Our reports from Le Golf National
Ewan Murray …
Kevin Mitchell on Tiger and Moliwood:
Angelique Chrisafis:
Updated
It’s been another to-and-fro day at the 2018 Ryder Cup. And a long one, so it’s the end of this hole-by-hole report. Please join us tomorrow for the singles, which promise to be dramatic, exciting, unbearable, exhilarating, intense, weird, fun, life-affirming and more proof, if any were needed, that golf is the greatest sport in the world. Will Europe get the four-and-a-half points they need to reclaim the cup? Or will the USA pay them back for the Miracle of Medinah? Or will it end in a wholly unsatisfactory 14-14 draw? Please join us tomorrow to find out! We’ll miss you if you don’t turn up.
A very calm Jordan Spieth whistles a 4-iron across the European bow. “Team golf doesn’t necessarily say who individually is playing the best golf. But individual matchplay will. If we get a couple of points early, then the pressure shifts solely onto them. It starts to be a quiet and uneasy feeling around here ... and that will be our goal.”
A word from Thomas Bjorn. “It’s been a good day, and we’ll have to take all that in, and use the positives from that. But Valderrama, Brookline, Medinah, there are plenty of examples of these scorelines meaning a lot until you get down to the singles, and there are 12 singles to be played tomorrow. So we keep going hard. I’ve seen so many times what the singles does. It’s a completely different game and that takes a lot of refocusing. We go again.” It’s worth pointing out that Bjorn is a supporter of Liverpool FC, so European fans will hope those last three words aren’t some sort of cross-disciplinary omen.
Ah look! It’s 10-6! The same scoreline going into the singles as Brookline in 1999 and Medinah in 2012. What happened back then, again?
Europe 10-6 USA
Poulter knocks his putt into the centre of the cup. Never missing. It keeps the match alive ... but only for a minute or so, as Spieth dribbles a little left-to-right tickler into the hole. That’s four birdies in five holes for the Americans ... and the match.
Rose/Stenson beat Johnson/Koepka 2&1
Garcia/Noren lost to Watson/Simpson 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Woods/DeChambeau 5&4
Poulter/McIlroy lost to Spieth/Thomas 4&3
EUROPE 10-6 USA
Updated
Spieth guides in a 15-footer on 14 for his birdie. It forces Poulter to convert a six-foot chance to keep the match alive. And in it goes! The USA are dormie four. Spieth and Poulter send wonderful 3-woods down the middle of the 15th fairway ... then McIlroy launches Europe’s second to six feet! Didn’t care about the water, with the pin so close to the front. But not to be outdone, Thomas lands America’s response five feet from the flag! That is a quite astonishing reaction to Rory’s hail Mary!
Rose/Stenson beat Johnson/Koepka 2&1
Garcia/Noren lost to Watson/Simpson 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Woods/DeChambeau 5&4
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 4UP (14)
EUROPE 10-5 USA
Europe 10-5 USA
Garcia/Noren lost to Watson/Simpson 3&2. Simpson has been a revelation with his putter this year, and the Players champion rolls the birdie chance, a slight left-to-right slider, into the cup! No nonsense, and the Americans reduce the overall deficit to five points!
Rose/Stenson beat Johnson/Koepka 2&1
Garcia/Noren lost to Watson/Simpson 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Woods/DeChambeau 5&4
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 4UP (13)
EUROPE 10-5 USA
Updated
Well now. Noren has just knocked it stiff at 16. That will give the Americans pause for thought. What can Bubba do? Well, he can give Simpson the chance of knocking in for a birdie of America’s own, is what he can do! He lands his shot pin high, 20 feet to the left of the flag. And ...
Europe 10-4 USA
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Woods/DeChambeau 5&4. Molinari knocks in a six-foot birdie putt, and this rout is over. But Bubba can’t convert his par putt on 15, and slim hopes of Europe salvaging a half in match two are maintained!
Rose/Stenson beat Johnson/Koepka 2&1
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (15)
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Woods/DeChambeau 5&4
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 4UP (13)
EUROPE 10-5 USA
Updated
Europe 9-4 USA
Rose/Stenson beat Johnson/Koepka 2&1. There was a chance for the US to take this down the last. But Stenson nervelessly stroked in the testing putt he’d been left, while Koepka lets one slide to the right! Europe win the hole and match. And seconds later ...
Updated
Neither Koepka nor Stenson can find the green at 17. Both off the front. DJ bumps up a decent chip to six feet; Rose flies a careless one 12 feet past. The door’s open for the USA here! Back on 15, Bubba’s approach is awful, miles past the flag, and Simpson’s long birdie putt stops six feet short. Noren sets up a simple 15-foot birdie chance, but Sergio can’t read the left-to-right swing. Bubba will have a putt to put a point on the board for the USA.
Johnson sends his drive at 17 into the rough down the left. He should get a decent lie, though, as he’s scattered a few picnicing punters and the grass is trodden down. Rose splits the fairway. Meanwhile another hole for Spieth and Thomas against the tiring Poulter and McIlroy. The mood going into tomorrow’s singles will be shaped by the opening match. If Johnson and Koepka can snatch a half, never mind a win, the US will have a serious glide in their stride after their earlier travails.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (16)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 4UP (14)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (13)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 4UP (13)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Koepka’s tee shot at 16 finds the green. That’s about it, he’s left Johnson with a monster putt. But Stenson leaves Rose with one that’s even harder, from the back of the green, his line through the fringe and over a bump. Rose does very well to get it to ten feet. Johnson lags up, and that’s a par. Stenson needs to salvage the damage of his tee shot, and he does that with a hard-as-nails saver rolled straight into the cup. The gallery goes wild; they know how important that was.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (16)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 4UP (14)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (13)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 3UP (12)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Molinari bumps up from the back of 13 to four feet. DeChambeau can’t make his 20-footer for birdie and the hole. Fleetwood tidies up and that’s a half. Sergio’s birdie putt from eight feet drifts wide right at 14, and the US are dormie four in that match.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (15)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 4UP (14)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (13)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 3UP (12)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Thomas can’t make the 15-footer across the green for birdie on 12. But Poulter still has to find the cup from eight feet to halve the hole. He does that in his own inimitable, stubborn way. Europe are clinging on in that last match by their fingernails ... and further up the course they’ll be biting them, because at 15, Stenson knocks his second to ten feet. Only problem is, Koepka has sent one of the shots of the week to 18 inches or so, and that’s a pick-up birdie. Rose can’t make the putt, and suddenly there’s only one hole in the opening match, with the lethal closing stretch to come! Anything could happen here, but it’s the Americans who have their tails up at the minute!
