell, and Swede Henrik Stenson with British rookie Oliver Wilson in his first match.

U.S captain Paul Azinger was reluctant to comment on Faldo's selections for the second morning.

"I'm not going to justify why Nick Faldo does what he does," he said.

"I'm sure he's confident in the guys he put out there. The way I look at the teams they put out there, they look pretty strong to me."