Saturday, September 29, 2012
US takes first-day Ryder Cup lead
The United States lead 5-3 after a pulsating first day's play in the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club - a lead that would have been greater but for an extraordinary afternoon round from European rookie Nicholas Colsaerts.
In a format that habitually favours the Europeans, Davis Love's team took the fourballs 3-1 after sharing the alternate ball foursomes 2-2 in the morning's play.
All 24 players were in action during a day which started so promisingly for Europe but which ended so positively for the United States who are out to regain the trophy lost in Wales two years ago.
The one downside for America was Tiger Woods' miserable Ryder Cup record (now 13-16-2) continuing losing the two games he was involved in with Steve Striker and both players have been rested for the foursomes on day two.
He cannot be blamed for the afternoon's reverse when Belgian Colsaerts carried partner Lee Westwood with one of the greatest rounds in the history of the competition.
Colsaerts hit an eagle and eight birdies, meaning Europe won the final match of the day by one stroke despite Woods' five birdies on the back nine.
"I didn't play very good this morning at all," Woods said. "I was hitting it awful and not doing anything well. But drove it great this afternoon and was in position.
"Nicolas probably had one of the greatest putting rounds I've ever seen ... we had a chance to all square on the last hole, and I missed it."
The American heroes were rookie Keegan Bradley, showing passion and talent in securing two points with Phil Mickelson, who was winning a record ninth US cap, and Bubba Watson who fired up the big Chicago crowd with his attacking game.
"This is one of the most emotional days playing in a Ryder Cup that we'll ever have," Mickelson said.
"It gets emotion out of every player, good or bad, and this has been one of the biggest highs that we've had.
"I just love playing with Keegan. He's just played so good all day and it's just kept me up the whole time. It's been awesome."
For Europe, eyebrows were raised over captain Jose Maria Olazabal's non-selection of Ryder Cup firebrand Ian Poulter for the fourballs after he and Justin Rose had beaten Woods and Stricker in the morning.
The two have been reunited for day two's foursomes.
World number one Rory McIlroy played both sessions with fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell and they met with mixed success, winning in the morning and losing in the afternoon.
"Obviously it was just a high to end this morning and then to try to get ourselves back for the afternoon, just didn't start as well as we would have liked," McIlroy said.
The US charge in the afternoon was spearheaded by crowd-pleaser Watson who teamed up with US Open champion Webb Simpson to crush Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson 5 and 4.
Then, the on-fire pairing of Mickelson and Bradley led all the way to see off a tired-looking McIlroy and McDowell 2 and 1 in what was the pick of the later matchups.
Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar made it 3-0 with a 3 and 2 win over Rose and Martin Kaymer before Colsaerts was the inspiration for Europe as he and Lee Westwood held off Woods and Stricker to win by one hole.
Earlier in the day, the atmosphere at Medinah, at 7,658 yards the longest course in Ryder Cup history, was electric as McDowell got proceedings under way shortly after the crack of dawn in chilly conditions.
But it soon deflated as Europe took an early command, leaving US skipper Love complaining that it was all too quiet for his liking.
Europe were ahead in all four of the foursomes as the lead group stood on the eighth green, but it was Mickelson and Bradley that led the US fightback.
At one stage the advantage was briefly with the Americans, but a share of the spoils to get things going seemed a fair result for the morning's play.
It was the first time that had happened in the opening session of the Ryder Cup since 1997 at Valderrama in Spain.
All that was to change in the afternoon though as the United States took command and Europe will need to quickly redress the balance in Friday's second round of foursomes and fourballs.
In the last 15 Ryder Cups the team leading after the first day has eventually gone on to win the trophy 12 times.
Day two foursomes pairings:
10.20pm - Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson (USA) v Justin Rose/Ian Poulter (Europe)
10.35pm - Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) v Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (Europe)
10.50pm - Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) v Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia (Europe)
11.05pm - Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe)
AFP/ABC
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 29, 2012 09:57:11Friday, September 28, 2012
Ryder Cup foursomes pairings announced
Northern Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will kick off Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup on Friday when they take on Americans Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker in the first of four foursomes.
Phil Mickelson will win a US record ninth cap when he goes out in the second tie with rookie Keegan Bradley, up against Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia who are unbeaten in four previous foursomes matches.
The third tie sees rookie Jason Dufner partner Zach Johnson against Europe's most experienced campaigner Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari of Italy.
In the morning anchor match Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker resume the winning partnership they formed two years ago against the English pair of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.
US captain Davis Love said that Snedeker's fine recent form had been a key factor in his reckoning.
"This is the best four we felt like to start us off," he said.
"And order wise, there was not a whole lot of rhyme or reason to it, except that maybe pace of play. We wanted to get Brandt going - Brandt likes to get out there and get after it. Brandt was a good one to lead off.
"Obviously Phil and Keegan are a little bit excited to be playing, too, so get them going. And then we've got some pretty cool customers at the end that can handle whatever happens in the last two matches."
European counterpart Jose Maria Olazabal said that he had simply opted to send out what he felt were his four strongest foursomes pairings.
"When I look at foursomes, I want to have players who are consistent and are steady from tee to green. There were no surprises from Davis Love, they are all strong pairings and some of those have played before.
"The way my players are playing is the most important thing. They believe we can win here even though the US have the crowd advantage and the experience of playing here."
World number one McIlroy made his Ryder Cup debut with close friend McDowell at his side at Celtic Manor, Wales two years ago and they had one win, one loss and one halve.
But since then the 23-year-old from Holywood near Belfast has shot to superstardom with eight stroke triumphs at the 2011 US Open and 2012 US PGA Championship.
Up against them will be the veteran Furyk and Snedeker, who won over 11 million dollars last weekend by winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
The pairings for Friday morning's opening foursomes in the 39th Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe:
10.20pm - Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe)
10.35pm - Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) v Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe)
10.50pm - Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) v Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe)
11.05pm - Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) v Ian Poulter/Justin Rose (Europe)
(All times in AEST)
Non-playing
United States: Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson
Europe: Nicolas Colsaerts, Paul Lawrie, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer
Fourballs to follow at 3.05am, 3.20am, 3.35am, 3.50am (pairings announced after foursomes finish)
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 28, 2012 09:47:38