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (15)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (13)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (12)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 3UP (12)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Poulter’s approach to 12 is fat. It finds the green, but that’s left Rory with a putt that’s the best part of 70 feet. This is no good when you’re three down and chasing the match, and Spieth has sent the Americans pin high in two. Rory seriously overcooks the monster, and he’s left Poulter with a very testing eight footer coming back. Meanwhile on 13, a stunning shot by Tiger, who flashes an iron out of thick rough to 20 feet. Fleetwood gets a flyer from a similar lie; he’s through the back.
Updated
Simpson’s putt at 13 stays out on the right, never looking like breaking back towards the cup. Sergio’s had a read. Can he take advantage? No. He leaves his one out on the left, albeit not by much. A half, which to be fair Europe would have taken while Sergio’s drive looked like it was arcing towards the water.
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (14)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (13)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (12)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 3UP (11)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Ah this is fine by Noren, who smashes a wedge through the thick stuff Sergio has left him in, finding the green. He’s just inside the USA, so his partner will get a read of their putt. They’re both 20 feet from the hole, give or take. Up on 12, Molinari and Fleetwood put a stop to Woods and DeChambeau’s recovery: the former fires Europe’s second over the flag, the latter curls gently in, left to right, from eight feet. They’re four up again!
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (14)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (12)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (12)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 3UP (11)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Thomas rattles in a 20-footer for birdie at the par-three 11th. The USA go three up and he celebrates in the expansive fashion. He’s been a force of nature today, simply brilliant. On 14, Rose very nearly drains one from similar distance, but it shaves the hole and he blows out in frustration. Just a half. Speaking of frustration, Sergio unsheathes the driver at 13, and nearly sends his ball into the water on the right. But it clears the drink: just. Whether or not Noren has a shot into the green is another issue.
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (14)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (12)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (11)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 3UP (11)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
London buses dept: another birdie for Woods and DeChambeau! The rookie might be suffering, but he hasn’t stopped fighting, and he whips a stunning tee shot to six feet at the par-three 11th. Tiger tidies up. Molinari’s tee shot was just short of the green, and Fleetwood couldn’t conjure up a birdie of Europe’s own. Meanwhile Noren continues to let Sergio down. Garcia had set up the win by sending a heatseeking iron over a grassy hill, dropping it onto the green, six feet from the flag. But another timid, unconvincing putt from Noren allows the US team to escape with a half. That’s two of those in the last four holes.
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (13)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (12)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (11)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 2UP (10)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Spieth can only blast his ball into further rough to the right of the 10th green. McIlroy meanwhile had found the fairway; Poulter helps it onto the heart of the green. Thomas however does sensationally well to chip from cabbage to kick-in range. That spooks Rory into missing his ten-foot birdie putt. The USA escape with a street-fighting half.
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (13)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (11)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (10)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 2UP (10)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Johnson nearly sends his tee shot at 13 into the drink on the right. Koepka can’t go close with America’s second. Johnson races a third well past the cup. Rose and Stenson meanwhile play the hole calmly and carefully, and the new FedEx Cup champ rolls in a birdie putt from six feet. They’ve taken a measure of control in that leading game again.
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (13)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (11)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (10)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 2UP (9)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
DeChambeau and Woods finally make a birdie. It’s taken then 10 holes. Fleetwood can’t match Tiger’s putt from 15 yards, and the deficit is now just - just - four holes. Meanwhile back on the tee, Thomas, rattled by that missed tiddler on the last, sends his drive into deep bother on the right. Has the momentum shifted again in that anchor match?
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (12)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (11)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (10)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 2UP (9)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Poulter plops his partner in trouble at 9, sending his third from rough into a bunker off the front of the green. McIlroy does extremely well to knock the fourth dead, and it’s a par saved. Spieth then chips up from the swale to the right of the green to a couple of feet. The USA should be three up, but Thomas pushes the tiddler wide right! That’s a genuine shocker, and Rory knows full well it might give Europe a chance to turn the match round. He turns to Poulter and gives an urgent pep talk. There’s a spring in his step. Now he’ll need to convert that serotonin rush into holes. A half in the second match at 11.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (12)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (11)
5UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (9)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 2UP (9)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Some better news for the USA at 12, where Johnson and Koepka snatch a hole back with birdie, Rose unable to save the day with a 15-footer. But Europe get one themselves in the second match, Watson and Simpson never in position, the hole won with par. Garcia and Noren are just three down now.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (12)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (10)
5UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (9)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 2UP (8)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Tiger misses another short putt to the left, this time at 9. The Americans still haven’t made a birdie in this match. Like Sergio and Noren before them, it was a shame for DeChambeau, who had played a lovely long bunker shot up the green from the front. Fleetwood knocks in from four feet and the crowd erupt in celebration of yet another hole won. DeChambeau’s head must be swimming. For the second day in succession, he and his partner are miles behind at the turn! Seven down yesterday, five down today. This is turning into a nightmare debut all right.
Updated
Poulter and McIlroy were two up after three holes this afternoon; having lost four of the last five holes to Spieth and Thomas, they’re now two down. The latest loss comes courtesy of a short one yipped by McIlroy on 8. There’s been a palpable shift in momentum this afternoon. The scoreboard may be level right now, but a few of these Europeans are looking a little ragged all of a sudden. And there’s plenty of golf to play yet. Can they find another gear to ensure they retain their four-point advantage after these foursomes?
