US miss golden chance to take control
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What a difference a day makes. Leaving the Ryder Cup press centre at 7pm on Thursday, Paul McGinley had shown his first signs of weakness, repeatedly warning that he’d make mistakes and seemingly doubting himself, while Tom Watson had spoken with confidence and conviction.
Leaving the same building some 26 hours later the tables had turned. McGinley was back on track, talking about his structure and strategy, without so much as a mention of mistakes. The only tricky question he faced was over his decision to leave Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell out of Saturday’s morning action. Again, McGinley assured the press that’s it’s all part of the bigger picture and structure, all of which he’ll reveal come Sunday night. Watson on the other hand looked and sounded shell-shocked. He had just witnessed his American team suffer a record loss in foursomes – no European side had ever managed a 3.5-0.5 win in the format.
It was American captain who was being questioned about mistakes. Having seen his rookie duo of Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth secure a dominant victory over an out-of-sorts Ian Poulter and Steven Galacher in the morning (Reed made four birdies, the most of any player), Watson had chosen to sit the duo out of the afternoon’s play, opting instead to send a tiring Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson out for a second session. Reed was one of those unhappy with the decision, telling Watson he was “ok with it” before adding, “actually, I’m not okay with it”. By the close of play Reed’s dissatisfaction was justified and he and Spieth will be keen to prove their point when they return to action in the Saturday fourballs, taking on Bjorn and Kaymer.
Bradley and Mickelson will take the rest they should’ve had on Friday afternoon, but Watson hinted that they would return for Saturday afternoon’s foursomes, just not necessarily together.
But how different it could and, perhaps, should have been for the US. Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson aside, the US enjoyed a morning that had silenced the largely home crowd, perhaps inspired by the ’10-6 and you still don’t win’ chant that rang around the 1st tee at 7am. As the players walked onto that 1st tee the atmosphere was spine-tingling – no wonder some fans had arrived at 3am to ensure they could get the best seats.
With the top matches going in a clear direction, TG headed inside the ropes to follow Rory and Sergio’s battle with Phil and Keegan. With Europe seemingly on top Keegan Bradley produced a drive, approach and putt for eagle on the 16th that had Michael Jordan booming his approval and the American players, staff and wives high-fiving and fist pumping all round. By the time the duo had sealed victory on the 18th momentum was well and truly with the States. They’d taken out Europe’s postman, the home favourite and the world’s no.1 and 3 players. But they failed to take advantage. Midway through the afternoon foursomes Europe led all four matches and, barring a brief rally, they never looked likely to gain more than a point. Then Sergio Garcia produced a fairway wood shot from the 18th’s right rough that ensured they’d gain nothing more than and a ½. That shot, along with Rory’s 40ft putt on 17 (which Tom Watson called ‘Watson-esque’) were among the shots of the day, especially when you consider their significance. Garcia holing from a bunker earlier in the day, Bradley’s approach for eagle and Fowler’s metal out of rough on the 16th in the foursomes were the other shot highlights from day one. The worst? Surprisingly for a Ryder Cup there were plenty, but Webb Simpson’s skied tee-shot that got proceedings underway is something you rarely see at this level – it summed up his morning.
McIlroy and Garcia’s stolen ½ with Fowler and Walker was sweet revenge – the American duo had done the same to Kaymer and Bjorn in the morning fourballs and admitted it felt like a victory. It wasn’t and, incredibly for a player of his calibre, Fowler is still seeking his first win in a Ryder Cup having halved four matches and lost one.
Saturday morning has the potential to decide this Ryder Cup. If Europe match Friday afternoon’s score then the contest is all but over, but that’s a big if and Tom Watson knows it. He’s told his players he wants all four morning points.
It’s worth mentioning that a point for Lee Westwood, who, in the words of McGinley was “immense” on Friday afternoon, and rookie Jamie Donaldson in their clash with Furyk and Mahan would see Westwood overtake Seve Ballesteros in the Ryder Cup points scoring list. Jim Furyk will seek to improve his dismal fourballs record (8-1-0) in the same match.
Elsewhere a point for Rose and defeat for Poulter would see Justin’s record overtake his great friend’s… Europe’s new postman? Poulter has also never lost anything other than an opening session match in Ryder Cups – all four of his defeats coming on the opening morning.
It’ll also be interesting to see if McGinley and Gleneagles’ green staff take note of the players’ comments regarding the green speeds. Players from both sides expressed surprise at the slow speed on Friday, which may have contributed to the lack of morning birdies.
And could Sir Nick Faldo’s commentary comments that Sergio was “useless” and had a “bad attitude” during his captaincy at Valhalla have a negative impact? Judging by the Spaniard’s mock-crying and reaction of his team mates in the interview room last night, it’ll do quite the opposite.
Saturday fourballs: Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson v Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar; Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson v Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan; Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn v Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth; Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter v Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.
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