A SENSATIONAL afternoon comeback by Europe in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles was given added spice by criticism of Sergio Garcia, one of the heroes of the foursomes, by Nick Faldo.

The Englishman, who captained Europe to a heavy defeat at Valhalla in 2008, described the Spaniard's contribution "as useless" and said the player had a "bad attitude" in the 16-11 defeat.

Faldo, who made his comments on an American television station where he works an analyst, was heavily criticised last night by members of the European team after they fought back to take a 5-3 lead into the second day of the competition.

Garcia, who with Rory McIlroy lost his opening match to Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, came back to snatch a half-point in the foursomes against Jimmy Walker and Ricky Fowler.

Garcia said of Faldo's comments: "I guess he doesn't feel European. That's the only thing I can think of.

"You know, there's a lot of things I could say about Nick Faldo, but I'm not going to put myself down to his level."

Graeme McDowell, who won a point in the foursomes with Victor Dubuisson, referred to the dropping of Garcia and Lee Westwood in 2008 by saying: "You've got one of the best Ryder Cup pairings of all time being sat down on a Saturday of a Ryder Cup that we go on to lose.

"I'd say Sergio was fairly useless that afternoon, yeah, because he wasn't able to play. So, yeah, I agree."

McIlroy, the world No1, threw his arm around Garcia at a news conference, saying: "You're not useless."

Garcia added with a smile: "Thanks, Nick. I love you, too."

The war of words came at the end of an enthralling first day's play of the 40th Ryder Cup.

After losing the fourballs 2½-1½, Europe were undefeated in all four foursomes in the afternoon with Tom Watson, the USA captain, facing strong criticism for dropping the rookies, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who had won emphatically in the morning session.

Watson said of his decision: "There were a variety of reasons but I won't go into those. There are certain personal things you do not go into details and talk to the press about, bottom line."

Watson was also criticised by Butch Harmon, the coach and commentator, for putting Phil Mickelson, 44, back out in the afternoon foursomes after he had won his fourballs match at the 18th.

Mickelson and Keegan Bradley lost 3&2 to McDowell and Dubuisson in the afternoon, with Harmon claiming five-time major winner Mickelson had "run out of gas". Watson, however, said of the pairing that had won four successive matches in the Ryder Cup: "I had to give them a shot. They have done well in alternate shot format. I had to give them a go."

Asked if he had been out-coached, Watson said: "We were outplayed." He added of Europe: "They got it done this afternoon. I have to give them credit."

Paul McGinley, the Europe captain, praised his side's

"great response" to the morning setback, adding: "It shows a huge amount of character that we have in the team, the huge amount of talent."

It was a disappointing debut for Stephen Gallacher, the 39-year-old Scot, who was heavily beaten in the morning fourballs with Ian Poulter. However, McGinley said: "I would like to get him back out tomorrow afternoon. He'll be practising tomorrow with a view to that. It just didn't flow between him and Poulter today but that can happen."

He said he would be giving Poulter a "different role" this morning. He has paired the Englishman with McIlroy, adding: "I put him back with Rory because he played the senior figure today with Stevie and obviously it

did not go well. Ian Poulter has

a big heart as we all know and that was a real body blow for him

to lose a match heavily in a

Ryder Cup.

"I just want to bring Ian Poulter back up again and put him on the shoulder of the world's best player. I know he will respond to that."