Fasth revels in fourballs pressure

Despite being rested yesterday afternoon, Niclas Fasth, the only one of Sam Torrance's rookies to play in the morning fourballs, could not wait for another taste of Ryder Cup action. Fasth found himself in a classic match as the Swede and Padraig Harrington took Phil Mickelson and David Toms all the way to the 18th before conceding Europe's only point of the morning session.

After being three down with six to play, the European pairing fought bravely in trying to haul back the deficit and would have grabbed a half had Harrington's birdie-putt at the last not lipped out.

Fasth knew he was going to be replaced by Harrington's fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley for the foursomes but was thrilled with his part in a thrilling match. "It was absolutely fantastic, just as I expected," he said. "I appreciated the match, even if we did not win.

"I have never had more fun on a golf course. Winning is great, but the game is half the thing. The match was really tight but I probably play my best under these circumstances."

Fasth usually looks as if he fits into the more dour, cool image of a Swedish golfer than the Jesper Parnevik slightly eccentric mould. But the 30-year-old has proved himself capable of rising to the occasion.

He was almost unknown to the sporting public when he finished second in the Open at Royal Lytham last year, while in the World Matchplay in San Diego at the start of the season he showed more battling qualities than many of his European colleagues to beat Michael Campbell and Mark Calcavecchia before losing to Paul Azinger only at the 20th hole.

"I am now here for the first time and I am having so much fun," he added. "It's really tough on you but that's what we live for. We don't actually live for just going out and playing a decent round and collecting the money. It's the fierce competition at the highest level that we thrive on."

After Harrington and Fasth won the 17th to trail by one with one to play, Toms hit a superb approach to eight feet and though he charged it four feet past, the American holed the one back after Harrington's putt agonisingly failed to drop.

Earlier, Fasth had holed crucial putts at the 10th and the 13th, celebrating each by pumping his fist. "Niclas was fantastic," Torrance said. "It was hard to believe he was a Ryder Cup rookie."

There was plenty of drama at the 18th as usual, the short par-four 10th did not prove as exciting as most players laid up as they had threatened to do. But Sergio Garcia did go for the green, only to miss the putting surface by inches. The Spaniard still made a par after pitching to three feet.

Three years ago Parnevik was the Swedish star of Europe but Torrance decided not to play him in either session yesterday after he struggled in practice. "Jesper is a really good team player," Fasth said. "He hasn't emphasised his own role, but rather what's best for the team."