Huge congratulations to Davis Love III and his United States of America team! A hugely deserved victory. Patrick Reed was their superstar, Ryan Moore the modest hero who sealed the deal. Brooks Koepka and Brandt Snedeker deserve plenty of the plaudits too, for the no-nonsense manner in which they set about gathering points. Every member of their side contributed, and they’ll be delighted to have won the Ryder Cup back after eight years. A fitting tribute to Arnold Palmer, who will hopefully be looking down on Hazeltine from the great clubhouse in the sky.
Europe meanwhile will scuttle off and lick their wounds. Darren Clarke’s side were soundly beaten, but they can be proud of Rory McIlroy, who came of age as a senior figure in the team, and have blooded a real gem in Thomas Pieters. They’ll go again at Le Golf National in Paris in 2018. Jordan Spieth’s already been on TV saying the US team have victory in their sights; it’s going to be another wonderful brouhaha! Until then, thanks for reading!
Updated
The result of the 2016 Ryder Cup: USA 17-11 Europe
And the way the singles finished...
1UP Patrick Reed v Rory McIlroy
Jordan Spieth v Henrik Stenson 3&2
JB Holmes v Thomas Pieters 3&2
1UP Rickie Fowler v Justin Rose
Jimmy Walker v Rafa Cabrera Bello 3&2
Phil Mickelson A/S Sergio Garcia
1UP Ryan Moore v Lee Westwood
3&1 Brandt Snedeker v Andy Sullivan
1UP Dustin Johnson v Chris Wood
5&4 Brooks Koepka v Danny Willett
Matt Kuchar v Martin Kaymer 1UP
4&3 Zach Johnson v Matt Fitzpatrick
USA 17-11 Europe
Just the one match out on the course. Martin Kaymer has found some hot form on the back nine today, coming back from three down. It’s sadly too late for Europe, but he’s got two putts to win the match. He uses them up, and the half brings him a one-hole victory over Matt Kuchar, who is smiling broadly anyway.
Kuchar v Kaymer 1UP (F)
Here’s Darren Clarke, who is doing his best to smile through his misery. “There was a lot of blue early, and it looked as though our lads would put up a massive fight. Which they did, but the American guys holed their putts and showed their class. The bottom line is, the better team won! Some of the scoring has just been off the charts. It’s huge that our rookies blended in so well. They’ll take over the mantle in Paris in two years time. At the end of the day, congratulations to Davis, and we’ll try to win it back!”
USA 17-10 Europe
Pars for Dustin and Chris Wood down the last. A one-hole victory, and another point on the board for the victorious hosts!
1UP D Johnson v Wood (F)
Kuchar v Kaymer 1UP (17)
But what about hero of the moment Ryan Moore?! He was simply sensational over the closing holes! Two down with three to play, he made a stunning eagle at 16, hit a gorgeous tee shot at 17 to set up birdie, and closed things out on 18 in the calm fashion. Has there been a more spectacular manner in which the Ryder Cup has been secured? He was a force of nature in last week’s Tour Championship play-off against Rory McIlroy, coming so close to a fine play-off victory; not only did that clinch his place, the fight clearly stood him in good stead this week. Along with Patrick Reed, he’s the USA’s man of the week! “I haven’t had a moment to even digest what just happened! I just tried my hardest not to let my team down. I love my team-mates, I love my captains, we had such a great time this week!”
USA 16-10 Europe
Some matches still out on the course, of course. Wood has a putt on 17 for the win, but the celebratory cheer on 18 sees his shoulders slump, and he yips it. They’ll head up the last with Dustin dormie. Meanwhile on 15, Zach Johnson closes his match out against young Matthew Fitzpatrick. All players mature at different rates, and this Ryder Cup may have come a little early for Fitzpatrick. But he’ll be back for sure, and the experience will stand him in good stead.
1UP Moore v Westwood (F)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (17)
Kuchar v Kaymer 1UP (16)
4&3 Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (F)
Ladies and gentlemen, the winning captain, Davis Love III! He’s understandably emotional, having just been released from a bear hug by a sobbing Bubba Watson. “We lost Arnold Palmer on Sunday. It was a blow to our team. It’s not about one guy, but Bubba showed what heart we have. Everyone who played, and who didn’t play. I’m humbled that I’m in this position. These 12 players and the six captains. I’ll always remember Medinah, it was a lot of fun, and an experience, but this is different. I’m just super proud. We all pulled together. We’ve been kicked around for so long, so we did something different. And we’re going on with a better attitude from here on forward!” I think he’s in blissful shock. You’d need a heart of stone not to feel happy for him after the pain of four years ago. A class act!
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WIN THE 2016 RYDER CUP!!! USA 15-10 Europe
Ryan Moore cracks a magnificent second into 18, ten feet short of the flag. With Westwood in the bunker, it’s surely over. Westwood can’t get up and down. Moore cradles it up, Westwood offers his hand, Moore wins by one hole, and the USA are the worthy winners of the 2016 Ryder Cup! They have been absolutely magnificent! Ryan Moore didn’t even know he was playing this time last week!
Updated
Wood makes birdie on 16. Dustin has a six footer for a birdie and a half. If it goes in, it guarantees the half point that earns USA victory - he’d be dormie two - but points aren’t counted until matches are actually over. So it wouldn’t be his moment. Not technically. Ah, he’s missed it anyway. Wood wins the hole, and Dustin is only one up! It looks like the moment might be Ryan Moore’s, in any case.
Moore a/s Westwood (17)
3&1 Snedeker v Sullivan (F)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (16)
Kuchar v Kaymer 1UP (15)
3UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (13)
USA 14-10 EUROPE
Updated
USA 14-10 Europe
It’s so close now! Snedeker knocks his tee shot at 17 to six feet. Sullivan can only send his into the fringe near the water. Then he thins a chip ten feet past the hole. When he misses the par putt, he offers Snedeker a warm handshake and a smile. Snedeker wins 3&1. Now, then, who’s going to seal the deal?
The USA are moving ever closer. It’s just a question of when, how and who, not if. Martin Kaymer knocks in a birdie putt from Medinah distance on 14 to level his match with Matt Kuchar, but Ryan Moore knocks a pearler close at 17 to set up a birdie that hauls Lee Westwood back to parity. And on 16, Brandt Snedeker knocks in a missable one for a half that ensures he’s dormie two over Andy Sullivan. Who’s going to seal the deal?!
