LEE Westwood hit Europe's first Monday morning shot in Ryder Cup history at Celtic Manor today.

Westwood, Europe's talisman against the United States, was first out in the delayed 12-match singles schedule following a competition scarred by heavy rain and 13 hours of delays.

Europe needed a total of five points to regain the trophy lost in Louisville, Kentucky two years ago, holding a 9 1/2-6 1/2 lead overnight after dropping just half a point in six matches yesterday.

And Westwood, even before he teed off against Steve Stricker, had climbed to world number two for the first time in his career and will end Tiger Woods' five-year reign at the top if he finishes first or second at the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland next weekend.

Westwood, who arrived on the first tee to chants of "there's only one Lee Westwood" from a packed grandstand, drove to just off a mist-shrouded fairway before halving the hole in four after Stricker got down in two from a green-side bunker.

Back on the tee, 21-year-old Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy prepared to start his match against former Open champion Stewart Cink, but the mist was thickening.