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (11)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 4UP (9)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (8)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 2UP (8)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Rose knocks in a six-footer on 11 to scramble a half for Europe. But on 9, poor Noren’s unravelling continues. Having watched Simpson knock in a ten-footer to save par, he prods an extremely uncertain five-footer wide left. Just the half, at a time when he and Garcia need to take every chance they get. It’s not his day, he’s looked nervous since taking the 1st tee. Such a shame, too, because Sergio had set him up with a delightful long bunker shot, one of the most impressive shots in the game when they come off.
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (11)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 4UP (9)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (8)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 1UP (7)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Europe are given a present wrapped in a pretty bow in the lead match. Dustin yips yet again, this time from two feet at 10, and the lead is doubled. In the final match, the 7th halved in four. And then on the par-three 8th, DeChambeau pitches up from the back to four feet, only for Tiger to pull a miserable putt left of the cup. Another gift for Europe, and DeChambeau’s Ryder Cup debut is turning into a complete nightmare, having lost 5&4 yesterday afternoon with Phil Mickelson.
2UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (10)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 4UP (8)
4UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (8)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 1UP (7)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
DeChambeau nearly drains a monster that would have stolen the hole at 7. But not quite. Molinari’s bumped chip saves the day for Europe, who remain 3UP. Sergio puts some pressure on Simpson’s putt by sending a crisp wedge to close range from the side of 8. But the Players Champion is walking after it almost immediately, punching the air before it drops. The US have made six birdies in eight holes. Plus that triple bogey at 2, of course. Europe had a chance to nip their momentum in the bud, but Noren’s duffed chip put a stop to that notion. And now look.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (9)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 4UP (8)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (7)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 1UP (6)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Bubba clips a gorgeous tee shot into 8, pin high, ten feet from the flag. As he looks after it, he fidgets around like Rodney Dangerfield. It’s just a shame he doesn’t have a tie to readjust. Noren, who has been unravelling in disturbing fashion all afternoon, hoicks his tee shot into the long grass to the left of the green. Meanwhile a three-putt bogey at 6 for Europe in the last match, a lame wedge into the green by Poulter the root cause of the gift that’s awarded to Spieth and Thomas, who are suddenly on a roll again.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (9)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (7)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (6)
Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas 1UP (6)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Updated
The standard of golf isn’t the highest right now. On 9, Dustin splashes onto the green from sand, only for his ball topples down the swale to the right. Koepka chips close to salvage par, though that shouldn’t be enough. But Rose sends a chip from the left of the green six feet past the hole, Stenson misreads the birdie putt, and that’s a half in par. Meanwhile back on 7, Noren is forced to take a drop from Sergio’s jungle, then sends a dismal third into further trouble down the left. Bubba is even able to get away with slicing into deep rough down the left from the centre of the fairway, so many shots do Europe take. The hosts have lost control of the second match, along with their mental equilibrium.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (8)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 3UP (7)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (6)
Poulter/McIlroy A/S Spieth/Thomas (6)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
If Tommy Fleetwood wins his match this afternoon, he’ll be the first rookie to win his first four Ryder Cup matches since Larry Nelson in 1979. He’s well on his way to achieving that after events at 6. Molinari was able to lash from the rough to the green; DeChambeau could only whistle one through the back. Tiger then chunked a chip, Fleetwood lagged up wonderfully from distance, and DeChambeau couldn’t drain a long one for the half. It wasn’t so long ago Fleetwood was hooking into the long grass, but not only have Woods and DeChambeau been incapable of taking advantage, they’ve followed him in there and subsequently lost the hole.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (8)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (6)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (6)
Poulter/McIlroy A/S Spieth/Thomas (5)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
In fact Rory hasn’t found the bunker; the ball’s stuck on the fringe at the top. Before anything can be done, Spieth strokes in a 25-foot birdie putt. That means Poulter has to chip in ... and he can’t make it. This morning’s American heroes have hauled their way back into the anchor match after a sluggish start!
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (8)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (6)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (5)
Poulter/McIlroy A/S Spieth/Thomas (5)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Fleetwood drives into filth down the left of 6; he’s fortunate that Tiger follows him in there. On 7, Sergio hooks into a jungle near the 12th tee! That was miles offline. Rory finds greenside sand at 5. Europe are beginning to make mistakes with greater regularity. The Americans will take succour.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (8)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (6)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (5)
1UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (4)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
But this USA team have developed the unwanted habit of taking one step forward, another one back. Putting up from the bank at the back of 8, Johnson can only dribble his effort onto the dancefloor, and Koepka can’t make the missable one that’s left. A gift for Europe.
1UP Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka (8)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (6)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (5)
1UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (4)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Poulter and McIlroy end up making triple on 4. What a farce. All because Rory started whoopin’ and a-hollerin’ like a madman on the previous green. Too much blood pumping through the old noggin. Spieth and Thomas calmly claim a hole back. And more good news for the States on 6, Noren unable to make his birdie putt, Bubba tidying up to double their lead.
Rose/Stenson A/S Johnson/Koepka (7)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (6)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (5)
1UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (4)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Koepka and Stenson send approaches at 7 to 20 feet or so. Johnson and Rose then take turns to shave the hole with very decent birdie attempts. But a half it is. Back on 6, Sergio hits Europe’s second pin high, but it’s a 20-foot one Noren will be left with, and Simpson’s fired one six feet from the flag.
So they found Rory’s ball. It’s since cleared customs and been granted readmission to France. Having been out of bounds, Poulter’s got to go back and play the same ball, so he’s hitting three off the tee; we can forget the provisional. He too heads right, but the ball takes a kindly bounce and settles in the first cut as opposed to the deep stuff. Finding that ball hasn’t done Europe any favours, because the provisional was in the fairway. But they’d have some chutzpah to complain about their lack of fortune, so dismal was McIlroy’s initial tee shot. Anyway, Rory dumps their fourth in a greenside bunker, and this hole looks to be heading south.
Poulter has to play a provisional. He knocks it down the fairway. But the marshals have found a ball; Rory will have to see if it’s his though. Meanwhile on 5, Bubba shoves a short putt to the left, allowing Noren to clean up for the hole. That’s halved Europe’s deficit, and once again Sergio slings an arm around his buddy. That will have calmed Noren down quite a bit.
