Ryder Cup: Europe leads US by single point
Several records were shattered in the record-breaking morning session.
LONDON:
Europe led the US by 6 1/2 points to 5 1/2 after both teams produced an extraordinary exhibition of shotmaking in a record-breaking morning fourball session at the 40th Ryder Cup on Saturday.
Hunter Mahan, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed were the stars of the show as the Americans picked up two wins and a half after starting the day with a 5-3 deficit.
However, the performance of the session came from Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. The two Europeans were a record 12-under-par for 16 holes as they outplayed Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar 3 and 2.
Watson and Kuchar also lit up the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course in a crackerjack tussle that featured a total of 21 birdies, another Ryder Cup record.
European talisman Ian Poulter, known as ‘The Postman’ because he always delivers in the biennial team event, produced a couple of moments of eye-popping magic as he and Rory McIlroy shared a half with Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler. Mahan was another standout performer, finishing an estimated seven-under-par in the betterball format as he and Jim Furyk defeated Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood 4 & 3, but it was rookies Spieth and Reed who inspired the American effort for the second consecutive day.
No doubt stung by captain Tom Watson’s bizarre decision to drop them from Friday afternoon’s foursomes after they had routed Poulter and Stephen Gallacher in the morning fourballs, the two young tyros battered Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn 5 & 3. The 24-year-old Reed and the 21-year-old Spieth wore a steely gaze throughout the contest and a tally of eight birdies from the two debutants proved too much for their European opponents. “I enjoyed that a lot,” said Reed. “It’s easy for me when a guy like Jordan hits so many fairways and greens and makes his putts.”
Partner Spieth meanwhile chose to praise the skipper. “We are doing what Watson tells us to do and we trust what he says is best for the team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2014.
Europe led the US by 6 1/2 points to 5 1/2 after both teams produced an extraordinary exhibition of shotmaking in a record-breaking morning fourball session at the 40th Ryder Cup on Saturday.
Hunter Mahan, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed were the stars of the show as the Americans picked up two wins and a half after starting the day with a 5-3 deficit.
However, the performance of the session came from Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. The two Europeans were a record 12-under-par for 16 holes as they outplayed Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar 3 and 2.
Watson and Kuchar also lit up the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course in a crackerjack tussle that featured a total of 21 birdies, another Ryder Cup record.
European talisman Ian Poulter, known as ‘The Postman’ because he always delivers in the biennial team event, produced a couple of moments of eye-popping magic as he and Rory McIlroy shared a half with Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler. Mahan was another standout performer, finishing an estimated seven-under-par in the betterball format as he and Jim Furyk defeated Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood 4 & 3, but it was rookies Spieth and Reed who inspired the American effort for the second consecutive day.
No doubt stung by captain Tom Watson’s bizarre decision to drop them from Friday afternoon’s foursomes after they had routed Poulter and Stephen Gallacher in the morning fourballs, the two young tyros battered Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn 5 & 3. The 24-year-old Reed and the 21-year-old Spieth wore a steely gaze throughout the contest and a tally of eight birdies from the two debutants proved too much for their European opponents. “I enjoyed that a lot,” said Reed. “It’s easy for me when a guy like Jordan hits so many fairways and greens and makes his putts.”
Partner Spieth meanwhile chose to praise the skipper. “We are doing what Watson tells us to do and we trust what he says is best for the team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2014.