LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AFP) -- The 37th Ryder Cup was set to get underway here on Friday with Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim of the United States taking on Europe's Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson in the first of the morning's foursomes.

The Americans are bent on breaking the six-year-long European stranglehold on the small, golden trophy that was first contested for in 1927.
But it was Nick Faldo's European team that started as favorites for the first time on U.S. soil following three straight wins, the last two of which by record 18.5 to 9.5 scores.
U.S. captain Paul Azinger has set up the par-71 Valhalla Golf Club course east of Louisville to suit the big hitters and with the weather set fair, a bounty of birdies was expected.
Mickelson, who takes the lead in the U.S. team in the absence of the injured Tiger Woods, believes the team that attacks best will win.
“It wasn't going to be a course where you won a lot of holes with par and it's worked out perfectly,” he said.
“We have a very aggressive team and so does the Europeans and it fits both sides.
“You are going to have to win holes with birdies.”
Second up will be Justin Leonard, who sunk the winning putt in 1999, the last time the Americans won the trophy, and another of the six rookies in the U.S. side, Hunter Mahan, taking on big hitters Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey.
Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell are then matched with English pair Justin Rose and Ian Poulter and in the morning's anchor tie, Jim Furyk and 48-year-old local hero Kenny Perry go up against the pairing the Americans fear most, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
Up to 40,000 golf fans were expected to invade the Valhalla Golf club east of Louisville on Friday and were expected to create an atmosphere more in keeping with a football game than a golf contest.
The competition continues with the first of the fourballs in the afternoon with both captains having to submit their selections before the foursomes matches are completed.
There will be another round of foursomes and fourballs on Saturday with the closing 12 singles involving all 24 players on Sunday.
The United States lead in overall wins since the first competition in 1927 by 24-10 with two ties, but Europe have won the last three and five out of the last six.