British team opens up seven-point lead in Vivendi Trophy

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SAINT-NOM-LA-BRETECHE, France (AP) -- Britain and Ireland moved closer to victory in the Vivendi Trophy on Saturday, opening up a seven-point lead over Continental Europe in the European Tour matchplay event.

After winning three of the four greensomes in the morning, Britain and Ireland earned three and a half more points in the afternoon foursomes to lead 12.5 to 5.5 despite missing a dehydrated Simon Dyson and Anthony Wall, who had a shoulder injury.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell defeated Soren Hansen and Soren Kjeldsen 2 and 1, and England's Ross Fisher and Chris Wood beat Anders Hansen and Francesco Molinari 3 and 2.

Henrik Stenson --the highest-ranked player at No. 5 on either team -- and Peter Hanson halved with Nick Dougherty and Steve Webster to give Europe hope. But England's Robert Rock and Oliver Wilson then downed Alvaro Quiros and Miguel-Angel Jimenez by a shot.

There are 10 singles matches still to play Sunday at the Saint-Nom-la-Breteche Golf Club on the outskirts of Paris.

Earlier, Britain and Ireland extended his two-point overnight lead to 9-5 in the greensomes --where both players drive and hit alternate shots with the preferred tee shot.

Rock and Dougherty started the day with a 5 and 4 win over Robert Karlsson and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, before McDowell and McIlroy rallied from 2 down after eight holes to beat Stenson and Hanson 2 and 1.

Fisher and Wood won by a shot over Anders Hansen and Francesco Molinari. Miguel-Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros then birdied the last to scored Europe's only point in the greensomes and inflict the first loss on Dyson and Wilson.

The Vivendi Trophy, formerly known as the Seve Trophy after Seve Ballesteros, was created in 2000. Continental Europe won the inaugural event before Britain and Ireland won it four consecutive times.