America holds the advantage in the Ryder Cup – after an opening day rules row between Rory McIlroy and Jim Furyk.

World number one McIlroy and American hero Furyk clashed after just 15 minutes of the 2012 event at Medinah.

McIlroy reacted with fury when he and foursomes partner Graeme McDowell were denied a drop from near a sprinkler head on the second hole at Medinah.

Furyk rejected Europe’s claims for a drop and his head-shaking infuriated McIlroy.

The Ulsterman was further annoyed when Furyk said: “I’ve known you guys a lot of years, but you know the rules. That’s not a drop.”

The referee with the group was unable to make a ruling and there was a long wait before the chief referee ruled in favour of Furyk and partner Brandt Snedeker.

McIlroy stormed off shaking his head as a fan shouted: “Just hit a better tee shot next time.”

McDowell and McIlroy lost that hole but they recovered to win their match on the final in the morning session.

Afterwards McIlroy said: “We won our point for the team, that is all that really matters to me.”

Europe shared the morning foursomes 2-2 but the scoreboard was a sea of red in the afternoon as America built up a 5-3 lead on Friday evening.

Phil Mickelson and Irish American Keegan Bradley played a huge part in that lead after beating previously unbeaten foursomes duo Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia 4&3.

They also beat McIlroy and McDowell 2&1 in the afternoon fourballs.