Sunday, September 30, 2012

MIRACLE OF MEDINAH AS EUROPE STAGE GREATEST EVER FIGHTBACK

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Team Europe equalled the biggest singles comeback in Ryder Cup history to win The Ryder Cup 14 ½-13 ½ and stun the USA at Medinah.
Dressed in the colours of the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe tonight pulled off one of his trademark great escapes in what will go down as the "Miracle of Medinah".
What looked mission impossible when Europe trailed 10-4 at one point late last night suddenly became possible after they dramatically won the first five singles games and then picked up further points from Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
That put José María Olazábal's side, almost unbelievably, 13-12 up and as the holders they needed only a tie to retain the cup. Yet they ended up winning it 14 1/2-13 1/2.
Three games were still on the course. Peter Hanson lost the first of them on the final green, but Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari had it in their power to retain the famous gold trophy.
And Kaymer, left out all day on Saturday, was the one to deliver the point they required to match the biggest comeback in the event's history.
He was up against Steve Stricker. Level with two to go, the American bogeyed the short 17th after hitting his chip far too strongly.
Kaymer, bunkered off the final tee, found the green and had two putts for it once Stricker missed his long birdie attempt.
He gave himself and his team-mates palpitations when he sent his first one six feet past, but 21 years on from compatriot Bernhard Langer missing from the same distance to lose at Kiawah Island Kaymer made the one back and sparked jubilant scenes.
Moments before Molinari had fallen one down to Tiger Woods by bogeying the 17th himself, but suddenly it did not matter. The Cup was going back across the Atlantic.
Even Tiger Woods could not get a personal victory in the end. Molinari won the last hole for a halved match. A tearful Olazábal said: “When I saw we had a chance coming down the stretch I was very emotional. The boys have done an unbelievable job. I have a few thoughts for my friend Seve and this one is for him.
“That’s why I’ve always said that this event is so special. Last night I told them I really believed we could do it and they just believed in themselves. That’s why we’re here as winners.”
Stunned American Captain Davis Love said: "I would not have done anything differently. They played great.
"When you lose a segment (session) that badly it's going to cost you."
The four-point overnight deficit became three when Luke Donald beat Masters Tournament Champion Bubba Watson 2 and 1 in the top game. It was a massive relief after he led by four with four to play.
Paul Lawrie was in brilliant form to beat the previous Sunday's FedEx Cup winner Brandt Snedeker 5 and 3 - the Aberdonian was six under par with an eagle and four birdies - and Rory McIlroy then saw off previously unbeaten Keegan Bradley 2 and 1.
That was not the World Number One's only drama of the day, though.
As the singles began word reached everybody that McIlroy, out in the third game, was nowhere to be seen around the course.
Two minutes late and he would forfeit the opening hole, five minutes late and he faced disqualification, but to the relief of every European he was driven into the parking lot with ten minutes to go, got his shoes on and gave a superb display.
Olazábal admitted his heart had been "racing quicker than expected" until McIlroy teed off and added: "We did not have that in mind.
"All of a sudden we realised Rory was not here and started to look for him. Finally we got hold of him and he came in."
It was reported the Northern Irishmen had seen a 12.25am tee-off time on television, but it was Eastern Time - one hour ahead of Chicago.
After his win McIlroy said: "I was just casually strolling out of my hotel room when I got a phone call saying you have 25 minutes.
"I have never been so worried driving to the course. Luckily there was a State Trooper outside who gave me the escort - if not I would not have made it on time."
McIlroy never trailed, but star man Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Garcia all did.
Poulter, whose finish to the second session of fourballs really inspired the comeback, made it four wins out of four - and 12 wins in his last 14 cup games - beat US Open Champion Webb Simpson on the last after being two down early on.
They were level with two to go, but Simpson failed to get up and down from a bunker on the short 17th and could not grab the birdie he needed on the last.
Rose's second win over Phil Mickelson in his cup career came in amazing fashion. He trailed by one with two to play, but holed from 40 feet on the 17th and 14 feet at the last.
Mickelson, America's record cap-holder and winner of his first three games, could only stand and admire - and graciously applauded everything Rose did at the end.
Mickelson can still consider himself to have had a good week.
The only previous side to win from four down entering the singles was Ben Crenshaw's in Boston in 1999 - a match that ended so controversially with a premature invasion of the 17th green.
Olazábal was on the receiving end of that, standing there as he waited for calm to be restored and then missing the putt which meant the Americans could not lose.
That was just another dimension to how sweet this day must have felt.

