For just the second time in the last nine years, Team GB took the honours in the Simpson Cup fourball matches, as they established a priceless 4-2 lead after a tremendous day's golf at Baltusrol's Upper Course on Tuesday.

Birdie streaks, holed 7-irons, back-nine comebacks - this day literally had it all, as the players put on a heck of an exhibition in sweltering conditions. It could just as easily have been the Americans who finished the day on top, but in the end the plucky Brits held on to protect a crucial advantage in their bid for a first win on American soil since the inaugural event at TPC Sawgrass in 2012.

The top match saw Simpson Cup ever-present Ian Bishop partner with rookie Tim O'Reilly for Team GB. Opposite them were the experienced Jake Nelson, along with Maryland's Charles Young, who drew first blood by winning the opening hole. But Bishop and O'Reilly put on a masterful display from there, building a four-hole lead by the turn. Despite a fine birdie from Nelson at the 11th, the Brits kept up the momentum to close out an impressive 5&4 victory, and put the first point on the board.

Yet Team USA responded in kind in the second game - with the formidable duo of Chad Pfeifer and Todd Tongue overcoming a late fightback from Mike Browne and Tom Nicoll to bag a 2&1 win - the highlight of which was a 30-foot birdie putt from Tongue, which found the cup at the 11th.

The third match was a topsy-turvy affair, with Mike Stafford and Steve Ogletree getting their noses ahead early, before a surge from GB rookies Steve Cross and Tirthraj Thapa put them one up at the turn. Much of the back nine was spent deadlocked, before Stafford put the USA one up on 14. It was a lead they weren't to relinquish, eventually chalking up a 3&2 triumph.

Thereafter, it was pretty much a sea of blue. Kate Surman and Neil Flynn played consistent golf between them - never losing a hole until, quite remarkably, USA's Dathan Edwards holed out from 145 yards at the 14th to extend the match! Nevertheless, it wasn't enough, as he and Shauna Snyder succumbed to a 4&3 defeat.

In the penultimate match, Kushal Limbu (of the Royal Gurkha Rifles) returned to the Simpson Cup seven years after his debut for Team GB at Royal St George's. He did it in style too, with him and Andy Stevens playing scintillating golf to go 4 up at one stage. Opponents Pat Burke and Alexander Glenn-Camden then mounted a spirited fightback on the back nine, reducing the deficit to one, and pushing Limbu and Stevens all the way. However, it proved in vain, as the two Brits held on for a narrow 2up win.



And in the bottom game, Scotland's Chris Paterson kept up his unbeaten record in the Simpson Cup, as he and David Hayden MC played some of the best golf of the day; powering to a 6&5 victory over USA's Nick Kimmel and John Goudie. Paterson in particular delighted the crowds with some tremendous birdies - including a two at the 7th hole, having hit his tee shot to just six feet.

That brought the curtain down on a terrific first day's golf, and for GB captain Dave Ward, it could hardly have gone much better. The last time GB won the fourball session on this side of the Atlantic was a decade ago - when Ward himself was the captain, and lifted the trophy the following day.

If the omens are good for Ward and Team GB, they are less promising for USA captain Marty Caraway. No team in Simpson Cup history has ever come from behind to win the event after losing the fourball matches, so his charges will have their work cut out to turn things around.

But that's the funny thing about matchplay and team events - anything can happen, and when the tide turns, it can turn quickly. The hosts have a proud record on their home turf too, so they aren't going to give up without a fight tomorrow.



Singles lineups revealed

After a breathless day's golf, the captains convened to unveil their lineups (see screenshot below) for the Wednesday singles matches on the Lower Course. And, as expected, there are some enticing encounters to look forward to when things get under way (8am ET).

The opening match sees Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha take on GB's James Smith - the traditional duel between the two founder's picks. Idaho's Pfeifer, who now boasts a 9-2-0 record in the Simpson Cup, lines up against Limbu in match four - with the latter having shown his steel in making a series of clutch putts on the back nine today. Game seven also throws up an interesting duo, with a pair of scratch golfers in Nelson and Browne coming up against each other. And it could all end up hinging on the final match, which sees Burke and Stevens reigniting the thrilling contest they had today.

With 13 points up for grabs, this thing is still wide open - especially as Team USA only need 7.5 more points to retain the trophy. Will they have enough in the tank to pull off a comeback victory on the final day? Or will the visitors finally end their losing streak in America, and get the job done?

You can follow all the action via live scoring tomorrow by clicking here. Additionally, the Team GB and Team USA Twitter accounts, along with our Instagram account, will bring it all to your screen, as it happens. What a final day we have in store - make sure you don't miss a beat!