Tiger Woods is sitting out a session for the first time in his Ryder Cup career, but could have no complaints following a performance the former world number one admitted was "awful".
Woods sprayed the ball all over a Medinah course upon which he won two of his 14 major championships as he and Steve Stricker lost 2&1 in Friday's foursomes to Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.
And although he improved markedly in the fourballs to almost snatch half a point from an inspired Nicolas Colsaerts and Lee Westwood, two opening-day defeats for the fourth time in seven Ryder Cup appearances meant Davis Love became the first US captain to bench Woods in either the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup.
Love, whose side still took a 5-3 lead into Saturday after winning the fourballs 3-1, said: "We just felt like we didn't want anybody to have to play five matches on this golf course. It's a big, long golf course. It's tough.
"We just don't want guys to be worn out. We need Tiger and Steve in the afternoon. We need Tiger and Steve on Sunday. There's so much that goes into this week and I saw it Monday night and Tuesday night. Our guys were out of the team room and in bed.
"The first thing they asked me when we got done playing or practising is, 'When can we go home?'
"They wanted to know as soon as they got finished today, when can we go rest, because it's going to be a long day tomorrow. I think Tiger needs a rest, Steve needs a rest, I need a rest, and it's a team effort.
"Tiger and Steve are very supportive friends of mine.
"They told me they would do whatever I asked them to do and I can guarantee you, neither one of them are very happy about it. Not because they are sitting out, but because they have to wait till tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon to come back.
"It's not about Tiger, Steve or Bubba (Watson) or Webb (Simpson). It's about this team trying to win."
