Green but very good Europe's Ryder Cup rookies performed like veterans Click here for more on this story Posted: Friday September 24, 1999 08:31 PM   Miguel Jimenez (top) and Padraig Harrington's strong start set the tone for the European rookies Friday. AP BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) -- The kid can play. And so, too, can the rest of Europe's Ryder Cup rookies. Sergio Garcia, the 19-year-old European version of Tiger Woods known as "El Nino," wasn't the only rookie to stir the crowd Friday as Europe took a 6-2 lead in the first day of the 33rd Ryder Cup matches. Rookies contributed to the scoring in every match they played, and the only rookie to lose was not a European but an American, David Duval. Garcia and Miguel Jimenez of Spain, Paul Lawrie of Scotland and Padraig Harrington of Ireland helped the Europeans take a 21/2-11/2 lead in the opening foursome matches Friday, and then Lawrie, Garcia and Jimenez played key roles in the afternoon. "We no longer have seven rookies," European team captain Mark James said after the morning matches. "I think it will do the new boys some good." In the most closely followed match of the morning, Garcia and Jesper Parnevik of Sweden defeated Woods and Tom Lehman 2 and 1. Garcia and Woods, both trained in golf since age 3, were billed as the rivalry of the future, a feeling that intensified when Garcia and Woods fought it out last month in the PGA Championship. But Garcia said that didn't come into play. "Here it's Europe against the USA, it's not Sergio against Tiger. Everybody needs to understand that," Garcia said. The Europeans said they were nervous but didn't lose confidence even as the heavily favored Americans jumped to leads in three of the first four matches. "I didn't feel cool inside, but after that first drive, it wasn't that bad, really," said Lawrie, who played with fellow Scot and Ryder Cup veteran Colin Montgomerie in the morning. They defeated Duval, America's only rookie, and Phil Mickelson 3 and 2. "We're very disappointed," Duval said. "The match certainly didn't seem like it should have been a 3 and 2 match." While Lawrie played well in the match, it was Montgomerie, who often has been frustrated playing in the United States, who helped his partner allay the jitters by holing several key putts of 6-10 feet. "He's like a rock," Lawrie said of Montgomerie. It was not that the United States team played poorly. Most of the matches were close throughout. "The striking thing was the standard of play," James said. "Both teams played fabulous golf." Payne Stewart and Davis Love III had several chances to put away the all-rookie team of Jimenez and Harrington in the morning, but managed only a draw worth a half-point. "We played good and we got a halve out of it," Stewart said. "For two rookies, they played extremely well together." It was more of the same in the afternoon, with European rookies playing in three of the four best ball matches. Mickelson and Jim Furyk had a combined score of 60, yet lost to Garcia and Parvenik. "It was very disappointing," said Mickelson, who missed an 8-foot birdie putt on 18 that would have halved the match. It was Parnevik, with four birdies and an eagle on the front nine, who kept the Europeans in that match until Garcia chipped in for eagle on the par-5, 14th hole for a 1-up lead that stood. "A fantastic day," Garcia said. "The rookies have done well. Sometimes the people say things that are wrong and we are trying to prove that and just trying to play the best we can."   Related information Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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