Mickelson a/s Garcia (F)
Moore a/s Westwood (17)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (16)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (15)
5&4 Koepka v Willett (F)
Kuchar a/s Kaymer (14)
3UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (13)
USA 13-10 EUROPE
USA 13-10 Europe
Mickelson and Garcia both find the 18th in regulation. Mickelson curls in a 15-footer from the back for his birdie; Sergio replies with one across the green from 12 feet. It would have been cruel had either man lost that match; it was a brilliant battle between two of the most entertaining players in the game! The first halved match of the afternoon, too.
One of the shots of the week by Ryan Moore! He’s in the middle of the par-five 16th, and creams a fairway wood into the heart of the green, the banking on the right bringing his ball round and to a stop eight feet from the hole! Magical! The shot deserves to win the hole, and it does. Eagle, and he trails Lee Westwood by just one hole now. Fitzpatrick meanwhile ships another hole to Zach Johnson, this time at 12. And Dustin Johnson rolls one in from 12 feet at 15 to turn the screw on Wood.
Mickelson a/s Garcia (17)
Moore v Westwood 1UP (16)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (15)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (15)
5&4 Koepka v Willett (F)
1UP Kuchar v Kaymer (13)
3UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (12)
USA 12½-9½ EUROPE
USA 12½-9½ EUROPE
Brooks Koepka puts an end to Danny Willett’s miserable week. The pair share the 14th in par, and that seals a 5&4 victory for the US debutant! Danny can now go home and give his brother Peter some beneficial advice on the subjects of manners and righteousness.
This battle between Sergio and Phil is something else! Sergio smacks his tee shot at 17 to eight feet. Phil replies by sending his to ten, then knocks in the birdie putt. Time for Sergio to buckle? Nope! He slots his away too, and these geniuses are heading down the last all square! Andy Sullivan meanwhile needs something to happen quickly, two down on 15. He’s got a 12-footer for the win, but lets it die on the right! Brandt Snedeker remains two up. And finally Matt Kuchar misses a five-footer on 13; Martin Kaymer is only one behind now. This isn’t over quite yet. Nearly, but not quite.
Mickelson a/s Garcia (17)
Moore v Westwood 2UP (15)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (15)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (14)
5UP Koepka v Willett (13)
1UP Kuchar v Kaymer (13)
2UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (11)
USA 11½-9½ EUROPE
USA 11½-9½ Europe
Rose sends his second into 18 to 15 feet. It gives him the chance of a half, and he fails to hit it. A terribly lame effort, and one that sums up his week. He’s played well, but putted abysmally. Fowler wasn’t on top of his game either, but he was sharper when he needed to be, and his one-hole win nudges the USA closer to their holy grail! Just the three points required to end eight years of hurt!
1UP Fowler v Rose (F)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (16)
Moore v Westwood 2UP (15)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (14)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (14)
5UP Koepka v Willett (13)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (12)
2UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (11)
Updated
Mickelson drives into the rough down 16 and is forced to lay up. His wedge into the green isn’t great, and Sergio’s on in two. Advantage Europe. Mickelson to putt first, and he races his effort miles past. Sergio has two putts for the hole, and he cradles up close enough for Mickelson to wave them towards the 17th tee all square. Westwood meanwhile knocks his second into 15 to 12 feet, and strokes in the birdie putt. That’s back-to-back birdies from Westwood, and he’s taken control of his match at a crucial time. But it’s not good news for Danny Willett, who has rather sadly crumbled under the pressure his unimaginative brother put him under this week. He’s lost four of the last five holes, two of them having bogeyed, and Brooks Koepka is dormie five.
1UP Fowler v Rose (17)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (16)
Moore v Westwood 2UP (15)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (13)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (13)
5UP Koepka v Willett (13)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (11)
2UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (10)
USA 10½-9½ EUROPE
USA 10½-9½ Europe
Wood misses a four-footer on 13 that would have won the hole; Dustin Johnson remains two up. Fowler and Rose share the par-three 17th in regulation; Fowler goes up the last dormie. And Jimmy Walker tries to lay up at the par-five 16th and finds the water anyway. That’s surely going to be that. He chips through the green from the drop zone, and ends up with a bogey. Rafa Cabrera Bello wins 3&2, another rookie who really has delivered the goods this week. But while it looks good for Europe in the long term, and while there’s currently only one point in it overall, you don’t have to read too far down this list to see that the USA are getting very close to their first victory in eight years!
1UP Fowler v Rose (17)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 3&2 (F)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (15)
Moore v Westwood 1UP (14)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (13)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (13)
4UP Koepka v Willett (12)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (11)
2UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (10)
Updated
Mickleson makes his eighth birdie of the day at 15! It cancels out the one Sergio’s made, and he remains one up with three holes to go. Zach Johnson rattles in a 40-footer on 10 to turn the screw on Matthew Fitzpatrick in the final match. Bogey on 14 by Ryan Moore gives Lee Westwood two putts from short range after the European hits his second to ten feet; Westwood goes one up as the holes run out. And on 10, some strange scenes as Matt Kuchar hits a putt which has surely dropped into the hole. He’d go three up, but it hovers over the edge, seemingly defying all gravity. After a frustrating wait, as he realises the gods are against him, he taps in. Kaymer is still two adrift, but that might give him succour.
1UP Fowler v Rose (16)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (15)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (15)
Moore a/s Westwood 1UP (14)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (13)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (11)
4UP Koepka v Willett (11)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (10)
2UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (10)
USA 10½-8½ EUROPE
Justin Rose should have won his match with Rickie Fowler by now, but his putter has been stone cold all day. All week, really. He misses a 15-footer for birdie on 16; Fowler makes his, though, and suddenly the US star takes charge at a crucial moment.
There’s been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing while those matches were being decided. Not least Sergio and Phil peppering the flag at 14, the former missing a five-footer for birdie and giving the latter a read. Lefty doesn’t look those sort of gift horses in the mouth. Here’s the easiest way to catch up. It doesn’t make particularly good reading for Darren Clarke’s side. Davis Love III could be just a couple of hours away from post-Medinah salvation!
