Sunday, October 03, 2010

RYDER CUP TO FINISH ON MONDAY

Europe lead by 3pt with 12 singles to go

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By GEOFF LYNN
Colin Montgomerie's Europe team took five and a half points out of a possible six today to grasp the initiative in the Ryder Cup at rain-lashed Celtic Manor.
The Europeans secured a three-point lead for the first ever Ryder Cup Monday, with 12 singles matches due to start at 9 am.

Team captain Montgomerie said he was delighted with the way his players had responded to a frustrating weekend of rain delays.

He said: "All credit to every one of them. This is what the word momentum is all about and when Woods loses 6 and 5 (to an inspired Lee Westwood and Luke Donald) that helped us all through.

"It was a fantastic day and my singles order has changed now. The best I thought we could do was 8-8."

With Europe only needing four points out of a possible 12 to triumph, they will have to fancy their chances.
However, Cory Pavin's US team will be looking to battle for every point knowing that a further seven and a half points would see them return home with the cup.
Europe started Sunday 6-4 down, but up in the two remaining foursomes still to complete - Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (four up) against Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell/Rory McIlroy (three up) over Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan.
Westwood and Donald quickly completed the heaviest defeat of Tiger Woods' match-play career (6 and 5), while McDowell and McIlroy posted a further point for Europe with a 3 and 1 victory to go into the four-balls on level pegging 6-6.

McIlroy admitted he had experienced emotions from "opposite ends of the spectrum" after securing the first win of his Ryder Cup career.

"We had a job to do going down the last yesterday, and we needed a good tee shot on the last and needed a win on that hole to get something out of the match. We were not able to do that.

"Today felt great. To get that first win under my belt in the Ryder Cup is fantastic, and to do it alongside this guy (McDowell) is even more special.

"He's been great for me this week. He has made my life a lot easier, you know, walking the fairways with him."

McIlroy and McDowell played three matches together, winning one, halving one and losing one, suggesting it could be the start of a prodigious Ryder Cup partnership.

In the four-balls, Ross Fisher produced some of the best golf of the week as he and Padraig Harrington won their encounter against Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson 2 and 1

Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez squandered a two-up lead after seven holes to be level after 14 before they rallied to beat Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton by two holes in their four-ball match.
Ian Poulter and German Martin Kaymer led by three after eight holes against Americans Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler but were pegged back to all square before winning 2 and 1.
In the final twist of the day, Francesco Molinari sank a three-foot birdie putt at the last to steal a valuable half point for Europe with his brother Edoardo after they had been dormie one down to Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar.



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