EUROPE 4 USA 6
A swing in the latter holes turned the first round of Saturday’s matches into America’s favour.
Both Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy looked set to win their matches on the 17th green but their opponents rallied and Europe finished with just half a point from both matches.
Both Westwood’s and McDowell’s tee shots were right at the pin and looked to have set up winning putts. But Kaymer missed and Jim Furyk’s approach onto the 18th green saw Ricky Fowler roll in the birdie putt to halve the match.
McIlroy didn’t have the chance to putt for victory after Stewart Cink refound yesterday’s form with the putter. He sank a 30-foot effort for birdie. McIlroy then missed and McIlroy’s approach into the bunker on the 18th allowed the Americans to steal the match.
It was a major blow for the Europeans and Colin Mongomerie, who would have seen his Northern Irish pair as bankers.
They probably lost the match on the 16th. McIlroy’s wayward tee shot forced McDowell to play out of the mud. He could only find the greenside rough and the Americans halved the match.
The scoreboard was coming together nicely for the Europeans after Padraig Harrington returned to form and, together with Englishman Ross Fisher, beat Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson three-and-two.
The Molinari brothers also came unstuck on the 17th green. The match was a tight tussle with the lead exchanging hands several times. It was all square at the second last, both tee shots found the green but Zach Johnson holed a putt and the Italian brothers conceded on the 18th green.
There was at least some joy for the Europeans on the 17th green. Luke Donald played a superb tee shot, Ian Poulter holed the birdie putt and the English pair beat Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton two-and-one.
Tiger Woods has quietly gone about his golf so far this week. And so far his combination with Steve Stricker has transformed his Ryder Cup woes. The pair dominated Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson, winning four-and-three.
A complicated third session is underway. Two further foursomes are playing. Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are playing Woods and Stricker. McDowell and McIlroy against Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan is the other foursome.
Four fourball matches are also underway. Harrington and Fisher continue against Furyk and Dustin Johnson. Hanson and Jimenez, despite their comprehensive defeat earlier, go out together again, playing Watson and Overton. The Molinari’s play Cink and Kuchar and Poulter and Kaymer take on Mickelson and Fowler.