1UP Reed v McIlroy (F)
Spieth v Stenson 3&2 (F)
Holmes v Pieters 2UP (F)
Fowler a/s Rose (15)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (15)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (14)
Moore a/s Westwood (13)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (12)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (11)
4UP Koepka v Willett (11)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (10)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (9)
USA 10½-8½ EUROPE
USA 10½-8½ Europe
JB Holmes has zig-zagged down the par-five 16th. He can only make par. Thomas Pieters is safely on the green in two, and he birdies to seal a 3&2 win. Four points out of five for the rookie, which is Europe’s best return and one of the greatest - the greatest - Ryder Cup debuts of all time?
Updated
USA 10½-7½ Europe
McIlroy knocks his putt in. But Patrick Reed, unquestionably the player of the week, curls his shorter effort home, and seals a stunning one-hole victory over Europe’s main man! McIlroy delivered today, like he has all week, and yet his efforts weren’t enough against this brilliant young US star. He’s going to start winning majors soon enough, too. What a match that was!
Updated
McIlroy batters a huge drive down 18. Reed opens his shoulders and follows him down there. Reed to hit his approach first - and he creams a delicious one to six feet! That’s probably enough to secure the win, and he celebrates with a fist pump or two, but Rory knocks his second to eight feet. If he can rattle that birdie putt in, it’ll at least ask a question.
USA 9½-7½ Europe
Shades of Jean van de Velde - and of farce - as Spieth takes his shoes off and contemplates playing his wet ball on 16. A referee sticks his neb in, and suggests Spieth has moved the ball by sticking his toe in the water to check out if he has a stance. Spieth argues that he’s not sure he’s even going to play it, so it’s not worth checking videotape. He pulls his ball out of the drink, and concedes! Stenson was on the green in two anyway, and he’s won 3&2!
Updated
Rory to putt before Reed takes his chip. And he hits a rather timid one, leaving himself a tricky three feet still to travel downhill. Reed chips dead for his bogey - but Rory knocks his par putt in! Nerves of steel there. They go up 18. Can Rory somehow claw half a point off Reed? Meanwhile Holmes has a 12-footer on 15 to claw a hole back off Pieters, but he leaves it high on the left and it horseshoes out. And on 16, Spieth’s second finds water; the end might not be long in that match.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (17)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (15)
Holmes v Pieters 2UP (15)
Fowler a/s Rose (13)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (13)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (12)
Moore a/s Westwood (10)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (9)
2UP D Johnson v Wood (10)
2UP Koepka v Willett (9)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (6)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (6)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
McIlroy is in the last-chance saloon, with a pint and a chaser, and a fag on. Reed’s tee shot at 17 finds the rough surrounding the green. So does Rory’s, though it takes a fortunate bounce out onto the putting surface. He’ll take that. He’ll take anything right now. And Reed thins his chip straight through the green! A chance for Rory, who’ll be putting downhill from 25 feet? Meanwhile Mickelson rolls in a 30-footer on 12 to level things up against Sergio again. No idea how that one is going to finish. Willett misses a short one on 9 to fall further behind Koepka; Dustin birdies 10 to move further ahead of Wood.
Updated
Jimmy Walker, having won two of the last three holes, clips his tee shot at the par-three 13th to six feet. Brilliant. Problem is, Rafa Cabrera Bello follows up by nearly holing in one. It’s conceded for birdie, and then Walker fails to convert his own chance. From surely thinking he was going to haul this match level, Walker is two down again. Meanwhile Stenson and Spieth trade birdie putts on 15. What a half!
2UP Reed v McIlroy (16)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (15)
Holmes v Pieters 2UP (14)
Fowler a/s Rose (13)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (13)
Mickelson v Garcia 1UP (11)
Moore a/s Westwood (10)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (9)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (8)
1UP Koepka v Willett (7)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (6)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (6)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
McIlroy drives into the cabbage down the left of 16, and has to lay up at the par-five. Reed finds the bunker at the back of the green in two. McIlroy prepares to hit his wedge, and is heckled by a dullard. To be fair to the gallery, there are loud and prolonged boos, and one chap shouts “Get that guy outta here!” McIlroy takes aim again, and doesn’t hit his wedge particularly close at all. Reed, facing a tricky downhill bunker shot, splashes out to 18 inches. It’s conceded, so McIlroy will have to sink a long one to avoid Reed going dormie two. He can’t make his 30 footer. Reed can’t lose. In better news for Europe, Pieters rolls in a birdie putt from 25 feet on 14; Holmes, eight feet behind the hole, is spooked and misses his chance. Pieters is two holes up.
2UP Reed v McIlroy (16)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (14)
Holmes v Pieters 2UP (14)
Fowler a/s Rose (13)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 1UP (12)
Mickelson v Garcia 1UP (11)
Moore a/s Westwood (10)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (9)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (8)
1UP Koepka v Willett (7)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (6)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (6)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
Mickelson yips from two feet at 11 to gift the lead in match six to Garcia. In better news for the USA, Jimmy Walker rolls in a 25-footer across 12 to claim another hole back from Rafa Cabrera Bello. The Spanish rookie might start feeling a few nerves now. And Fowler rakes in a big par saver from the fringe at 13 to scramble a half. His match is still all square; Justin Rose should really be out of sight, but he’s not putted well, and Fowler is one hell of a scrapper.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (15)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (14)
Holmes v Pieters 1UP (13)
Fowler a/s Rose (13)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 1UP (12)
Mickelson v Garcia 1UP (11)
Moore a/s Westwood (10)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (9)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (8)
1UP Koepka v Willett (7)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (6)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (6)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
A lovely moment of sportsmanship on 15. McIlroy and Reed both have looks at medium-range putts for the win; they both leave themselves tricky three footers for par. They spend a while looking at each other, then concede the putts. Reed in particular very generous there, McIlroy’s looked tougher. Altogether now: “I don’t think you would have missed it, but I wasn’t going to give you the chance!” Meanwhile Rose misses a tiddler to win on 12; a half with Fowler in bogey five. Stenson and Spieth pepper the flag at 14. Spieth misses first, giving Stenson the chance to move three up with holes running out; but he doesn’t hit the eight-footer he’s got for the win. Spieth off the hook there. But the young superstar isn’t at the top of his game this week; if he manages to turn this around, it’ll be not much short of sensational!
