As much as Europe captain Luke Donald enjoyed the domination his players showed against the United States on Friday's first day of the Ryder Cup, he was just as pleased with how they handled the hecklers.

Europe seized a 5.5-2.5 lead at Bethpage Black, winning both the foursomes and four-ball sessions over a United States squad with 12 of the world's 23 top-ranked golfers.

The visitors, however, also handled the pressure of a New York crowd with mental toughness that showed the benefits of preparation.

"A lot of mental resilience," said Donald. "You just look at some of the putts these guys holed when it mattered, it's pretty gratifying for a captain.

"It gets loud, and the guys handled it with absolute class and poise. To be prepared for an away Ryder Cup you have to deal with that. I

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