Golf: Watson, Simpson give US early lead

ILLINOIS: Major winners Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson were trying to rebound from a morning loss as they led Justin Rose and Fancesco Molinari 2-up at the turn of the Ryder Cup afternoon fourballs. Masters champion Watson started his round in the same manner as the morning session, teeing off amid deafening roars after he urged the partisan US crowd to make as much noise as possible. Europe’s Rose and Ian Poulter joined forces in the morning foursomes to beat Watson and Simpson 1-up. Watson made a short birdie putt on the par-five 7th to allow the Americans to go 2-up. Watson hit his approach into the greenside bunker but got out of trouble by rolling his ball right up next to the hole.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2012.