Rose/Stenson A/S Johnson/Koepka (6)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 1UP (5)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (4)
2UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (3)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Updated
Simpson hoicks a drive down the left of 5; Koepka repeats the trick at 6. The US team have been wild all week, and it’s costing them. Koepka rescues the situation with a gorgeous flop from distance to a couple of feet, but the USA can’t be relying on sensational scrambles like that. Meanwhile on 3, McIlroy knocks in an eight-foot saver for a half, then turns and has a full and frank exchange of views with a punter. “Who am I? Who am I?” he frowns, before pointing at his chest and giving it the COME ONs. There might have been a curse word thrown in there too. He’d do well not to get so het up, to be frank, because he follows that display by hitting a slice off the 4th tee that has ended up in Luxembourg.
Rose/Stenson A/S Johnson/Koepka (6)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (4)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (3)
2UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (3)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Woods and DeChambeau are out of position all the way down the par-five 3rd. The latter ends up knocking in a decent mid-distance putt forbogey, but that’s the hole gift-wrapped to Europe.
Rose/Stenson A/S Johnson/Koepka (5)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (4)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (3)
2UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (2)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Rose isn’t too far away from teasing a downhill 30-footer into the cup for birdie at 5. Not quite. The lead match remains all square. Meanwhile Simpson puts the pressure on Garcia with an arrow fired straight at the flag on 4. Sergio slam-dunks his approach into the sand. Noren can only splash out to 15 feet. He’s been a jittery mess so far. Sergio’s had to be very tactile, trying to calm the rookie with an arm round the shoulder here, a tender stroke of the face there. The US go two up. They’ve had three birdies and a triple-bogey!
Rose/Stenson A/S Johnson/Koepka (5)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 2UP (4)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (2)
2UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (2)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Spieth and Thomas played marvellously this morning. But they didn’t have much of a break. The Ryder Cup takes a mental as well as a physical strain. And they’ve started slowly today. A three-putt bogey at 2, and they’ve slipped a couple behind already in the anchor match.
Rose/Stenson A/S Johnson/Koepka (4)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 1UP (3)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (2)
2UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/Thomas (2)
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Thanks to Will. Now, did I miss any European nervous breakdowns when I was gone? Apart from Noren’s duffed chip that led to a hole halved in triple-bogey, then a hideous slice into the trees? No? Good, good. So here’s where we are right now, after Europe birdied the 3rd in the leading match ...
Rose/Stenson A/S Johnson/Koepka (4)
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 1UP (3)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau (2)
1UP Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/ Thomas (1)
The crowd are easily excitable down at the first tee and are getting the Icelandic clap out. It inspires Spieth to send one reasonably straight and then Poulter a lovely one down the fairway, a little to the left. McIlroy gets it onto the green to show he is in form this weekend. Thomas hits one into the bunker to put Spieth in trouble. He lifts it way beyond the hole, allowing Poulter a putt to win it but it stops a little short for him. Thomas misses to give the hole to Poulter/McIlroy, who are 1 UP after the first.
Noren putts to settle himself after a poor start to his match, leading to a face slap from Garcia. Watson steps up to sink his and half the third.
Furyk says he takes his hat off to Europe and the way they played but he has certainly left his cap on there.
In great news for all, Scott is now back.
Updated
The third match tees off with Molinari sending a lovely shot straight down the fairway just beyond the Americans. Fleetwood then gets it within inches of the hole, which is easily slotted in. These two are looking unstoppable for Europe as they go 1 UP. Can they get four out of four?
Poulter and McIlroy are making their way to the first tee.
Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka 1 UP
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 1 UP
1 UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau
1.35pm: Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/ Thomas
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Updated
Some news from France ...
Have the nerves got to the Europeans? A few needless errors in the first few shots of the afternoon. They have dominated so far thanks to their accuracy so need to ensure that doesn’t go array.
Watson finds the water from his tee shot, much to the amusement of the ‘home’ supporters who send up a cheer. But they are not celebrating for too long as Noren copies the American with one straight into the drink. So we’re back at square one, which then is made worse by Simpson doing the same. Garcia and Watson finally get one onto the green with the second and third shots, respectively. In the end it is two triple bogeys and they half the hole. Not the best stuff.
Still trying to get my head around these hologram players doffing their cap as it’s calmly explained how they expect the matches to go this afternoon.
Some positive stuff from USA in the opening stages of the afternoon. Watson found the green from the middle of the fairway as the two Americans look in rhythm. The US are now up on two matches after Garcia missed a mid-range putt to half the hole, as it slips to the left.
Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka 1 UP
Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson 1 UP
Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau
1.35pm: Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/ Thomas
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Updated
Koepka lifted the ball perfectly onto the green from tee but Stenson can’t follow this and hits a wayward shot. Rose helped him with a great shot to within inches of the hole, allowing a simple putt for Stenson to ensure they get away with halving the hole.
Updated
Rose plays a stunning shot after the ball just about stayed out of the water. It was inches away from needing armbands to take that shot but he had the guile to lift it onto the green and place the ball in a good position for the putt. It is missed, though, and the US go 1 UP after the first hole
Butch in the Sky studio points out why the US have failed so badly thus far, the main point being that the team is made for distance rather than accuracy, which is unsuitable.
Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka 1 UP
1.05pm: Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson
1.20pm: Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau
1.35pm: Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/ Thomas
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Updated
The afternoon has begun and they’ve all sent the ball down the fairway without too much trouble. Let’s just hope these can live up to what we have witnessed this morning. USA will be boosted by their victory in the final game of the morning but they have a lot of work to do to chase down Europe.
Here’s a reminder of the afternoon foursomes:
12.50pm: Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka
1.05pm: Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson
1.20pm: Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau
1.35pm: Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/ Thomas
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Updated
With that, I’m off for a break. I’ll pass you into the loving arms of Will Unwin, who will take you through the early stages of the afternoon foursomes! See you again soon.
