THERE IS no doubting the European partnership that has most captured the hearts of the supporters here. At various points on the Twenty Ten course a familiar anthem carries across this particular Welsh real estate.

The most guttural rendering, though, is reserved for the first tee when Edoardo and Francesco Molinari stride into view. It's a cue for the packed grandstand to launch into "there's only two Molinaris", a homily borrowed from the soccer terraces.

The Italian brothers are not noted for being particularly demonstrative but the 2010 Ryder Cup may change that forever.

No one has gestured more enthusiastically to the packed galleries, their frantic arm-raising after a birdie or a good shot resembling a volume control. The European fan base lap it up.

Yesterday they provided substance as well as theatre. They faced the previously unbeaten Matt Kuchar and Stewart Cink and by the 10th had seen their one-hole lead disappear.

Francesco, the younger of the brothers, endured a public torture on the greens of the back nine, as he pushed, pulled and under-hit a number of putts from inside 10 feet that could have nudged them in the right direction.

When the Americans took the initiative with Kuchar's birdie on the 13th, Francesco responded in kind two holes later.

But the euphoria was short-lived as the Italians promptly handed back the lead with a bogey at the next hole. Edoardo could only watch in horror as his bother left a six-foot putt for a birdie and a win short on the 16th.

But roared on by an increasingly vociferous crowd and their team-mates, they took the match down the final hole.

Kuchar hit the green with his third shot to the par five to about 18 feet, Edoardo beat it by some five feet, but it was Francesco who would strike the telling blow, sending a gorgeous wedge to about three feet above the hole.

He suppressed any lingering demons by calming rolling in the putt for a winning birdie and an unlikely half in the match.

His reward is a tilt at Tiger Woods while Edoardo will take on Rickie Fowler.

European captain Colin Montgomerie underlined the crucial mental fillip for the brothers in earning half a point, having been beaten in the other game they played.

"I think the Molinaris will stand on the first tee three inches taller than they were when they started their round yesterday," Montgomerie admitted. "It's fabulous for them and will benefit hugely from what they achieved yesterday evening.

"Somebody has to play Tiger Woods. Francesco hits the ball so straight. It's a difficult game playing the world number one but anyone can beat anyone in this format."

Edoardo preferred to bask in the moment of yesterday's remarkable climax in no doubt the brothers deserved to take something from their match, even if they had to wait until the last putt of the day.

"We played very well, just made a mistake on 16 where we both had a bogey. But, apart from that, we deserved our half point.

"It was a great finish. When Cink put his drive into the bunker (on 18), it was two against one. So we definitely had the advantage and we were good enough to win.

"Now we want to go ahead and win the (final) session and win the Ryder Cup."

How the crowds would love them, as individuals now, to take centre stage.