TIGER EXPLAINS CONCESSION OF FINAL

PUTT TO MOLINARI IN LAST MATCH

Tiger Woods admitted the match was "already over" after he conceded the 18th hole to hand Europe an outright win at Medinah.
Francesco Molinari was left needing to hole his putt to ensure his match with Woods - the final of the 12 singles - finished all square.
However having missed the chance to win the hole himself - and leave the Ryder Cup tied at 14-14 - Woods knew the putt was irrelevant and waved Molinari away.
Woods, who handed headed to the 18th tee knowing the Europeans had already retained the title courtesy of a stunning fightback, said: "It was already over. We came here as a team - this is a team event.
"And the cup was already been retained by Europe, so it was already over.
"You come here as a team and you win or lose as a team, and it's pointless to even finish.
"So 18 was just, hey, get this over with. Congratulations to the European team. They played fantastic and they deserve the cup."

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BLAIRGOWRIE WIN SCOTTISH CLUB TITLE BY SEVEN SHOTS


Blairgowrie's blend of youth and experience won them the Scottish club championship in emphatic style over the Arbroath Golf Club links today
The Perthshire club trio of former Scottish champion Glenn Campbell, Stuart Graham and teenager Bradley Neil finished up seven shots ahead of the field with a total of 285
Blairgowrie's counting scores were a 71 from Neil and a 72 from Campbell for 143 in the first round, and a 70 from Stuart Graham and a 72, from both Campbell and Neil, for a second round 142.
The Blairgowrie trio helped Perth and Kinross win the Moneygate Scottish Area Team Championship title in May.
Campbell, Graham and Neil now go forward to the European club championship in Cypruse from October 25 to 27.
Murcar Links, represented at Arbroath by former international Bryan Innes, Anthony Bews and Clark Brechin, were runners-up on 292.
Glenbervie (Thomas Wilson, Fraser Moore and Mark Cox) were third on 296.

FINAL TOTALS
285 Blairgowrie 143 142
292 Murcar Links 147 145
296 Glenbervie 145 151
298 Sandyhills 152 146
300 Girvan 149 151
304 Torwoodlee 151 153
305 Glencruitten 147 158
307 Dumfries and Galloway 154 153
309 Dollar 157 152
310 Gourock 146 164
313 Kirkintilloch 153 146
316 Inverness 161 155
317 Harburn 153 164
318 Downfield 156 162
320 St Andrews 154 166
321 Airdrie 158 163

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RUSSELL KNOX JOINT SEVENTH FINISH ON WEB.COM TOUR


Florida-based Scot Russell Knox, the defending champion, finished joint seventh in the web.com Tour (formerly the Nationwide Tour) event, the Chiquita Classic, at The Club at Longview, Weddington in North Carolina. 
The Inverness exile had rounds of 68, 65, 70 and 70 for a 15-under-par total of 273. 
Three men tied on 266 - Morgan Hoffman (68 67 66 65), Russell Henley (66 65 65 70) and Patrick Cantlay 69 67 65 65.
Henley won the three-way sudden death play-off with a 4 at the first extra hole.

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EUROPE WIN 14.5 TO 13.5 IN DRAMATIC RYDER CUP COMEBACK

Team Europe equalled the biggest final day comeback in Ryder Cup history to win The Ryder Cup 14 ½-13 ½ and stun the USA, the team and their vociferous supports, in the golfing cauldron that was Medinah, Chicago today..
A tearful European captain José María Olazábal said: “When I saw we had a chance coming down the stretch I was very emotional. The boys have done an unbelievable job. I have a few thoughts for my friend Seve and this one is for him.
“That’s why I’ve always said that this event is so special. Last night I told them I really believed we could do it and they just believed in themselves. That’s why we’re here as winners.”