Europe 8-4 USA
Poulter/Rahm lose to Thomas/Spieth 2&1. Poulter does very well simply to launch a lob onto the green. He’ll have a long look for par. But first up, with Spieth out of it, Rahm from the back. He bundles a chip to a couple of feet, which at least forces JT to make his birdie putt. But Thomas is never missing that. In it goes, and he celebrates in the air-punching fashion! That’s a crucial point for the USA, their first in nine matches, and it stops the rot. And as Poulter himself will attest, with Medinah in mind, you never know how important these things turn out to be in the long run!
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Reed/Woods 4&3
Poulter/Rahm lose to Thomas/Spieth 2&1
EUROPE 8-4 USA
Updated
Poulter lashes out of the thick stuff, but can only send his ball wide right of the green and onto a very grassy knoll. Then Spieth tops one from a similar lie. Spieth has won three major championships; this rough can kill anyone. Rahm is in slightly shorter stuff, albeit still in a world of trouble. He powers it out, though, bumping it through the green and just off the back. He could have asked for no more. Then it’s the turn of Thomas, who illustrates the benefit of finding the fairway, caressing an iron to ten feet. You’d think that unless Rahm knocks one in from just off the back, or Poulter chips in from the awful position he’s in - JT will have that for the match, and a desperately needed point for the holders!
Poulter’s drive on 17 flies into the deep rough down the left. Rahm finds trouble down there too, although he’s only in the first cut. Thomas knocks his miles down the fairway, but Spieth follows Poulter and Rahm into the left-hand rough. Advantage USA, though: if Thomas can send his approach close, there’s a fair bet they’ll be closing this match out with a 2&1 victory, because coming out of that cabbage is a task and a half.
Spieth pushes a dismal putt right of the cup from six feet. That betrayed the tension he’ll be feeling out there. Poulter makes no such mistake ... the Postman always delivers. It’s down to JT to halve the hole for the USA, which he does ... but only just, the ball nearly staying out on the left before being snatched in by its last dimple and dropping into the hole. That doesn’t stop him celebrating in wired fashion, albeit in a more restrained style, dampened this time by a wave of relief.
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Reed/Woods 4&3
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (16)
EUROPE 8-3 USA
Poulter sends a sensational tee shot at the par-three 16th pin high to six feet. Spieth and Thomas respond by doing likewise. This is going to be a shootout! While we wait for that, here’s Hubert O’Hearn with his take on the Ryder Cup pantomime: “I slightly differ on the hand-to-the-ear business. Crowd taunting (the other move being a finger to the lips in the Shhhhh style) may have become part of the Ryder Cup, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. It’s self-defeating, gives energy to the opponent who sees his fans being mocked, and one more thing: it’s classless. Basically, if Arnold Palmer wouldn’t have done it, if Jack Nicklaus woudn’t have done it, no current pro should do it. Sportsmanship builds a legacy; taunting builds a future career as a pro wrestling manager.” It’s a fair point, well made. I could be won over to it. Accepting that more than one viewpoint can be valid, that’s how the internet works, right?
Spieth can’t make his birdie putt on 15. Poulter’s trundled his long birdie effort six feet past, so there’s work to do. But he’s refusing to let this match slip too far away from Europe. In goes the par saver, and Europe remain just the one behind.
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Reed/Woods 4&3
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (15)
EUROPE 8-3 USA
Saturday afternoon foursomes
The afternoon foursomes pairings have been announced. No Phil Mickelson today, then, and no Thorbjorn Olesen.
12.50pm: Rose/Stenson v Johnson/Koepka
1.05pm: Garcia/Noren v Watson/Simpson
1.20pm: Molinari/Fleetwood v Woods/DeChambeau
1.35pm: Poulter/McIlroy v Spieth/ Thomas
Thomas and Spieth both get their approaches over the water at 15. Spieth, who has been perhaps the USA’s best player so far despite coming into the event out of form, sends a lovely shot to 12 feet. Poulter’s on too, but Rahm undercooks it and gets wet. He first considers breaking his wedge across the back of his neck, then looks like he’s going to burst into tears. Don’t ever say the Ryder Cup means nothing. This means everything to all these players right now.
Now then. This final match is going to be quite entertaining. Rahm and JT have just turned up the heat with their shenanigans on the 14th green, while the USA are in desperate need of a point to keep as close as they can to Europe. The hosts have just won eight matches on the bounce! Also, there’s never been a double whitewash in Ryder Cup history. A lot on the line here. Thomas and Spieth need to step up. Which, to be fair, they have done already this morning.
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Reed/Woods 4&3
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (14)
EUROPE 8-3 USA
Europe 8-3 USA
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Reed/Woods 4&3. Molinari strokes his birdie putt on 15 to kick-in distance. It means Tiger’s got a 20-footer to save par and a half. It’s always staying high on the left, and that’s that! Tiger’s dismal record in Ryder Cups continues ... while Fleetwood becomes the first European rookie to win his first three Ryder Cup matches since Sergio at Brookline in 1999!
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Reed/Woods 4&3
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (14)
EUROPE 8-3 USA
Updated
Some magnificent panto scenes on 14! Rahm knocks in a birdie putt and the crowd take off into space. But the match isn’t levelled, because Thomas makes a birdie of his own, then cups his ear and theatrically mouths: “What? Can’t hear you! Can’t hear you!” That is very funny indeed, and quite brave to be fair. It registers 11 on Patrick Reed’s patented Captain America-o-Meter. The Ryder Cup is nothing without fighting spirit like this!
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (14)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (14)
EUROPE 7-3 USA
Updated
Europe have won the last seven matches! And they’re on course to make it eight, unless Tiger and the woefully out-of-sync Reed can get something going quicksmart. But Reed’s up a bank to the left of 15. He smashes his second hard, and shouts “Cut! Cut! Cut!” At least I think that’s what he’s hollering, as the ball sails inexorably towards the water. That is appalling. Mind you, the bread’s always landing jam side up for the Americans; Fleetwood’s drive should have found water, but it stopped a couple of turns short, and he’s been able to get his second over the drink and down the swale to the back of the green. Not ideal, but unlike Reed’s effort, it’s dry. And it allows Molinari to knock his second into the centre of the green, where he’ll have a straight-ish 20-footer for birdie. Tiger’s facing a 20-foot putt too, but he’d been forced to take his medicine after another off-centre drive, and he’s played three. Europe in the box seat here.
