RYDER CUP DAY TWO STORIES Ryder Cup Home Page Europeans increase lead to four points Europeans must avoid 1999 mistakes Great team spirit carrying European team Paul Casey seals victory with ace Zach Johnson saves American blushes Scott Verplank frustrated at being overlooked Day Two - Match by Match analysis Ryder Cup Scores

Zach Johnson saves American blushes

Rookie Zach Johnson delivered a spectacular one-man show for the United States on Saturday as Europe strengthened their grip on the Ryder Cup.

After leading a stirring fightback to halve his foursomes match with Chad Campbell the previous day, the in-form Johnson was responsible for the only American victory in the morning's fourball matches.

Making his debut in the format with wildcard pick Scott Verplank, the 30-year-old reeled off four birdies in the first five holes, and seven in all, to pave the way for a 2 and 1 win against Padraig Harrington and Henrik Stenson.

He fittingly ended the match by chipping in for birdie at the par-four 17th to deny the Europeans a late rally.

"I had a good read there," Johnson told reporters of his stylish finish. "Scott said it was right centre and I just got up and hit it.

"I figured I'd give it a run because he's got 20 feet up the hill. It finally went in."

Verplank, making his first appearance of the week, applauded his partner's superb form on a day of rain and intermittent sunshine at the K Club.

"He didn't need much help today," he said. "He was in another world.

"He was just awesome. He hit every shot solid and made a lot of putts."

U.S. captain Tom Lehman, who made a late decision to include Johnson in his foursome pairings for the afternoon because of his morning display, added: "Zach's just playing too well.

"The course and the conditions are tougher today and he still played great."

One of four rookies in the U.S. team, Johnson holed an eight-footer at the first, hit his approach to four feet at the second and narrowly missed a 10-footer for another birdie at the par-three third.

He sank an eight-footer at the par-four fourth to halve the hole after both Europeans had effective tap-ins for birdie and picked up his fourth shot at the fifth to keep the Americans one ahead.

Urged on by repeated cries of "Go Zach go" from the American supporters, he rolled in a five-foot birdie putt at the 10th to leave the Europeans trailing by two.

Johnson, who came close to a Presidents Cup call-up last year, then birdied 15 and 17 before celebrating the lone U.S. victory of the morning with a fist pump.