GLENEAGLES, Scotland — Europe secured the first point of the 40th Ryder Cup when Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson beat Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson 5 and 4 in the opening fourballs on Friday.

But the American rookie pairing of Justin Spieth and Patrick Reed looked set to even the contest, leading by 5 shots after 12 holes against Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher.

Rose and Stenson grabbed the lead of the opening match on the second hole and pulled away, with Rose making a 15-foot birdie putt at the 10th to go up by four. He closed out the match at the 14th with another birdie.

“We have never played together in a team match so to get off to such a great start and build some momentum is fantastic,” said Rose, who was stung by a wasp on the thumb at the ninth hole.

Watson and Simpson failed to birdie in bright but windy conditions.

Europe was also ahead in the second match, with Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer up by two against Rickie Fowler and rookie Jimmy Walker. Walker, the third American rookie in action in the opening session, holed a bunker shot for an eagle at the 9th.

In the highly anticipated fourth match, Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley were 1 up on Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia after 12.

Garcia produced a magical shot at the fourth, holing from a greenside bunker from a terrible lie. He chipped to the top of the ridge and the ball rolled down the slope into the hole.