Europe 7-3 USA
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2. Neither Johnson nor Fowler can birdie the par-three 16th, and their astonishing escape on 15 is all for nought. The USA are in a spot of trouble now.
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
Casey/Hatton beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (14)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (13)
EUROPE 7-3 USA
Europe 6-3 USA
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1. Koepka’s putt is always missing on the right, and one of the great comebacks falls short! That got very worrying for Europe there, but just as it looked like Koepka was favourite to win the hole and extend the match, McIlroy and Garcia made two astonishing putts to turn it round and spook Koepka! If Europe go on to win this Ryder Cup, those putts will ring down the ages!
Garcia/McIlroy beat Koepka/Finau 2&1
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (15)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (14)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (13)
EUROPE 6-3 USA
Rory scrambles a par on 17 by raking in a long putt up the green. That gives Sergio free rein to have a trundle at his birdie effort ... and in it goes!!! A gentle left-to-right slider that’s celebrated by Sergio almost bending double while punching the air and screaming quite a lot! What a double whammy for the USA! But Koepka has a chance to extend the match by making a birdie of his own. Here goes. He sizes it up, and ...
Updated
It’s desperately tense now! On 17, Sergio is right at the back of the green in two, 25 feet away; Koepka’s inside him by maybe ten feet. Meanwhile back on 14, Tiger and Fleetwood both miss very makeable birdie putts, and the hole is halved. Good luck maintaining neat fingernails.
But Dustin chips in from down the bank! It’s a lovely bump and run, and he’s celebrating before it drops! Hatton can’t make his putt to win the match. What an escape for the USA, who are still alive. Europe need to keep calm, because they’re dormie three.
1UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (16)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (15)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (13)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (13)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Spieth has half a chance of birdie on 13, but his downhill 15-foot dribbler is always missing. Rahm makes his birdie, and the arrears are reduced to one hole. Meanwhile Fowler finds the water at 15, while DJ’s down a little swale to the left of the green in three. With Hatton 15 feet from the flag, Europe will be sniffing victory here.
1UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (16)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (14)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (13)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (13)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
No pairing has ever lost a match at the Ryder Cup after being four up through 13. Sergio and Rory’s nerves will be jangling. Finau and McIlroy send their drives to the right; Sergio and Koepka keep theirs straight. Meanwhile Hatton wedges close at 15, while Rahm screeches one to three feet at 13.
... it’s game on in the final match! Koepka nearly drains a 25-footer, but Finau rolls a reasonably straight uphill effort into the cup from 15 feet! He’s after that one before it drops! And suddenly the USA are in with a shout of snatching a match they were 4DOWN in!
1UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (16)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (14)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (13)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 2UP (12)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
This has been a brilliant morning. Europe have been in control for the most part, but nothing’s quite certain yet. The USA have woken from their early slumber and are making a real fight of matches one and four. And on the par-three 16th, both Finau and Koepka are inside McIlroy, while Sergio’s bunkered. McIlroy lags up to secure par, but then ...
Elsewhere, Thomas knocks in his birdie putt on 12 to take control of the anchor game. Reed can’t rake in from distance on 13, so Europe win that hole as expected. And on 14, Fowler passes up a chance for birdie from 15 feet, and that’s another hole to Europe thanks to Hatton’s fine lag from distance.
2UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (15)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (14)
3UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (13)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 2UP (12)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Sergio is six inches away from holing his fourth from the dropzone at 15! That’s a five. Koepka lags up from distance to a couple of feet ... but his effort lips out! What a nonsense. Suddenly there’s pressure on Finau, whose birdie putt from 20 feet stopped a couple of feet short. But he knocks this one in. The USA reduce the arrears to two holes, but what a meal they made of a hole offered up to them on a plate!
Serious issues for Europe in the leading group! Finau’s in the centre of the 15th green, while Koepka’s made it over the water too. But then Sergio sends his second long and into the drink ... where he’s quickly joined by McIlroy, whose approach falls short! They’re really up against it now ... and a match which looked done and dusted suddenly looks alive. Better news for the hosts on 13, though, as Tiger gets wet with his second. The Europeans are on in regulation, and that’ll likely be the hole. Not that anything in the Ryder Cup is certain, of course.
Reed is all over the place. He allows himself a good bellow of EFF as his tee shot at 13 sails into the drink on the right. But Spieth and Thomas are turning up the heat on Poulter and Rahm. Neither of the Europeans are on the green; both of the USA stars are, and Thomas is particularly close.
Tiger’s in trouble off the tee at 12 and not really in the game. Fleetwood sends his second pin high to eight feet; Molinari is 12 feet away. Reed topples off the edge of the green and into the thick rough. He chips up to three feet. It’s not enough. Molinari makes his birdie putt, and Europe have restored their two-hole lead! But good news for the USA elsewhere: a birdie for Koepka on 14 that Sergio can’t match, and another for Spieth on 11. A couple of wins there. And throw in a half for DJ as he matches Hatton’s birdie at 13. There’s now some red on the leaderboard!
3UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (14)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (13)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (12)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (11)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Hatton nearly finds the water down the right of 13. But the ball is stopped by the longer grass, and that gives him the opportunity to send a wedge straight at the flag! His ball stops six feet away, and he’ll have a wonderful uphill opportunity for birdie. But Johnson goes even closer! He’s four feet away, though that one’s a downhill dribbler.