This was the 32nd Ryder Cup contest. It was probably the best so far.

FINAL RESULT:
UNITED STATES 13.5, EUROPE 14.5

HOW THE FINAL 12 SINGLES RESULTED

United States 10, Europe 7

Donald (Europe) bt Watson (US) 2 and 1 

United States 10, Europe 8
Lawrie (Europe) bt Snedeker (US) 5 and 3.

United States 10, Europe 10
Poulter (Europe) bt Simpson (US) 2 holes
McIlroy (Europe) bt Bradley (US) 2 and 1 

United States 11, Europe 10
D Johnson (US) bt Colsaerts (Europe) 3 and 2 

United States 11, Europe 11
Rose (Europe) bt Mickelson (US) 1 hole

United States 12, Europe 11
Z Johnson (US) bt McDowell (Europe) 2 and 1 

United States 12, Europe 13
Garcia (Europe) bt Furyk (US) 1 hole
Westwood (Europe) bt Kuchar 3 and 2

United States 13, Europe 13
D Johnson bt Hanson 2 holes

United States 13, Europe 14
Kaymer (Europe) bt Stricket (US) 1 hole

United States 13.5, EUROPE 14.5
Molinari (Europe) halved with Woods (US)

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AMERICAN KOEPKA FIRST-TIME WINNER ON CHALLENGE TOUR

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT
Brooks Koepka was hoping to bring good omens for the American Ryder Cup team ahead of the final day’s play at Medinah after the USA native overcame some of Europe’s finest up and coming players to clinch his maiden Challenge Tour victory at the Challenge de Catalunya.
The tournament was reduced to 54 holes following heavy rain which forced the abandonment of the third day, but that didn’t unsettle Koepka as a seven under par round of 65 handed him a three shot victory over Italy’s Alessandro Tadini and capped an incredible start to his career in the paid ranks.
The Floridian joined fellow Americans Peter Uihlein and Scott Pinckney on the Challenge Tour circuit this summer having turned professional in the aftermath of an appearance as an amateur at the US Open Championship in June.
He hit the ground running with a tied 27th place finish in his first start at the Credit Suisse Challenge, followed by a run of three consecutive top 20s including a tied seventh place finish at the English Challenge and a tied fifth finish at the Finnish Challenge.
A 21st place finish at the Norwegian Challenge began a brief downward curve for Koepka but he recovered from two missed cuts in spectacular fashion in Northern Spain, thanks to a bogey free final round which included five birdies and an incredible eagle at the par five 10th - courtesy of a 45 foot putt.
"I really had no expectations coming into this week,” said the 22 year old, who won with an impressive score of 16 under par over three rounds. “It was the same for the final round. I putted well in practice rounds, but I have been struggling lately with my whole game.
“I missed two cuts lately and I was not very happy. But I guess I regrouped with my game and my mentality and it just felt really good this week. My game feels great now and I hope it continues that way.”
With the early finish in Northern Spain, it meant Koepka could steal away to a television after all of the formalities and support his home country in the final day of The Ryder Cup.
“When I am not playing I just try to enjoy my life away from golf,” said Koepka, whose sporting hero is American Football quarter-back Brett Favre. “I have enough golf in my life as it is but of course I am going to watch The Ryder Cup now and cheer on the American team.”
Koepka’s win earned him €25,600 and moved him into contention for a place in the season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, the field of which comprises the Challenge Tour’s top 45 players, as he now sits in 39th place in the Rankings.
One man who will definitely play the Grand Final is Tadini, who has also secured a card for The European Tour’s 2013 season after finishing runner up with a final round 68 in Catalunya, which elevated the Italian to fifth in the Rankings.
Three-time Challenge Tour winner Robert Dinwiddie sealed his best finish of the season after a four under par final round of 68 left him a shot behind Tadini on 12 under par, while overnight leader after the first and second days, Jeppe Huldahl, fell to a one over par 73 and finished tied 11th.
FINAL TOTALS
200 B Koepka  (USA) 68 67 65,
203 A Tadini (Ita) 66 69 68,
204 R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 68 68 68,
205 L Goddard  (Eng) 66 69 70, A Perrino  (Ita) 71 65 69, S Tiley (Eng) 70 70 65,
206 A Levy (Fra) 71 70 65, R Kakko  (Fin) 68 71 67, E Kofstad (Nor) 66 70 70, S Davis (Eng) 66 72 68,
207 P Edberg (Swe) 67 69 71, R Karlberg  (Swe) 69 70 68, N Meitinger  (Ger) 69 66 72, J Huldahl (Den) 64 70 73,
208 C Doak (Sco) 65 74 69, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 70 68 70, A Hansen  (Den) 68 69 71, J Parry (Eng) 69 70 69, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 69 70 69, R Quiros  (Esp) 71 69 68,
209 M Korhonen (Fin) 69 71 69, C Aguilar  (Esp) 74 66 69, J Gibb (Eng) 68 73 68, L Claverie (Esp) 70 70 69,
210 C Gane (Eng) 67 70 73, T Feyrsinger  (Aut) 67 73 70, K Eriksson (Swe) 74 67 69, M Lundberg (Swe) 71 70 69, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 66 71 73, R Russell (Sco) 68 73 69, A McArthur  (Sco) 68 71 71,
211 P Dwyer (Eng) 71 71 69, A Tampion  (Aus) 73 68 70, S Kim (Kor) 73 69 69, M Carlsson  (Swe) 68 73 70, V Riu  (Fra) 76 65 70, M Nixon (Eng) 68 72 71, D Gaunt (Aus) 73 66 72, E Dubois (Fra) 68 74 69,
212 A Kaleka  (Fra) 71 70 71, J Doherty  (Sco) 71 68 73, J Busby (Eng) 68 74 70, A Domingo (Esp) 70 69 73, S Buhl (Ger) 67 72 73,
213 G Houston (Wal) 73 68 72, M Crespi  (Ita) 71 70 72, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 69 75, J Abbott (Eng) 69 68 76, H Bacher (Aut) 69 72 72, W Besseling  (Ned) 71 70 72, C Lloyd (Eng) 68 71 74, P Bech (Esp) 67 72 74,
214 B An (Kor) 69 70 75, E De La Riva  (Esp) 71 70 73, J Mommo  (Fin) 71 71 72, G Stal  (Fra) 72 69 73,
215 P Oriol (Esp) 72 70 73, R De Sousa (Sui) 70 72 73, S O'Hara  (Sco) 72 70 73,
216 J Russell (USA) 73 67 76, C Garcia Simarro (Esp) 68 74 74, R Echenique (Arg) 72 70 74, S Grant  (Irl) 70 72 74,
217 J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 69 70 78, B Åkesson (Swe) 73 69 75, X Guzman (Esp) 73 69 75,
219 K Borsheim  (Nor) 74 68 77,
 