1UP Reed v McIlroy (15)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (14)
Holmes v Pieters 1UP (13)
Fowler a/s Rose (12)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (11)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (10)
Moore a/s Westwood (10)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (9)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (8)
1UP Koepka v Willett (7)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (6)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (6)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
A sweet wedge into 11 by Cabrera Bello, landing 15 feet past the flag and very nearly spinning back into the cup. That was his third, though, and Walker’s on the front in two. A couple of putts by the PGA champ, and that’s a birdie. The Spaniard taps in to complete an up-and-down from 120 yards. A half. Sullivan birdies 9 to snatch a hole back off Snedeker.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (14)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (13)
Holmes v Pieters 1UP (12)
Fowler a/s Rose (11)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (11)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (10)
Moore a/s Westwood (9)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (9)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (8)
Koepka a/s Willett (6)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (6)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (5)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
So we were misinformed: Wood didn’t win 7 in bogey at all, he earned a half. And now his opponent Dustin Johnson’s birdied 8, the US Open champ is one up. Fitzpatrick claws a hole back from Zach Johnson at 5; the erstwhile Masters and Open winner is just one up now. Spieth gives up the ghost on 13 rather lamely: he takes his drop from the water, then duffs his chip into the sand. Stenson is two clear again.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (14)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (13)
Holmes v Pieters 1UP (12)
Fowler a/s Rose (11)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (10)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (10)
Moore a/s Westwood (9)
2UP Snedeker v Sullivan (8)
1UP D Johnson v Wood (8)
Koepka a/s Willett (6)
2UP Kuchar v Kaymer (6)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (5)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Stenson gifts a hole back to Spieth by missing a four-footer for par on 12. But Spieth looks like returning the favour, having pulled his tee shot into water on the left of the par-three 13th. Stenson turns the screw by creaming his iron to six feet. Wood wins 7 with bogey, both he and Dustin in trouble off the tee. Westwood levels up his game against Moore with a 25-footer for birdie at 9. Garcia rolls in a 20-footer on 10 to haul Mickelson back to all-square. And Reed has a chance to snatch the 14th hole off McIlroy from ten feet, but there’s a big left-to-right curl on it, and he overcompensates. He remains one up in the first match and flagship battle, though.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (14)
Spieth v Stenson 1UP (12)
Holmes v Pieters 1UP (11)
Fowler a/s Rose (10)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (10)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (10)
1UP Moore v Westwood (8)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (7)
D Johnson v Wood 1UP (7)
Koepka a/s Willett (6)
1UP Kuchar v Kaymer (5)
2UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (4)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
Brandt Snedeker was two down after three holes; now he’s two up after eight! He snakes in a 25-footer across the 7th green for his third birdie in four holes, then it’s four from five after sending his tee shot at 8 to ten feet. Andy Sullivan hasn’t done much wrong! Koepka levels things up against Willett on 6. Walker grabs a hole back against Cabrera Bello with a 35-footer across 10. And Zach Johnson moves further ahead of a struggling Matthew Fitzpatrick in the final match at 4; the European is two down, both holes lost to par. A brilliant birdie for Pieters on 11 to retake the lead against Holmes is the only scrap of good news for Europe, who are on the end of a thrashing if things stay the same.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (13)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (11)
Holmes v Pieters 1UP (11)
Fowler a/s Rose (10)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (10)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (9)
1UP Moore v Westwood (8)
1UP Snedeker v Sullivan (7)
D Johnson a/s Wood (6)
Koepka a/s Willett (6)
1UP Kuchar v Kaymer (5)
2UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (4)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Kaymer misses a tiddler on 5 to gift the lead in the penultimate match to Kuchar. Dustin sinks a long one on 6 to level his game against Wood. Mickelson misses an eight-footer to go two clear at 9. And on 13, Rory putts up to six feet; Reed splashes to similar distance. The pressure’s beginning to tell now, and they both miss their short ones. Reed sends his three feet past, enough to be asked to putt out. In it goes. Both players will look back on that as a missed opportunity.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (13)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (11)
Holmes a/s Pieters (10)
Fowler a/s Rose (10)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 3UP (9)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (9)
1UP Moore v Westwood (7)
Snedeker a/s Sullivan (6)
D Johnson a/s Wood (6)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (5)
1UP Kuchar v Kaymer (5)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Reed slam-dunks his tee shot at the par-three 13th into sand on the left. Rory arrows his straight at the flag, but he’s a club short, and the ball doesn’t reach the green. He’ll still have a putt, though, from the apron. Back on the par-five 11th, Stenson’s second nestles in the rough guarding the front of the green. Spieth’s third lands on the putting surface but spins back off. Two shots for each of them to get down, and Stenson is two holes clear. Meanwhile another hole for the brilliant rookie Rafa Cabrera Bello; he’s three up over Jimmy Walker at the turn. But a bogey for Rose at 10, and his match with Fowler is all square again.
1UP Reed v McIlroy (12)
Spieth v Stenson 2UP (11)
Holmes a/s Pieters (10)
Fowler a/s Rose (10)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 3UP (9)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (8)
1UP Moore v Westwood (7)
Snedeker a/s Sullivan (6)
D Johnson v Wood 1UP (5)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (5)
Kuchar a/s Kaymer (4)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Reed and McIlroy have gotten a wee bit looser since the early fireworks. They’re both in sand, either side of the 12th green. Reed splashes out a little closer. McIlroy is left with a ten-foot par putt. It drifts by the right, opening the door for Reed. And he steers in a left-to-right curler for the hole! He conducts the crowd with a “COME ON! COME ON! COME ON!” but the crowd just go “YYYYAAAAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH!” instead. The point stands, though. Come on! Reed has put US red on the scoreboard for the first time in this rubber. Yaargghh!
1UP Reed v McIlroy (12)
Spieth v Stenson 1UP (10)
Holmes a/s Pieters (10)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (9)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (8)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (8)
1UP Moore v Westwood (7)
Snedeker a/s Sullivan (6)
D Johnson v Wood 1UP (5)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (5)
Kuchar a/s Kaymer (4)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
So this ... this is manic. And quite brilliant! We’re well into the singles now, and every single match is still way too close to call. Birdie for Chris Wood at 5, and he takes the lead over Big Dustin again. Justin Rose sends a putt around the wall of death on 9; after a few whirls it drops into the cup for a half. He bows in a polite fashion, and receives a wink and a smile from Rickie Fowler. All in good humo(u)r. Up on 10, Pieters knocks his wedge stiff for birdie, but is denied the hole by a second long putt from Holmes.
