Lee Westwood led from the front in trademark fashion as Europe set off on their quest to regain The Ryder Cup at a mist-shrouded Celtic Manor Resort.
Even before Westwood hit Europe's first Monday morning shot in Ryder Cup history, he had immediate cause for celebration.
Westwood, Europe's talisman against the United States, was first out in the delayed 12-match singles schedule following a competition scarred by heavy rain and 13 hours of delays.
And he did so in the knowledge he had climbed to World Number Two for the first time. He will end Tiger Woods' five-year reign at the top if he finishes first or second at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland next weekend.
Europe began the day needing five points for victory, and pathfinder Westwood once again found early rhythm as he went one up on Steve Stricker through five holes.
Behind him, Ryder Cup rookie Rory McIlroy made a blistering start against former Open Championship winner Stewart Cink, going two up after two holes before a dogged Cink clawed it back to all square as they set off down the fifth.
Europe's Luke Donald, facing the man who beat him to win £7 million in last weekend's FedEx Cup, stood one up against Jim Furyk after three, and it was all square between Ian Poulter and Matt Kuchar.
America initially led in just one of the first five matches, courtesy of Dustin Johnson's first hole victory over US PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer.
German Ryder Cup rookie Kaymer made a hash of his tee shot, and then struggled to get out of a green-side bunker as Johnson quietly went about his business.
After the early flurries, and with the sun beginning to pierce mist on the early holes, Europe had made a solid start, with Captain Colin Montgomerie having set out his stall through fielding players ranked among the world's top ten in the first four matches.
The rollercoaster nature of McIlroy's match continued at pace when Cink went one up after five, only for his opponent to immediately wipe out that advantage at the next.
While they traded blow for blow and Ross Fisher - a major player in Saturday's European masterclass - birdied from ten feet on the first against Jeff Overton, Kaymer's problems continued.
This time, he three-putted on the third, gifting Johnson a two hole lead, yet it remained the only red colour on the scoreboard as Montgomerie's men took charge.
And it was his major players who were doing him proud, with Westwood, Donald and Poulter all up in their matches, while Fisher, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Francesco Molinari also led behind them.
Molinari wasted no time in announcing his arrival against Woods, taking a first hole lead as the American's disappointing week continued less than 24 hours after he suffered the heaviest match play defeat of his professional career - 6&5 against Westwood and Donald.
A rampant Donald then went three up after six against a shell-shocked Furyk, and the United States were reeling under a birdie barrage.
Woods had suffered only one previous Ryder Cup singles defeat, and that was 13 years ago on debut against Costantino Rocca, but he appeared out of sorts.
Molinari quickly went two up, and he almost increased that advantage on the third when his bunker shot landed just inches from the hole.
Woods then missed a putt that would have reduced his deficit, and behind them, Molinari's brother Edoardo had clearly gained inspiration as he struck an immediate blow against American rookie Rickie Fowler.
But there was a glimmer of hope for United States Captain Corey Pavin when World Number Three Phil Mickelson, who had struggled throughout the three previous days at The Celtic Manor Resort, holed a 25 foot putt on the first green to lead Peter Hanson.
With all bar the last match between Graeme McDowell and Hunter Mahan out on the course, Europe were up in six and trailing in just three as they relentlessly pursued the five points required.