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TSAI WINS TAIWAN MASTERS FOR SECOND TIME

MEDIA RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Taipei: Tsai Chi-huang of Chinese Taipei won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters for the second time in his career despite a final round of four-over-par 76 today.
Tsai started the day with a six-shot lead, courtesy of a 65 in the third round, and preserved his advantage as he defeated closest rival Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines, who shot a 73, by four shots with a winning total of four-under-par 284 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Rookie David Lipsky of the United States, who won his first Asian Tour title earlier this year, shot a 67, the best score of the day, to tie with Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei (71) in third place at the US$600,000 Asian Tour event.
Tsai endured a sleepless night as he had doubts of winning the tournament. With only a three-hour night’s rest, he struggled early in the round as he was four-over after 15 holes but gained some momentum when he sank a huge 30-foot birdie putt on 16.
“Honestly I couldn’t sleep last night. I was wondering if I could make it to the end. I felt like I was still sleeping when I was on the first tee box. It was only when I finished 18 holes that I knew my dream had come true,” smiled Tsai, who won US$120,000 for his victory.
“The wind was blowing all over the place and I wasn’t the only one who was struggling. I guess I’m quite lucky to have won this,” added the 44-year-old, who also won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2002.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Yardage 6,923
284 TSAI Chi-huang (TPE) 74-69-65-76.
288 Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 70-73-72-73.
289 David LIPSKY (USA) 72-74-76-67, CHAN Yih-shin (TPE) 74-74-70-71.
290 Danny CHIA (MAS) 72-72-72-74.
291 SUNG Mao-chang (TPE) 72-75-75-69, Angelo QUE (PHI) 70-75-75-71.
292 BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 70-73-71-78.
293 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 73-77-73-70, Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) 73-72-77-71, LU Chien-soon (TPE) 77-70-75-71, Sam CYR (USA) 73-76-72-72, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 75-74-68-76.
294 Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA) 72-78-75-69, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 73-76-74-71, WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 73-76-72-73, WANG Shih-jui (TPE) 70-73-77-74.
295 Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 73-72-77-73, LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 71-73-77-74,  SIDDIKUR (BAN) 72-72-73-78.
 

