American Tiger Woods has lavished praise on Ryder Cup rookie Nicolas Colsaerts after the Belgian produced a record-breaking display to earn a crucial point for Europe in the afternoon fourballs on day one at Medinah.

Colsaerts helped prevent a fourballs whitewash for Europe as he carded eight birdies and an eagle, the best even performance from a debutant in the Ryder Cup, as he and Lee Westwood defeated Woods and partner Steve Stricker.

Woods, who could have halved the match but missed a ten footer on the 18<sup>th, recovered from an insipid start to his seventh Ryder Cup start to keep USA in the hunt in the fourth match, but even the 14-time major champion couldn't upstage Colsearts.

Nicolas Colsearts
Colsearts put together a record round for a Ryder Cup rookie to defeat Woods and Stricker. Reuters

"Nicolas probably had one of the greatest putting rounds I've ever seen," said Woods. "We had a chance to get all square on the last hole and I missed it.

"I didn't play very good this morning at all. I was hitting it awful and not doing anything well. But I hit it good this afternoon. I drove it great this afternoon and was in position, but we ran into a guy who just made absolutely everything.

"Sean (Foley, his coach) and I talked about my swing at basically half-time and made a few adjustments, and I really hit it well this afternoon, but as I said, we ran into a guy who made everything today. I don't know what he shot. He was like seven-under through 10. I quit counting after that."

Colsaerts' performance for Europe mirrored that of his American counterparts in the other three fourballs matches, with the likes of Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley and Matt Kuchar all hitting their straps on the greens.

But Woods' performance, coupled a string of impressive showings from Davis Love III's team means he will sit out the Saturday morning foursomes; the first time he's missed a session during his Ryder Cup career.

The foursomes pairings will see Webb Simpson and Watson again combine against Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, who were victorious in Friday's foursomes, while match two sees unbeaten pair Bradley and Phil Mickelson face Westwood and Luke Donald.

Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson will pair up again to face Colsearts and Sergio Garcia and in a repeat of the first match on day one, Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker will play Northern Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

Ryder Cup