Reed a/s McIlroy (11)
Spieth v Stenson 1UP (10)
Holmes a/s Pieters (10)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (9)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (8)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (7)
1UP Moore v Westwood (6)
Snedeker a/s Sullivan (5)
D Johnson v Wood 1UP (5)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (4)
Kuchar a/s Kaymer (2)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Snedeker was two holes down to Sullivan after three holes. He’s just birded 4 and 5 to level things up again! Holmes rakes in a 40-footer on 9; Pieters can’t match him from half the distance. That match is tied once more too. Rory and Reed share the spoils at 11 in par fives. Moore curls a left-to-right birdie chance into the cup from 20 feet on 6, with Westwood half the distance inside him. The pressure’s on the English veteran and captain’s pick now: he makes it! He stays just one hole adrift. And a couple of huge match-play swings in favour of the USA: Spieth hits a hot wedge 25 feet past the hole at 10, but he nails the par saver and Stenson misses the ten-foot birdie chance. It looked like Spieth would be falling two behind, but it’s still just the narrow one-hole lead for Stenson. And Mickelson makes his fifth birdie in seven holes; Garcia’s birdie putt, from half the distance, drifts by the right of the cup. Lefty takes the lead again!
Reed a/s McIlroy (11)
Spieth v Stenson 1UP (10)
Holmes a/s Pieters (9)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (8)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (8)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (7)
1UP Moore v Westwood (6)
Snedeker a/s Sullivan (5)
D Johnson a/s Wood (5)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (4)
Kuchar a/s Kaymer (2)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Kuchar and Kaymer half the 2nd in birdie. Fitzpatrick lips out from six feet on the opening hole to hand an immediate advantage to Zach Johnson. Sergio birdies 6 to level things up again with Mickelson. Pieters, off the back of a birdie and win at 7, wins 8 in par to take the lead against Holmes. Wood bogeys 3 and is now tied again with Dustin Johnson. Rose sinks a 20-footer on 8 for his fourth birdie of the day; he reclaims the lead.
Reed a/s McIlroy (10)
Spieth v Stenson 1UP (9)
Holmes v Pieters 1UP (8)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (8)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (6)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (6)
1UP Moore v Westwood (5)
Snedeker v Sullivan 1UP (4)
D Johnson a/s Wood (4)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (2)
Kuchar a/s Kaymer (2)
1UP Z Johnson v Fitzpatrick (1)
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
Rose finds water with his drive down the left of 7. He’s still got a 12-foot par putt to save a half, but it drifts off to the right, never hit. His match with Fowler is all square again; those missed chances at 4 and 5 look more important now. Stenson fires his second into 9 to 12 feet. Spieth misses a 20-foot birdie chance, but Stenson puts his away; he’s now leading at the turn. And the street-fighting, near-indestructible Ryan Moore has turned round his game against the flaky Lee Westwood; birdies at 3 and now 5 put the Tour Championship runner-up ahead.
Reed a/s McIlroy (10)
Spieth v Stenson 1UP (9)
Holmes a/s Pieters (7)
Fowler a/s Rose (7)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (6)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (5)
1UP Moore v Westwood (5)
Snedeker v Sullivan 2UP (3)
D Johnson v Wood 1UP (2)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (2)
Kuchar v Kaymer
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Reed nearly puts his second shot in the drink to the left of 10. So sure enough, he very nearly chips in from down the bank. McIlroy is required to nail an eight-footer for the half. In it goes. Is there any separating these lads?! Koepka is inside Willett on 2, but the Masters champion rolls in a ten-footer, causing his opponent to yip under pressure; an early lead for Europe in that one.
Reed a/s McIlroy (10)
Spieth a/s Stenson (8)
Holmes a/s Pieters (7)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (6)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (6)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (4)
Moore a/s Westwood (3)
Snedeker v Sullivan 2UP (3)
D Johnson v Wood 1UP (2)
Koepka v Willett 1UP (2)
Kuchar v Kaymer
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
McIlroy and Reed are strutting down the 10th fairway, along which they’ve whistled huge drives, chatting about the custom-made equipment their sponsors make for them. So yeah, it’s not as if they really mean it. Pure panto. They know what they’re doing. Rose and Fowler halve 6 in birdie. Another birdie for Chris Wood, this time at 2. And this time it earns him the hole. A brilliant approach to three feet. Stenson levels up the second match against Spieth after hitting his tee shot at 8 to four feet. Pieters birdies 7 to once again level up his rollercoaster ride with Holmes. And another birdie for Sullivan, this time at 3, and he’s two up on Snedeker.
Reed a/s McIlroy (9)
Spieth a/s Stenson (8)
Holmes a/s Pieters (7)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (6)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (5)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (4)
Moore a/s Westwood (3)
Snedeker v Sullivan 2UP (3)
D Johnson v Wood 1UP (2)
Koepka a/s Willett (1)
Kuchar v Kaymer
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Reed plays the 9th in very tatty fashion, zig-zagging around in the rough down the left. But McIlroy’s not much better, taking a very similar route. But he’s the one who has a 12-footer for par, and the win. He spurns it. A half in bogey, a curious outcome seeing over the previous four holes the pair have between them generated seven birdies and an eagle! This is shaping up to be one of the great Ryder Cup matches; even when the quality dips a tad there’s no separating them!
Reed a/s McIlroy (9)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (7)
1UP Holmes a/s Pieters (6)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (5)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (5)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (4)
Moore a/s Westwood (3)
Snedeker v Sullivan 1UP (2)
D Johnson a/s Wood (1)
Koepka v Willett
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Mickelson drains a 35-footer on 4 for his birdie. That means Sergio suddenly has to hole a 15-footer he’d been expecting to make for the win. One more joule of energy, and he’d have had made it, but no. Mickelson bounces off in his favoured eager-puppy-dog style, the wind behind him now. What a putt! Moore levels things up against Westwood at 3, with the first birdie of that match. And on 7, Spieth and Stenson both toy with the water, and fail to reach the green in two. But both make astounding up-and-downs to scramble unlikely pars.