 

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RUSSELL KNOX IN SIXTH PLACE WITH ROUND TO GO



Inverness exile Russell Knox, the defending champion, had a double bogey 6 at 16th just as he was closing on the leaders in the web.com tour's Chiquita Classic on Saturday.
Florida-based Knox now goes into the final round seven shots off the pace in joint sixth place after rounds of 68, 65 and 70 for a 13-under-par tally of 203.

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FINAL SINGLES LINE-UP IN 2012 RYDER CUP


United States lead Europe 10-6 with only the 12 singles to play in the 2012 Ryder Cup match at Medinah.

SINGLES LINE-UP
(Chicago times, Europe names first)

11.03 DONALD v WATSON
11.14 POULTER v SIMPSON
11.25 McILROY v BRADLEY
11.36 ROSE v MICKELSON
11.47 LAWRIE v SNEDEKER
11.58 COLSAERTS v D JOHNSON
12.09 McDOWELL v Z JOHNSON
12.20 GARCIA v FURYK
12.31 HANSON v DUFNER
12.42 WESTWOOD v KUCHAR
12.53 KAYMER v STRICKER
01.04 MOLINARI v WOODS


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EUROPE VICTORY NOT IMPOSSIBLE BUT HIGHLY UNLIKELY

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
By BILL ELLIOTT
IT'S not impossible. It's never impossible. But the other weary fact is that statistically it is now the far side of highly improbable that Samuel Ryder's pretty chalice will be flying back across the Atlantic tomorrow.
And yet...
No-one knows this better than José María Olazábal whose grimaces while watching the United States extend their lead to four points told its own sad story of the way these 39th Ryder Cup matches have been falling this weekend.
And yet...
Along with the dazzling thousands of crimson and gold leaves that have fluttered on to Illinois soil, European hopes of another sensational victory on a foreign field too have been brought to ground with the biggest of bumps.
And yet...
It's never been easy of course to succeed in America where the sight of even a tiny Stars and Stripes tends to unzip an awful lot of noisy patriotism. Here at Medinah they have a really big flag that rears up behind the 18th green to make its own over-sized statement.
And yet...don't tell any of this to Ian Poulter whose five birdies on the bounce from 14 through 18 is one of the truly great performances by anyone from either side. Ever. Single-handedly, Poulter lifted Europe from nowhere to somewhere. Four points behind going into the last day means that maybe, just maybe, this Ryder Cup is still up for grabs.
Never mind that big flag, yesterday's biggest statement was made by the slim bloke with the scary, staring eyes and the extraordinary self-belief, the former assistant-pro who turned himself into a world class golfer almost as an act of self-will.
It meant that Olazábal was able to gulp back his rising despair and offer instead a small but significant trumpet-call of optimism. “Those last two matches were massive for us. That gives us a chance. It's been done before (Brookline 1999 when the USA came from four points behind) and I have to say that things have not gone our way, especially on the greens. At one point in this match I believe that momentum will come our way and why not tomorrow.”
It meant also that Olazábal's strategy for his singles line-up had to be to top load all the way from first out to last. If this Ryder Cup is to be saved then each of those players has to take inspiration from Poulter and find the champion within themselves. It's simply a matter of pride and, of course, passion.
There are few lonelier places in sport than the final day singles. Nowhere to hide, no-one to hide behind. These men are on their own. Still a team but on their own. As Joe Carr once pointed out, while stroke play might be the better test of golf, match play is by far the better test of character.
No surprise then that Luke Donald leads the way against Bubba Watson, that Poulter is up next versus Webb Simpson before Rory McIlroy takes on Keegan Bradley. Strength all the way. 
I've studied these line-ups and I see us taking seven points but I am afraid I can't see us gaining more than that. If I am correct Europe will lose by two points.
The good news, however, is that I am often wrong. I hope this will be the case again today. We shall see. With Seve Ballesteros's silhouette on the European bags and the team in his famed blue and white colours anything might yet be possible. 
The great man would have relished the challenge.

