An amazing 35-yard eagle putt by 21-year-old American Webb Simpson, a student of religion, brought a dramatic finish to the opening session of the Walker Cup at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland today - and left the two sides level at 2-2.
Two down with two to play to English pair Jamie Moul and Danny Willett in the last of the morning foursomes, the United States grabbed a half when Simpson's outrageous putt followed a 25-footer for birdie by his partner Jonathan Moore on the 17th green.
Moul commented: 'Eagle up the last - you can't do anything about that. We kept our noses in front most of the way and it's a little disappointing, but we'll try and make up for it this afternoon.'
Holders United States had drawn first blood when Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler beat the Scottish-Welsh pairing of Lloyd Saltman and Rhys Davies four and three.
Saltman and Davies, two survivors of Britain and Ireland's nail-biting one-point defeat in Chicago two years ago, are bringing the curtain down on their glittering amateur careers this weekend.
But they never found their best form, failing to record a single birdie and being an approximate seven over par after three-putting the 13th and 15th.
Davies missed from four feet each time and on the first occasion the Americans won the hole when Fowler sank a 25-footer for par and their opponents failed to two putt from only 15 feet.
Local hero Rory McIlroy, the 18-year-old who was such a star of the Open at Carnoustie in July and who is also about to launch his pro career, teamed up with compatriot Jonny Caldwell and they were relieved to take a half with American champion Colt Knost and Dustin Johnson.
The visitors were one up with only the 550-yard 18th to play and when Johnson's chip from over the green rattled into the flagstick and stopped four feet away - it was probably heading off the green - victory was in sight.
But McIlroy, from just short of the green, had pitched to seven feet, Caldwell holed and Knost missed for a bogey six and for only a half.
McIlroy said: 'I think it was the right result in the end - they were pretty lucky with their pitch. We somehow made a five and it was good enough. The crowd were absolutely fantastic and we wanted to give them something to cheer about.'
The only home winners, though, were English duo John Parry and David Horsey.
They twice trailed early on, but turned it round to beat the experienced Trip Kuehne and Kyle Stanley two and one.
The finish may not have matched that in the bottom game, but it was still pretty special. Parry hit a wedge to within a foot of the hole on the 435-yard 17th for a conceded birdie.
'I was actually aiming a bit left of the flag and just hit it hard,' said the Harrogate golfer.
America are the holders, but they are also the underdogs. They have lost three of the last four clashes and last won away from home at Portmarnock in 1991 - when Phil Mickelson was a member of their side.