Reed a/s McIlroy (8)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (7)
1UP Holmes a/s Pieters (6)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (4)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (5)
1UP Mickelson v Garcia (4)
Moore a/s Westwood (3)
Snedeker v Sullivan 1UP (1)
D Johnson a/s Wood (1)
Koepka v Willett
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Andy Sullivan wins the opening hole against Brandt Snedeker after sticking his approach to five feet. Another hole for Rafa Cabrera Bello against Jimmy Walker, this time at the par-three 4th. Mickelson birdies 3 to tie up his match with Sergio. Holmes misses a four-footer for the win on 6. Big Dustin and Big Chris Wood share the opening hole in birdie. And Rickie Fowler has been struggling a little with his game all week. All year, really. He snap hooks his drive at 4 into a world of pain. Justin Rose has driven into a greenside bunker. But Rose can’t get up and down, and Fowler somehow scrambles his par from the land of nonsense. Brilliant scrambling from the American, though that’s two short-ish putts in a row Rose has missed for wins. He can’t keep doing that against a player of Fowler’s innate talent.
Reed a/s McIlroy (8)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (6)
1UP Holmes a/s Pieters (6)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (4)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 2UP (4)
Mickelson a/s Garcia (3)
Moore v Westwood 1UP (2)
Snedeker v Sullivan 1UP (1)
D Johnson a/s Wood (1)
Koepka v Willett
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
The 8th green is currently flying somewhere over Texas! Spinning like a saucer! That’s because it was launched into orbit when Rory McIlroy drained a 55-foot monster straight up the green on the par-three! He spun round screaming the word “yes” quite loudly, then cupped his ears as the applause and boos rained down. Then Reed rattled in a 20-footer of his own!!! McIlroy could do nothing but guffaw, the pair bump fists, and walk off with their arms round each other’s shoulders! The Ryder Cup, ladies and gentlemen, right there! It never - never, ever - lets us down. That was pure magic!
Spieth birdies 5 to regain the lead in the second match. Garcia and Mickelson halve 2 in birdie; Sergio remains one up. Cabrera Bello birdies 3 to go ahead against Walker. Westwood wins the opening hole against Moore with par, tucking away the sort of putt he Craig Stadlered on 18 yesterday afternoon. Fowler scrambles a par on 4 after getting a little aggressive with a chip for birdie; Rose had gone very close with his birdie effort, shaving the left of the cup from ten feet. A wild drive costs Pieters on 5; Holmes regains the lead. And on 7, Reed rolls in a fine 15-footer for birdie; McIlroy matches his score, then responds to Reed’s bowing antics on 6. He considers bowing himself, thinks awhile, then settles for a finger to the lips, and a big SHH-SHH-SHHHHHH. The boos rain down from the stands. This is pure pantomime, and a lot of fun to watch. Everyone will still be friends and enjoy a drink afterwards, whatever happens, right? You with me? Huh? Eh?
Reed a/s McIlroy (7)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (5)
1UP Holmes a/s Pieters (5)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (4)
Walker v Cabrera Bello 1UP (3)
Mickelson v Garcia 1UP (2)
Moore v Westwood 1UP (1)
Snedeker v Sullivan
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
Thomas Pieters is a star in the making. Having gone two down in double-quick time, he’s pulled it back level lickety-split. His tee shot at the par-three 4th lands six feet from the cup; he rolls in the putt with minimum fuss. Nervous, did I say? Disregard! Reed has also been brilliant all week. The evidence of the first couple of holes today suggested he may have finally run out of juice, but oh boy he’s still in the zone. After that sensational eagle at the par-four 5th, he’s screeched a wedge to three feet at 6, setting up birdie. McIlroy has to hole a 15-footer to salvage a half, which he does. Reed tucks his easy birdie putt away, then takes a McIlroy-style ostentatious theatrical bow, before wagging his finger - no, no, no! - in the direction of the man himself. Saucy! Not sure whether McIlroy saw that or not. Let’s hope so! It’s panto season soon!
Reed a/s McIlroy (6)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (5)
Holmes a/s Pieters (4)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (3)
Walker a/s Cabrera Bello (2)
Mickelson v Garcia 1UP (1)
Moore v Westwood
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Mickelson finds the opening green in regulation. But he’s not close. Sergio wedges to a couple of feet. Given the monsters Phil has drained in his career, and the short ones missed by Sergio, this information means next to nothing. But there it is. Mickelson lags up to a couple of feet, but Sergio makes no mistake with his putt, and that’s Europe one up in that match. Pieters birdies the par-five 3rd, and grabs a hole back off Moore, who zig-zagged his way down the hole. The young man has definitely settled after his early judders, to the point where he’s shushing members of the gallery. And on 2, Cabrera Bello has a 15-foot left-to-right curler for birdie and the win, but it stays high on the left and the match remains tied.
Reed a/s McIlroy (5)
Spieth a/s Stenson (3)
1UP Holmes v Pieters (3)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (2)
Walker a/s Cabrera Bello (2)
Mickelson v Garcia 1UP (1)
Moore v Westwood
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
McIlroy makes his birdie on 5 after a fine chip close. But Reed makes his putt for eagle, and if there was a roof on Hazeltine, it’d be flying over Alaska right now. That match is all square again. Back on 1, Jimmy Walker wedges wonderfully to four feet on the opening hole; Cabrera Bello can only find the bunker. But the Spaniard gets up and down from the sand, then the American yips his putt. They’re all square still, but Cabrera Bello waltzes off like a man who’s just won a hole. And on 2, Fowler and Rose pepper the flag for birdies that cancel each other out. “Team USA looking irresistible, even this early,” notes Simon McMahon. “Europe is going to need its experienced men, and captains picks, the likes of Westwood, Kaymer and Garcia to really step up to the plate and hole some putts. Oh, right. I forgot. Congratulations Team USA.”
Reed a/s McIlroy (5)
Spieth a/s Stenson (3)
2UP Holmes v Pieters (2)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (2)
Walker a/s Cabrera Bello (1)
Mickelson v Garcia
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
What a shot by Patrick Reed! Rory very nearly drives the short par-four 5th with his 3-wood; Reed finds the green with his driver! He’s pin high, eight feet from the flag! Meanwhile Henrik Stenson’s eagle putt from off the front of 3 shaves the hole. So unlucky. It’s a birdie, though, and Spieth can’t match it, pushing a short one wide right. He whips his ball up off the green with his putter, then goes to catch it, but thinks twice, with finger protection in mind, and lets it drop again. Anyway, they’re all square.
