EUROPE 4 USA 6
The Americans had the momentum coming into the third session on day two of the Ryder Cup, they still remain ahead going into Sunday but the Europeans are going to bed extremely happy.
A sea of blue has engulfed the scoreboard and Europe are ahead in all six matches to be concluded from 8.00am tomorrow.
In four of the six matches the lead is more than a shot and Lee Westwood and Luke Donald hold a four shot advantage over Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods through nine holes. A late Stricker birdie prevented a five-shot overnight deficit for the Americans who as a pair have won six straight matchplay ties.
The swing in momentum was evident at the close of play press conferences. Colin Montgomerie answered everybody’s questions without anyone else talking – he was clearly delighted to have seen his side respond to a poor second session.
“The Americans were silencing the crowd through their good play,” said Montgomerie, “that’s what happens; that’s what we have done abroad a few times now on American soil; that the more silenced the crowd are, the better it is for the away team. That’s what was happening today in the first couple of sessions.
“We were allowing the Americans to get momentum and we had to start off better than we did; and very early on there was six blue. They got up early on, very early on: a fantastic performance by all the players on the course.”
It certainly was. Luke Donald led the charge with more superb golf. Donald – a wildcard selection – totally justified the pick with solid straight driving and accurate irons. He and Westwood only made two birdies but they put their opponents under pressure and the Americans couldn’t cope – Woods and Stricker made four bogeys and a double bogey.
Europe’s other major advantage is in the second foursome match – who were allowed through by the slower fourballs to speed up play. The Northern Irish duo of Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy played solid golf for six pars and a birdie but again, the overall pressure on the scoreboard saw Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan make two bogeys and no birdies and are three behind through seven.
Padraig Harrington and Ross Fisher made four birdies with Fisher rolling in all sorts of putts. He clearly benefitted from having Harrington to read his putts. But the pair are only up on Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson – who birdied the par-three seventh – by one.
“It was a very important two hours of play,” said Montgomerie, “and we came through it with flying colours. So the job is half‑done and we have to keep going and maintain this momentum tomorrow morning, and then you know, we’ll see how we’re lying going into the singles.”
Monty’s beaming enthusiasm at his side’s comeback was matched in contrast by the staccato nature of his counterpart’s answers.
“The third session is going pretty nicely for Europe,” said American captain Corey Pavin, “We are just going to have to go back tonight, rest up, come out and fire at them tomorrow.
I have not seen points given for matches that are through four, five, six or seven holes, so we are to go out and try to turn those around and try to turn the momentum back in our favour.”
Of particular concern will be the form of Phil Mickelson. Comfortably beaten twice already, he and rookie Ricky Fowler – who conceded a hole earlier in the day for dropping a ball from his pocket when another ball was already in play – are two down through four holes.
Weather is back on the agenda after a fine day two. Any more delays and the first Ryder Cup to be held in Wales will be the first to end of a fourth day. If bad weather does arrive Colin Montgomerie will be hoping his side match their golf of the first wet morning, rather than the first wet afternoon, to drive home this significant advantage.
“No match has been won yet,” said Montgomerie, “we are going to retire here six-four down but wake up tomorrow morning and hopefully the weather will agree with us, we can play these matches to a conclusion, and then, of course, we have all 12 singles on the course. Let’s hope the weather will allow us to do this.”
