The United States won the opening Ryder Cup session for the first time in 17 years to lead holders Europe by three points to one after Friday's foursome matches at Valhalla Golf Club.
Despite trailing early on in all four alternate shot encounters, Paul Azinger's Americans mounted a gritty fightback in bright sunshine in their bid to end a run of three successive defeats in the biennial competition.
The US had not won an opening session since the 1991 matches at Kiawah Island.
Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan drew first blood with a 3&2 victory over Britain's Paul Casey and Swede Henrik Stenson in the second match out after recovering from a bogey-bogey start.
Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell came from one down after 12 holes to edge British pairing Ian Poulter and rookie Justin Rose one up after their opponents three-putted 18.
In a topsy-turvy battle in the top match, Phil Mickelson and rookie Anthony Kim recovered from three down with six holes remaining to finish all square with Irishman Padraig Harrington and Swede Robert Karlsson.
The Americans won three consecutive holes from the 13th and had a chance to clinch victory at the last before Kim failed to escape from a greenside bunker.
Local favourite Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk came from one down to lead Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Britain's Lee Westwood by two with two to play before having to settle for a half.
Kentucky native Perry missed a four-foot par putt on 17 for the win and drove into water at the last to let the Europeans back into the match.
Garcia, an inspirational figure for Europe since his Cup debut in 1999, extended his unbeaten record in foursomes matches to 8-0-1.
