But it was Europe who gained the momentum late on Saturday afternoon as they established leads in all six matches in the third session before play was halted shortly before 6pm GMT.
All the matches -- four fourballs and two foursomes -- have at least nine holes to play and will resume Sunday morning, before the afternoon singles matches -- weather permitting.
It was a late and welcome reversal of fortune for European team captain Colin Montgomerie, who looked on in frustration for most of the day watching his team fall behind. But the 47-year-old Scot was upbeat come close of play.
"It's good to see the momentum going our way, it's key and we haven't had any yet and its been a superb session...Yes, none of these games are finished but we are in a very, very strong position," Montgomerie said, AFP reported.
Europe are currently 2 up or better in four of the matches to be finished and 1 up in the remaining two.
While he acknowledged that Europe's position is now looking quite strong, U.S. captain Corey Pavin said his team will try to bounce back in the morning and avoid a European whitewash in the third session.
"We are down in all six matches. But I have not seen points given for matches that are through four, five, six or seven holes, so we are to go out and try to turn those around and try to turn the momentum back in our favor," Pavin said, AFP reported.
"Yes, none of these games are finished but we are in a very, very strong position
--Colin Montgomerie, Europe's team captain
That momentum was established by the pairing of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker who won both their matches on Saturday -- the first against Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher, the second against Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson in the foursomes.
It was the first time Woods had opened with two wins in six appearances at the Ryder Cup.
"We are comfortable with one another and I think that's the biggest thing. Our games complement each other nicely," Woods' partner, Stricker said, AFP reported.
Meanwhile, Matt Kuchar and Stewart Cink picked up a valuable ½ point in their opening fourballs match with Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy.
The same four players met in the foursomes in session two, but it was the Cink and Kuchar who finally came out on top, securing a valuable point on the final hole to establish America's two point lead.
Europe would have been further behind had it not been for the pairing of England's Lee Westwood and Germany's Martin Kaymer.
Europe's number one golfer and the reigning USPGA champion won their opening fourballs match against Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson and finished all square with Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan in the foursomes.
Montgomerie was full of praise for the world number three.
"Quite simply, Lee Westwood is my top ranked player and has proved it. Simple as that. He's been unbelievable, in the team room, in the locker room, on the range, on the course," Montgomerie said, AFP reported.
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