DESPITE the evidence of the opening day, when the United States side remarkably and significantly pulled back or overturned leads in seven of the eight matches, the value of an early lead in match play can never be underestimated. Not only does winning a hole give a timely boost to the confidence, it can set the tone for the day's play. A player on the back foot is rarely as potent as one who gets used to teeing up first on every hole.

More often than not at the top level of the game it takes at least a birdie to win a hole. But not always. There are exceptions to every rule and this hole has the potential to be one of those. Earlier this week, European team member Robert Karlsson identified this testing par-3 as a "really challenging hole, one where many players will settle for hitting the middle of what is a very narrow green". Such a strategy, of course, is never a bad idea in match play, especially when hitting first. Few things in golf give an opponent more encouragement than watching a missed green at a par-3.

By that measure, par is suddenly a very good score here, one that is unlikely to lose the hole and may even win it, depending on the severity of the pin position. Karlsson believes that the hole plays its toughest when the flag is located to the back left of the kidney-shaped putting surface. Such a spot brings the huge bunker to the left of the green into play and, in turn, messes with the player's head over the tee-shot. Never underestimate the negative power of a last thought along the lines of "don't miss it over there" just before the club starts back from the ball.

13th: The Island, 352 yds par 4

FIRST things first. The yardage on the card is unlikely to match today's reality. It's almost a sure thing that the PGA of America officials will move the tee up to a point where some or many of the players will be tempted to drive this treacherous green. Indeed, given the severity and size of the target, Valhalla's so-called "signature hole" may have to be shortened to a point where a 3-wood is a legitimate option.

Whatever the actual yardage, players will be faced with the same basic options: they can either take on the risk of finding the water that all but surrounds the picturesque and striking putting surface, or they can "wimp out" by laying up short.

Both are legitimate plays, of course. And a lot will depend on the state of the individual matches. A man two down and looking to put some pressure on his opponent is much more likely to have a pop at the green than one who is two up and cruising.

Anyway, once the choice to go for it is made, there are but two real possibilities: a putt for an eagle or a wet golf ball.

Going for the safer – and more boring – option entails popping some sort of medium to long iron down the right side of the fairway, the pitching to the green from 90 yards or so. There are bunkers down the left side – six of them – and one on the right, but for the man playing safe these are hardly in play.

18th: Gahm Over, 547 yds par 5

THE best thing about this spectacular finishing hole is that it brings into play a variety of numbers all the way from three to seven. As Karlsson pointed out, "I can see fours losing this hole and sixes winning it." Which is, of course, the ideal scenario in match play, especially when we are talking about a game-deciding closing hole. The more that can happen, the more a hole gets into the heads of the players.

The question asked on the tee is relatively simple, even if finding the answer is less so: Can you hit your drive between the bunker on the left and the water on the right? As the play on the opening day of this 37th Ryder Cup proved, such a poser produced a variety of responses from Kenny Perry's and JB Holmes' dripping wet "nos" to the resounding "yes" emanating from Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell. Once the drive is successfully negotiated, the second shot is played uphill to a partially hidden, multi-level, horseshoe-shaped green that sits in a classic amphitheatre and can be approached from either of the two fairways, left or right. But it is safe to assume that players of this class will have thoughts only for hitting the green in two, a strategy that immediately brings into play the deep front bunker and, given the length of the approach, the rough behind. Neither, depending on the position of the pin, is any bargain.