A magnificent effort from Tom Lehman in the first match on course at Brookline gave the Americans a sprint start as they sought to reel in Europe's overnight lead.

Lee Westwood, one of Europe's most reliable players, had no answer to Lehman's efforts and collapsed in feeble fashion 3&2 .

The Englishman appeared to be fatigued after his exertions of the previous two days, when he had played in all four matches.

Lehman, by contrast, was in determined mood as he kicked off the Americans' assault on the first tee.

He produced a textbook display to romp to an emotional victory, leaving the final green to enormous cheers, with tears in his eyes.

Lehman was never in trouble after claiming birdies at the fourth and fifth holes to move into a two-hole lead.

The match looked like slipping away from Westwood - one of his side's most reliable players - but he showed his mettle with a long birdie putt at the seventh to move to within one hole of Lehman.

Lehman lipped out when he had a chance for a birdie at the ninth hole - but Westwood was unable to capitalise on his mistake as he did the same with his own putt for a half, and the US were two-up at the turn.

Westwood was suffering a torrid time with his putter - and another miss at the 10th handed Lehman a three-hole lead.

And when Lehman holed from the edge of the green at the 13th the contest looked all but over - as the American himself realised when he leapt in the air in delight and sprinted off the green to the next tee.

There was no way back for Westwood, who could only look on as the US-dominated galleries hailed their hero.