GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND SET TO BEAT CONTINENTAL EUROPE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Great Britain and Ireland won six of the eight points available on day three of the Vivendi Seve Trophy to leave Continental Europe facing a mammoth task in Sunday’s singles.
Having won the last five stagings of the event – Continental Europe’s only win came in the inaugural event in 2000 – Paul McGinley’s side raced into an 11 ½-6 ½ lead with a day to go.
The holders will require only three points from the ten singles games to win the trophy.
“Obviously we are absolutely delighted in there,” said McGinley. “It's been a great day - things went really well for us.
“Our concentration levels were really good, and we were really up for it. We're really motivated and really concentrated and we are really focussed. We got the job done.
“I think my pairings fortunately worked well again, and we were fresh. We were a very fresh team and hopefully that's going to be the case tomorrow, too.”
Captain Jean Van De Velde must now try and rally his troops as he had on Thursday night – they lost the first day’s fourballs 4-1 before fighting back to within a point on day two.
Great Britain and Ireland dominated both sessions – Simon Dyson and Jamie Donaldson once again setting the tone at the top of the order with a 2 and 1 win over Nicolas Colsaerts and Matteo Manassero in the opening greensomes to take their record to two wins and a draw playing together.
Ian Poulter was joined by Ryder Cup and World Cup playing partner Ross Fisher in a 2 and 1 victory over Thomas Björn and Raphaël Jacquelin, while World Number Two Lee Westwood and Scott Jamieson ran out 4 and 3 winners over Spaniards Pablo Larrazábal and Miguel Angel Jiménez.
Continental Europe’s only score of the morning came when Swedes Peter Hanson and Alex Noren snatched a half from David Horsey and Darren Clarke on the final green – Ryder Cup star Hanson sinking a 20 foot birdie putt.
Both Captains opted for a complete reshuffle ahead of the afternoon foursomes and for a while the session looked to be going Europe’s way, Björn joining compatriot Anders Hansen to beat Fisher and Mark Foster 3 and 2.
Manassero and compatriot Francesco Molinari stole a half on the last when Robert Rock and Donaldson three-putted the final green in the top match, but Dyson chipped in at the 17th as he and Poulter beat Larrazábal and Noren 3 and 1.
“We both knew the point was important, and Matteo had to make his last putt to make the half point,” said Molinari, who faced Tiger Woods in the singles at last year’s Ryder Cup. “But I think we played well. We had lots of chances and just really never took them, so I think we deserve the half point.”
Westwood remained in unstoppable form as he and Horsey secured a 4 and 3 victory over Jacquelin and Colsaerts – Horsey chipping in at the 14th to all but end the contest.
“The last thing we will be is complacent, because I've played in teams where you've had a big lead and it evaporates quickly if you start getting down in the early games,” said Westwood, who after losing in the first day’s fourballs has won his next three matches without having to play the last three holes.
“We'll come out with the same intensity as today I'm sure and try to get on the board early.”
The final round singles have been moved forward due to the risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon, with the first match out at 08:35 local time and the final clash teeing off at 10:23.
Björn, a back-to-back winner in Scotland and Switzerland recently, takes on Westwood in the top game, with Hansen and Dyson out second.
Molinari faces Dyson in game three, Noren takes on Rock, while Open Champion Clarke and his former Ryder Cup partner Jiménez go head-to-head in an intriguing encounter.
They will be followed by big-hitting Colsaerts and Horsey, whose putter has been red hot all week, with Larrazábal taking on rookie Jamieson in the seventh match.
Manassero will be looking to prove his potential against former World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play winner Poulter, with Jacquelin playing Foster and Fisher and Hanson handed the responsibility of anchoring their respective teams.
“You’ve seen the draw, and I tried to put all of my players in form at the front,” said Van De Velde.
“If we don't put points on the board straightaway, I'm afraid the competition is going to be over.
“So Björn is out first, he's going to play Westwood, that's going to be a very tight game.
“I'm pretty sure that Thomas is going to be up for it. He's coming out of a win, and he's playing well, there's no doubt about it.
“Anders is a fearless competitor. Jiménez, Colsaerts, if we manage to get five points out of the first six games, then the game is on.
“I remember playing a Ryder Cup in 1999 and we were five ahead [Europe actually trailed by four] and we lost. So worse things have happened in sport, there's no doubt, and now it's about keeping the spirit up. If you take each individual player, they can win the game - it's just a matter of it happening.
“If you carry the burden of being so far behind into tomorrow morning, then it might be difficult. But if you start fresh, then you never know. Golf is a funny game.”

JUSTIN ROSE SHARES LEAD IN BMW CHAMPIONSHIP IN CHICAGO

FROM THE BBC SPORT WEBSITE
England's Justin Rose shares the halfway lead with American Mark Wilson after hitting a second round 68 at the BMW Championship in Chicago.
The 31-year-old had a two-shot lead after a first round 63, but a bogey at the last and Wilson's second-round 66 means the pair are tied on 11 under.
"Didn't expect that going out there today," said Rose.
"Little did I know I was about to play so well - certainly my best round of the year by a long, long way."
Rose was out in 33 having birdied the third, eighth and par-five ninth, with a bogey on the seventh. He did the same on the 13th but eagled the 15th and picked up another birdie on the next.
That gave him a one-shot lead on 12 under with Wilson having set the clubhouse target, but a bogey on the 18th dropped him back into a tie with local favourite Wilson.
In addition to the $1.44m (£1.03m) top prize, the field of 70 are aiming for a place in the top 30 play-off point spots to reach next week's Tour Championship.
Rose came into the tournament ranked 34th in the current FedEx Cup standings.
The Englishman needs a good finish in Chicago to move into the top 30 and qualify.
The BMW Championship is the third of four events in the FedEx series involving the top 70 players in the standings.
The top 30 will go on to compete for a $10m (£6m) bonus in the finale, the Tour Championship in Atlanta, from 22-25 September.
Rose said he wasn't worrying about his FedEx Cup position.
"I've got nothing to lose this week," he said. "That's my strategy. That's my attitude.
"Right now, I'm not going to Atlanta. I've got everything to gain this week. That's really the way I'm seeing it."
American Webb Simpson is two shots back after a three-under-par 68, while Australia John Senden is eight under par.
World number one Luke Donald recovered from a first round 75 to shoot 66.
His round featured six birdies and one dropped shot on the first hole.
Scotland's Martin Laird hit six birdies in a second round 69 to move to one under, but it could have been much better for the Glaswegian, save for a double bogey on the 15th and a bogey on the last.

