The United States won the opening Ryder Cup session for the first time in 17 years to lead holders Europe by three points to one after Friday's foursome matches at Valhalla Golf Club.

Despite trailing early on in all four alternate shot encounters, Paul Azinger's Americans mounted a gritty fightback in bright sunshine in their bid to end a run of three successive defeats in the biennial competition.

The U.S. had not won an opening session since the 1991 matches at Kiawah Island.

Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan drew first blood with a 3&2 victory over Britain's Paul Casey and Swede Henrik Stenson in the second match out after recovering from a bogey-bogey start.

"It feels great," Leonard said in a greenside interview after he and Mahan sealed the win with a regulation par on the 16th green.

"I told Hunter I lost the first two holes for us on purpose to take the pressure off. We had a lot of fun out there and we're looking forward to this afternoon."

Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell came from one down after 12 holes to edge British pairing Ian Poulter and rookie Justin Rose one up after their opponents three-putted 18.

"We didn't play perfect but we recovered from our mistakes, made a couple of birdies and picked our way out of it," Cink said.

In a topsy-turvy battle in the top match, Phil Mickelson and rookie Anthony Kim recovered from three down with six holes remaining to finish all square with Irishman Padraig Harrington and Swede Robert Karlsson.

The Americans won three consecutive holes from the 13th and had a chance to clinch victory at the last before Kim failed to escape from a greenside bunker.

"I thought we might have a chance on 17 and 18 but unfortunately we didn't make a birdie," said Mickelson, who is appearing in his seventh Ryder Cup. "We were very grateful to take a half having been three down with six to go."

Local favourite Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk came from one down to lead Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Britain's Lee Westwood by two with two to play before having to settle for a half.

Kentucky native Perry missed a four-foot par putt on 17 for the win and drove into water at the last to let the Europeans back into the match.

"It was just a battle out there," a disappointed Perry said. "We fought hard and played great. That's just the way it goes. We had our shot."

Garcia, an inspirational figure for Europe since his Cup debut in 1999, extended his unbeaten record in foursomes matches to 8-0-1 (win-loss-half).

Europe are bidding for an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory while the United States are seeking their first triumph since their come-from-behind success at Brookline in 1999.