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POULTER'S LATE BIRDIES KEEP EUROPE HOPES FLICKERING

FROM THE TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JONATHAN LIEW. Medinah 
As he strode up the 11th fairway, Ian Poulter turned to face the fans that were chanting his name. He cupped a hand to his ear, before beating his fist against his chest. How they roared. 
But if it was an attempt to energise the small pockets of Europeans that had followed his team across the Atlantic, it could also be read as a gesture to his captain. Look, he was saying. This is what I do. 
For most of the day, Poulter was the one tower of hope in Europe’s skyline of decay. Having scraped a narrow morning foursomes win against Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, in partnership with Justin Rose, he then teamed up with Rory McIlroy to pull off the unlikeliest of comebacks. 
As dusk fell over Medinah, Poulter and McIlroy won by one hole against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson, having been two down with six to play. Thanks to Poulter, the 2012 Ryder Cup is still alive, just.
The irony was that in many ways, yesterday was not one of his finest days in European colours. He was erratic off the tee, and lacked his usual touch with the wedge.
But in another sense, this was Poulter in his finest vintage. The 36 year-old’s true worth cannot be measured in pounds or points. It can be heard in the rumbling of a gallery, or glimpsed in his fearsome, bulging eyes, taut with emotion. 
Watch Poulter’s expression after he holes a crucial putt. It is not a look of elation, or relief, but of psychosis.
Match-play golf releases the Freddie Kruger in him. When he states, as he did earlier this week, that he wants to ‘kill’ an opponent, there is the faint suspicion he may not be exaggerating.
Most of the time, Poulter’s feverish aggression renders him deeply irritating as a person. This is, after all, a man who has a section on his personal website devoted solely to his collection of sports cars. 
But for one week every two years, he becomes a Continent’s hero: the fuel on which Team Europe runs, the conductor of its orchestra, a lightning rod for America’s scorn.
When his opponents pumped their fists, he pumped his harder. He withstood the jibes and the heckles. And unlike some of his team-mates who wilted in the Medinah crucible, he holed the crucial putts. 
At times, it was if he alone was shoring up the crumbling European edifice, like the admiral of a sinking battleship raging listlessly at the sea.
Hindsight can be a wonderful thing, but Jose Maria Olazabal’s decision to leave him out of the afternoon four-balls on Friday now looks increasingly misguided. 
In his absence, Europe conspicuously lacked a talisman, someone who could shake them out of a funk.
Nowhere was this more in evidence than on the first tee on Saturday morning.
Rarely can the opening shots have been played amid such a racket. Neither player waited for the noise to abate before addressing; indeed, both drives were played with the din at its most deafening. 
There will scarcely be a more electric moment all weekend.
“It was a special moment,” Poulter said. “My heart rate went from 100 to 180 pretty quickly, but it was a great buzz for sure.”
Yet Simpson could still have squared the match on the final hole had he holed a six-foot birdie putt. Instead he missed, just as he had missed a number of short putts during his round. It was a victory that had the whiff of fortune to it, but one ultimately decided by the strength of the Poulter-Rose axis. When one slumped, the other raised his game to compensate.
Poulter and McIlroy formed a very different sort of partnership. For over two hours they appeared to be going through the motions: never out of contention, but never quite in contention either. 
That changed at the 13th, when McIlroy’s treacherous downhill birdie putt halved Europe’s deficit out of nothing. Enter Poulter, who holed consecutive birdie putts at 15, 16 and 17 to haul Europe ahead. The galleries may have been silenced, but the look on Poulter’s face said it all. The eyes had it.




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