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PGA CUP MATCH: G B and I TRAIL AFTER DAY 1 IN CALIFORNIA

Gary Brown and John Wells in action for GB and I in the PGA Cup match in California.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA
Great Britain and Ireland’s quest to regain the PGA Cup was dented on the first day after the United States swept to a commanding 6-2 lead at CordeValle, California.
The hosts edged a tightly contested morning fourball session 2 ½ - 1 ½ but surged ahead with a devastating display in the afternoon foursomes, routing Russell Weir’s team 3 ½ - 1/2.
Battling duo David Shacklady and Simon Edwards, out first, salvaged a half point on the last hole but GB and I require a huge change in fortunes on day two to haul themselves back into the match.
The last three pairings in the foursomes were emphatically dispatched 6 and 5, winning just one of 39 holes combined.
Weir, a veteran of eight PGA Cup appearances himself, will need to draw on all his experience to galvanise his side but insisted there was still a long way to go and believes the half point gleaned by Edwards and Shacklady could be crucial.
“That could help the momentum tomorrow, as I say it’s a long dance, there’s still 18 points to play for,” said.
“We’re not panicking, anything can happen in golf. The Americans are always strong, a few wee things happened that went against us today and hopefully we can turn that round. It is going to be difficult but it can be done.”
Edwards and Shacklady, who went down 2 and 1 at the hands of David Hutsell and Mark Sheftic in the morning four-balls, were upbeat after pegging back Brad Lardon and Sonny Skinner.
Mossock Hall pro Shacklady sealed the fightback with a brave three wood over water to find the par five 18th in two while Lardon’s approach bounced into the water.
“That was harder than hitting the opening tee shot, it was horrible but we had to go for it and it was just fortunate they got into a bit of trouble,” said Shacklady.
“It’s been a tough day but we came up against two strong sides. The general consensus is that the lads feel they haven’t holed their fair share of putts, that can’t continue, at some point that is going to change.”
Team-mate Edwards from Windermere Golf Club added: “We will regroup tonight and come out all guns blazing tomorrow and try and hole some putts.”
Ganton’s Gary Brown and Cherry Burton’s John Wells displayed true Yorkshire grit in the morning four-balls after coming from two down with four to play to win by one hole against Danny Balin and Scott Erdmann, the match turning on the back of a bunker shot by Brown on the 15th splashing out to two feet on a downhill slope.
“Scrap and grit, that’s all that got us through that,” said Wells. “They played better than us early doors and should have been four or five up.
“We didn’t have a cat in hell’s chance then Gary made that up and down on 15 and that turned the match.”
Minchinhampton’s Stuart Little and Exeter’s Chris Gill grabbed the other half but were disappointed to share the points after being one up on the 18th tee.
The day got worse when they lost to Balin and Scott Erdmann in the foursomes.
“We got off to a poor start, they got their momentum up and we never really got on the front foot and got battered,” said Little.
“But we’ve got two more days of golf and we know that is a lot in golf and a lot can happen.”
His partner Gill added: “It’s never nice to play poorly or get beaten but if you’re going to do it it’s best to do it on the first day of the tournament.
“Team spirit and morale is still good and maybe it is just America’s day to day.”
Rob Giles (Greenore) and Craig Goodfellow (Carlisle Driving Range) out last in the morning were denied a half in the fourballs when Rob McClellan birdied the 18 and America maintained the momentum in the afternoon to seize the initiative.
Giles stressed the need for improvement: “We made hard work of it for ourselves and it’s a hard game to play anyway so losing holes to pars isn’t good enough and they are good players.”
Results

FRIDAY MORNING FOUR-BALLS
US names first
David Hutsell and Mark Sheftic bt Simon Edwards (Windermere) and David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) 3 and 2
Mike Small halved with Chris Gill (Exeter) and Stuart Little (Minchinhampton)
Danny Balin and Scott Erdmann lost to Gary Brown (Ganton) and John Wells (Cherry Burton) 1 hole.
Rob McClellan and Marty Jertson bt Craig Goodfellow (Carlisle Driving Range) and Robert Giles (Greenore) 1 hole.
USA 2½ Great Britain and Ireland 1½


FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOURSOMES

Sonny Skinner and Brad Lardon halved with Edwards and Shacklady.
Hutsell and Sheftic bt John Kennedy (Wexham Park) and David Mortimer (Galway) 6 and 5.
Balin and Erdmann bt Gill and Little 6 and 5.
McClellan and Jertson bt Goodfellow and Giles 6 and 5.

USA 31/2 Great Britain & Ireland 1/ 2

Day One Total: USA 6 Great Britain and Ireland 2


Issue date: 16 September 2011

Image of Gary Brown, left, and John Wells attached for free use courtesy of Scott Halleran at Getty Images…/

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