Reed v McIlroy 1UP (4)
Spieth a/s Stenson (2)
2UP Holmes v Pieters (1)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (1)
Walker v Cabrera Bello
Mickelson v Garcia
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
On 1, Rafa Cabrera Bello whistles his first drive into sand down the right; the PGA champion Jimmy Walker splits the track. Down by the green, a hyped-up Fowler sends his second, from a prime location on the fairway, into the McIlroy Bunker at the back. To illustrate how good McIlroy’s escape was, Fowler sends a big splash miles past the flag and off the front of the green. Rose has two putts to win the hole, but he only needs one. Meanwhile McIlroy is pin high at the par-three 4th. Maybe 20 feet to the left of the flag, which sits near the front of the green. Reed lands his in the rough by the bunker on the left. He gets up and down to save his par, and a half, McIlroy unable to make his birdie putt. And on 2, Holmes wedges his second to ten feet, and that’s a chance to put some more early pressure on Pieters, who is nowhere. In goes the putt, and the USA’s lucky charm - JB was in their 2008 Ryder Cup team - continues to deliver!
Reed v McIlroy 1UP (4)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (2)
2UP Holmes v Pieters (1)
Fowler v Rose 1UP (1)
Walker v Cabrera Bello
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
The first splash of blue on the board! Reed finds the middle of the big par-five 3rd green, but he’s left with a 20-footer again. Rory’s approach hit the flagstick, and stopped eight feet away. For once, Reed can’t make his putt, though he gives it a real look. McIlroy pops his away, though, and finally takes the lead. He’s been threatening to do that from the get-go; Reed’s overall game has looked a little scrappy so far, by his own high standards anyway.
Reed v McIlroy 1UP (3)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (2)
1UP Holmes v Pieters (1)
Fowler v Rose
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Spieth’s second into 2 is pretty poor, a club short. A chance for Stenson to reply. But he can’t get any spin out of the first cut to the right of the fairway, and though his ball lands near the flag, it trundles on at pace towards the back of the green. Spieth, from off the green, rolls a 50-footer up to three feet. Stenson nearly teases in the 15-footer he’s got from the back, but it stops on the cup. Spieth rolls in for the half. Back on the 1st tee, Fowler splits the fairway while Rose’s drive creeps into the first cut on the right.
Reed a/s McIlroy (2)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (2)
1UP Holmes v Pieters (1)
Fowler v Rose
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
Holmes sends his second at the opening hole into Spieth Country. No bad place to be, given what’s just happened. Pieters comes up short of the green, his second slightly compromised by an overhanging branch. Then he thins his chip straight through the green. He was gulping on the first tee, taking huge lugs of air; he does look pretty shaky right now. He’ll settle. But this gifts Moore the opening hole.
Reed a/s McIlroy (2)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (1)
1UP Holmes v Pieters (1)
Fowler v Rose
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Stenson, after taking his drop, manages to whip a wedge up and over the trees, and down into the heart of the green. That’s a fine effort from there. Spieth’s second nestles in the first cut to the back, but he’s not far from the flag. Stenson lags close from distance. But Spieth uses the edge of his wedge to prod the ball along an unerring journey into the cup! Bedlam! Injury? He’s not feeling it now, that’s for sure. Simple brilliance from the two-time major winner. Back on the tee, Pieters and Holmes hit their opening drives. The European rookie, who understandably looks a bit nervous, out and about on his own for the first time this week, finds the first cut down the left. Holmes creams his straight down the track. Meanwhile up on 2, Reed can only find the back of the green with his second, a fair distance from the flag. McIlroy bolts through the open door by wedging to six feet. Reed lags to the side of the hole from 30 feet for his par. McIlroy should convert his birdie chance, but prods with great uncertainty at his putt, and it dies off pitifully to the left. On another day, he’d be two up; as it is, they’re all square and in the circumstances it’s Reed who has the spring in his step.
Reed a/s McIlroy (2)
1UP Spieth v Stenson (1)
Holmes v Pieters
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
The first space-time-continuum-ripping cheer of the day! Patrick Reed trundles in a 20-foot par saver to salvage the hole. A half in par fours. And the first heckle of the day back down the hole, as someone wryly critiques Stenson’s drive, as he locates his ball nestled up by some screens. “Well, that was a shit shot.” Stenson has the good grace to acknowledge it with a grin.
Reed a/s McIlroy (1)
Spieth v Stenson
USA 9½-6½ EUROPE
Updated
This opening pair are certainly nervous; Reed duffs his chip coming into the green, leaving himself a good 20 feet short of the flag. That seems to settle Rory a bit; even though he’s in the middle of a large bunker and doesn’t have much green to play with, he splashes out delicately, landing his ball on the apron and letting it release towards the cup. He should make his par. Back on the tee, Henrik Stenson hoicks his drive miles to the left, over the gallery and towards a concession stand. He’ll get relief but that’s far from ideal. Meanwhile there doesn’t look to be much wrong with Jordan Spieth; he’s out and about, and has blootered a monster down the track.
Reed’s behind a tree, but he’s got a swing, and he’s able to advance his ball 100 yards or so up the hole. But he’s still in the semi-rough down the left, short of the green. It’s advantage Rory, who’s in the middle of the fairway, but he sends an adrenaline-fuelled nightmare of a wedge straight over the green and into the bunker at the back! I’m not sure anyone’s been in that trap all week. A rush of blood to the noggin. “The role of Ryder Cup captain may be a tad overplayed?” wonders Thomas Wahl. “Can you mention that to Phil?”
“USA! USA! USA!” Rory McIlroy takes to the first tee for his opening match against Patrick Reed. The pair embrace. With all the extraneous yammering on, it’s easy to forget most of these guys are friends on the regular Tour. Rory’s used to the bedlam by now; he turned up this morning whistling the Neil Diamond classic Sweet Caroline. A knowing trill. “I’ve heard it one or two times this week,” he drily informs the doorman. What an atmosphere! Thousands of golf fans giving it plenty. “Red! White! Blue! Red! White! Blue!” Rory to tee off first, and he whip-cracks a wonderful drive down the track. Then it’s Reed’s turn. He has to pull out of his stance after being heckled by the one eejit in the crowd, and he doesn’t look totally pleased about it. Then he pulls his drive towards a tree down the left. The pair set off down the 1st fairway; the final day of the 41st Ryder Cup is on!
Updated
“Darren and I could have sat down together and lined them up, because there are no surprises.” A very calm-looking Davis Love III there, inadvertently suggesting that the role of Ryder Cup captain may be a tad overplayed. On this very subject, let me take this opportunity to recommend a fine book to anyone who may later this evening seek to blame Darren Clarke for all the world’s ills. The Captain Myth by Richard Gillis is a highly entertaining breeze through the history of the Ryder Cup captaincy, exploring just how vital a contribution these guys actually make. It also explains how Seve Ballesteros turned David Gilford into the best player in the world, examines the Tiger Problem, and tells the story of Jose Maria Olazabal’s malfunctioning hairdryer. Spoiler alert: Sir Alex Ferguson is to blame for that final one.
So, here we go, then, the day of reckoning! And let’s start out with a question. Have you ever thought that it’s surely only a matter of time before a professional soccer star, celebrating a goal in the athletic style, mistimes his slide along the turf and splinters his kneecaps into a million bony shards? Similarly, pro golfers in the Ryder Cup really do go overboard with the high fives sometimes, don’t they? There they are, slapping each other’s hands, the tools of their trade, with feeling and a force that is surely excessive. Well, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth were certainly highly excited when Reed eagled 6 yesterday afternoon. Gimme five, partner! Don’t leave me hangin’! Problem is, it would seem Reed seriously jarred Spieth’s finger during the throes of their ecstasy. That would explain Spieth’s uncharacteristically dismal form for the remainder of that match; it also raises the question of his ability to compete properly in the singles today.
Word right now is, Spieth will be OK to face Henrik Stenson on the first tee at 11.15am. Phew. If he pulls out before, Darren Clarke will have to present his Special Envelope containing the name of the European player who’d also drop out in such a circumstance. That player would be paired in the draw with Spieth, and their match would be marked down as a half. Henrik Stenson, instead of facing Spieth as originally planned, would move to play whoever the unlucky European was drawn to face. Perhaps Stenson’s in the Special Envelope? Who knows. Anyway, that hopefully won’t be necessary. Here’s to Spieth being hale, hearty, and able to start and finish his match; if he tees off but has to withdraw hurt, Europe will win that one by default.
There haven’t been many better individual performances in the entire history of the Ryder Cup than the one served up by Patrick Reed yesterday afternoon. Consider the context. The United States of America had gotten off to a dream start in the 41st Ryder Cup, 4-0 in the opening series, but by 5pm on Saturday had been hauled back to parity by a rugged European comeback. Reed and his playing partner Jordan Spieth had thrown away a four-hole lead and half-a-point in the morning; in the afternoon, they’d let slip another dominant position, a three-hole lead against Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson frittered down to one. All of a sudden Europe had a realistic chance of getting something from two of the remaining three matches still out on the course. It was all in the balance.
But Reed is made of the right stuff. With Spieth strangely out of sorts, Reed had built the initial American lead in the match all by himself: three birdies and an eagle between holes 5 and 8. Now he put the foot to the floor again, with bang-bang birdies at 14 and 15, an immediate response to danger that catapulted US to dormie. They’d tie up the match soon after. “He’s Captain America for us,” Jordan Spieth enthused. “What a front nine he had with five birdies and an eagle on his own! Then on the back nine he came through on 14 and 15. He really birdied 16 as well and probably would have birdied 17 if he had to.”
Good luck, then, to Reed’s opponent in today’s singles! Roaring Rory McIlroy has without question been Europe’s answer to Reed, a force of nature raging against the dying of the European light. He’s won three of Europe’s six-and-a-half points, the high-water mark being that eagle at 16 on Friday, though he has done quite a lot of shouting too. His poor vocal cords must look like Harry Nilsson’s after the Pussy Cats sessions. (Just throwing in a cutting-edge pop reference to keep the kids interested.) Rory has been a rare success story for Europe this week, the first name on a short list that also includes the rookies Thomas Pieters, Rafa Cabrera Bello and Chris Wood, and signally omits experienced wild-card picks Martin Kaymer and Lee Stadler-Westwood. His mano-a-mano duel with Reed promises fireworks. Can’t wait!
Rory will need to put some blue on the board early if Europe are to have any chance of retaining their trophy. Problem for Darren Clarke’s team is, even if he does that, their chances are slim: the USA only need five points from the 12 singles rubbers to win, and they’ve been by far the better team this week. Their 9½-6½ lead is thoroughly deserved. Lightning can strike twice, but the problem there is, we’re not in Medinah any more. Still, you never know, and that’s why we all love sport. Whatever happens, there are some sensational matches taking place this afternoon. It’s going to be a hell of a ride, as the USA look to put an end to eight years of hurt, and reclaim the trophy they first won in 1927, and on 24 glorious occasions since. It’s on!
11.04am CT (5.04pm BST): Patrick Reed v Rory McIlroy
11.15am (5.15pm): Jordan Spieth v Henrik Stenson
11.26am (5.26pm): JB Holmes v Thomas Pieters
11.37am (5.37pm): Rickie Fowler v Justin Rose
11.48am (5.48pm): Jimmy Walker v Rafa Cabrera Bello
11.59am (5.59pm): Phil Mickelson v Sergio Garcia
12.10pm (6.10pm): Ryan Moore v Lee Westwood
12.21pm (6.21pm): Brandt Snedeker v Andy Sullivan
12.32pm (6.32pm): Dustin Johnson v Chris Wood
12.43pm (6.43pm): Brooks Koepka v Danny Willett
12.54pm (6.54pm): Matt Kuchar v Martin Kaymer
1.05pm (7.05pm): Zach Johnson v Matt Fitzpatrick
And remember: your super soaraway Guardian golf coverage comes with a cast-iron, no-quibble, OFFICIAL GUARDIAN GUARANTEE!!!There’ll be not a single mention here of Brexit, or other bitingly original satirical observations such as: the use of the European flag; Donald Trump’s hair; golf being a good walk spoiled; golf not being a sport because players don’t boast the aerobic conditioning of the Brownlee brothers; bababooey; people in golf clubs wearing clothing from the 1970s; people in golf clubs having attitudes from the 1970s; sweets you may remember from the 1970s; airplane peanuts.
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