It’s a half in four at 10 in the final match. Neither Thomas nor Spieth could reach the green in two; Poulter can’t take advantage, pulling a 12-foot birdie putt to the left. Then on the next, the par-three 11th, both of the Americans find the heart of the green and will have medium-range birdie chances; Rahm sends his well right of the pin while Poulter misses the green altogether. Advantage America.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (13)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (12)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (11)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (10)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Tiger can’t rake in his lengthy birdie putt, allowing Molinari to take centre stage on 11. He deservedly secures his birdie, and the hole. What a tee shot that was. Molinari turns to soak up the love from the gallery, then waves in a mixture of determination and joy. On Sky, Butch Harmon correctly observes that Molinari didn’t show half as much emotion when he won the Open! The Ryder Cup means something all right. And after shipping a two-hole lead, this pairing are back in front again.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (13)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (12)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (11)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (9)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
Two putts for Sergio at 13, and he’s forcing Finau to make his short one for birdie and the hole. And once again Finau’s not up to the task. He lets another opportunity slip by, and the USA are finding it impossible to fight back in this opening match. Finau’s flat stick going stone cold hasn’t helped matters.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (13)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (11)
Molinari/Fleetwood A/S Reed/Woods (10)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (9)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
What a shot by Molinari on the par-three 11th! Tiger’s tee shot finds the green, but topples down a ridge to the right of the pin and he’s left with a long birdie putt. Reed and Fleetwood both miss right. But then the Open champ fizzes an iron straight at the flag! For a second, he looks like becoming only the sixth European at a Ryder Cup to make a hole in one - if memory serves, Paul Casey was the last, at the K Club in 2006. But it rolls by the cup. He’s got a four-footer coming back.
Updated
Yes, it suddenly doesn’t look so bad for the USA! Tiger wedges to a couple of feet at 10. Molinari has a putt for birdie himself, from 12 feet, but it stays high on the right. Woods tidies up and the USA are back level, having been a couple of holes behind not so long ago. And Finau has gone close at 13, where Rory is wet and Sergio faces a long birdie putt. The momentum is with the Americans right now!
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (12)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (11)
Molinari/Fleetwood A/S Reed/Woods (10)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (9)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
There’s a shoot-out developing on the par-five 9th. Thomas and Rahm are both in the middle of the green in two; Spieth and Poulter are in the tricky swale to the right of the green. The two teams in almost identical positions. Meanwhile on 13, McIlroy sends his tee shot into the drink on the right. He risked falling in that water yesterday, swinging hard while clinging to the bank, finding the green with the shot of the tournament so far. Well he’s wet today. And a birdie for DJ on 11 to reduce the arrears in match two. A lot of golf to be played yet. The scoreboard suddenly doesn’t look so bad for the States.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (12)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (11)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (9)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
McIlroy makes his birdie putt on 12. Finau follows Europe into the hole this time for the half. But that’s two holes in a row when he’s gone so close, and come away with no reward. In fact his team have gone backwards. McIlroy wanders off unconcerned, taking some time out to ruffle a young fan’s hair. A sweet moment that’ll make the little man’s day, week, month and year!
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (12)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (10)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (9)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Serious approaches at 12. Finau wedges to eight feet. It’s a delightful response to the yip on the last hole. But then Rory, in a divot, smashes one to six feet! The new divot he takes nearly gets up there as well, from 150 yards. Meanwhile on 9, the return of Captain America, Reed cupping his ear theatrically as boos greet a putt that matches Fleetwood’s birdie and saves the half. All good fun. Reed and Tiger are battling back in this match.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (11)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (10)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (9)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
There’s to be no such escape for Europe on 8. Neither Rahm nor Poulter can scramble a birdie from distance, and Spieth calmly taps in for his well-deserved birdie. The anchor game is all square. Meanwhile Hatton and Big Dustin halve the 9th in birdie.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (11)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (9)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (8)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (8)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
McIlroy very nearly chips in from the back of 11! It’s a delicate little dink up onto the green. It curls right to left, and looks like dropping before horseshoeing out. That energises Sergio, who guides home his left-to-right slider from 15 feet, and the gallery goes bonkers! That seriously puts the wind up Finau, who tugs his short one left. That’s a classic two-hole matchplay swing! Finau wanders off looking dazed, and no wonder. He’s just had his pocket picked!
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (11)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (8)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (8)
1UP Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth (7)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Could there be a comeback afoot in the opening match? Finau sends a gorgeous tee shot to five feet at the par-three 11th! Sergio responds with a highly decent one, but he’s 15 feet away. Rory’s off the back. On 8, Spieth goes very close, and sets up the chance of a bounceback birdie. Meanwhile on 9, Tiger sprays his drive into the water down the left, so he’s happy to see Reed find the fairway.
Nobody can make their birdie putts on 8. Nobody can make their birdie putts on 10. But there’s a big one made on 7! Poulter guides in a right-to-left slider from 30 feet! He pumps his chest, smacking the badge on his shirt in the football style. He’ll break a rib if he carries on like that. There’s a marquee by the green: the Riviera Restaurant. What a beautifully paced putt. That Riviera touch.
3UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (10)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (8)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (8)
1UP Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth (7)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
“Be good! Be good! Be good!” Yes, it’s Sergio. And he’s sending a glorious second over the pin at 10. He’s by far the closest of the four in the opening match, though all will have a look at birdie. And everyone’s on the green at the par-three 8th, Molinari pin high, 12 feet from the flag. Plenty on the line in the next few minutes.
Tiger! He’s got a 25-foot putt for birdie on 7. It’s got a big left-to-right break, and for a second looks like missing on the high side, but the left edge of the cup grabs the ball, which rolls around the back of the hole before dropping. Tiger celebrates more in relief than anything else: the USA have broken their birdie drought in this match! And that will hurt the Europeans, because Fleetwood had done rather well to salvage his par after an errant tee shot. Suddenly this scoreboard doesn’t look quite so bad for the USA. It’s still not good, mind ... but not quite so bad. It wouldn’t take a lot to turn the bottom two matches red, for instance!
3UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (9)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (8)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (7)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (6)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Finally something happens for the USA! Koepka splashes close from a bunker at the front of the par-five 9th. Sergio has an impossible chip from the bottom of a warped bank, there’s no way of getting close. McIlroy’s approach bounds down another swale. Neither can make birdie, and Koepka rolls in to reduce the deficit! Meanwhile Casey has done most of the legwork in match two, but finally Hatton makes his mark with a 25-footer for birdie on 8.
3UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (9)
3UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (8)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (6)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (6)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
The Masters champion Reed has been out of form for a while, and he’s not looking like regaining it here at Le Golf National. He sprays his drive at 7 out of bounds. Meanwhile at 6, Poulter sends a fine wedge over the flag. He’s got an eight-foot downhill putt for birdie ... but Spieth lands his to 18 inches, a majestic shot which is conceded and applies some matchplay pressure to Poulter. But the European refuses to buckle, rolling it in and halving the hole. Spieth, his hands deep in his pockets, bows his head. That approach deserved more. But the USA can’t catch a break right now.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (8)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (7)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (6)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (6)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Tiger, Reed and Molinari all go close with birdie putts at 6. A half. The USA can’t buy a birdie in this match. And they’re rare as hen’s teeth for the States in match two: Hatton nearly rakes in a long one at 7, but not quite, setting up a chance for DJ from 15 feet. But the big man doesn’t hit it. Opportunities to claw something back slip by.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (8)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (7)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (6)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (5)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Yesterday morning, McIlroy was out of sorts and all over the shop. What a difference a day makes! He tramlines a 35-footer into the cup on the par-three 8th, and that’s four birdies in eight holes! He couldn’t make one yesterday morning! This is a really impressive turnaround by a player who looked genuinely upset after his fourballs performance yesterday. And this is a proper body blow for the Americans, because Finau had gone close, but now with matchplay pressure applied, he tugs his six-footer left. The hosts are 4UP in the first match.
4UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (8)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (6)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (5)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (4)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
A minor victory for the Americans on 5. Woods and Reed are on in regulation, but miles from the flag, while Fleetwood has gone close. But the US team lag up close, and Fleetwood can’t make his birdie putt from ten feet. A half saved. And another fine salvage mission on 7. Finau drove out of bounds there yesterday, and now he whistles a 5-iron OB from the middle of the fairway! Fortunately Koepka lashes out from the rough to the apron, and gets up and down for the par that halves the hole. However some bad news for Furyk and his team on 6: yet another birdie for Casey! He rolls in a 30-footer, and DJ can’t follow him in from roughly half the distance.
3UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (7)
2UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (6)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (5)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (4)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
There goes that one splash of red on the scoreboard. Thomas and Spieth play 4 in the very average style, opening the door of opportunity for Poulter. The European lets his birdie chance from eight feet slide by on the right ... but then Thomas pushes a short par putt right, and stomps off in high dudgeon. This is not going well for the USA. They need a spark from somewhere.
3UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (6)
1UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (5)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (4)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (4)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
I do like it.
McIlroy blooters his drive at 7 out of bounds. Fortunately for Europe, Sergio is on the fairway. Koepka can’t find the fairway, but Finau is on the short stuff. The USA really need to get something together in this first game, they’ve been woefully out of sorts. Meanwhile here’s the Hole-by-Hole’s resident artist Simon McMahon: “In honour of the first Ryder Cup to be played on French soil, I have composed a cinquain, a poetic form comprising five lines of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 2 syllables. I hope you like it.
It’s on
Golf National
Ryder Cup Saturday
Somebody please call Dr Golf
Fever
Neither Woods nor Reed can smash their way out of the rough and onto the green at 4. But Tiger gets close enough to get up and down without too much fuss, and with Molinari unable to make an uphill 20-footer for birdie, that’s a great half for the USA considering the wild tee shots. Tiger refusing to buckle. Meanwhile another Paul Casey birdie, his fourth, this time at 5. But Fowler makes one too, and the spoils are shared. But Finau can’t complete a rescue mission at 6, his birdie attempt trundling harmlessly past the hole. Europe have two chances to claim the point, but they only need one, McIlroy rattling his birdie into the cup and softly punching the air. The USA would have liked a fast start this morning; they haven’t got one.
3UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (6)
1UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (5)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (4)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (3)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
Koepka finds a couple of balls, but neither are his. It’s down to Finau to salvage something for the States. He finds the heart of 6 in two, 25 feet from the flag, but Sergio screeches his approach to six feet, then Rory knocks his to ten. Two good looks at birdie.
Koepka is strangely out of sorts this morning. And he’s just hoicked his tee shot at 6 into the thickest nonsense down the left. Plenty of folk looking for his ball, but it seems lost. He’s not the only American driving in the style of Seve right now: on 4, Reed is in trouble off the tee down the right, with his partner Tiger similarly rough-bound out left.
A sensational - and potentially momentum-shifting - chip-in from the bunker at 5? McIlroy wedges to 18 feet, but then Finau splashes out spectacularly, a couple of bounces and ... slam! Dunk! In! He cavorts around accordingly. But then McIlroy rolls his putt straight into the cup, a body blow for the USA, who must have thought they were going to grab one back there. And good news for the Europeans elsewhere: Casey sends a gorgeous second to six feet at 4 to win the hole, while Molinari’s two-putt birdie on 3 sends his team 2UP, Tiger unable to salvage the situation with a 30-footer for his bird.
2UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (5)
1UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (4)
2UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (3)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (2)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Tiger eventually settles his dispute with the rules official, and chops back out on the fairway. Then finds the front of the green with his third. He’s still in this hole, fighting away, but Molinari’s on in two. Europe holding the advantage there.
Another hole for Europe in the opening rubber. Koepka is always in bother after finding the long stuff down 4; Garcia whips his second to 12 feet. With Finau unable to contribute, the hole’s soon conceded. A poor start for the USA in that game. And there’s trouble afoot in the third match, too. Which says something seeing Fleetwood started out by pushing his tee shot at 3 into water down the right. Molinari found the fairway, Reed followed Fleetwood into the drink, then Woods sprayed a godawful drive miles left. He’s in thick oomska, and in deep discussion with a rules official regarding potential relief. Some much needed good news for the USA, though: a sensational tee shot from Jordan Spieth at 2 to four feet. With Rahm having sent a second tee shot out of two into the water, Poulter needs to drain a long one for a birdie and a half. He can’t make it, and Spieth tidies up to put some red on the board. It’s been a while.
2UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (4)
Casey/Hatton A/S Johnson/Fowler (3)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (2)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth 1UP (2)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
In fact Reed is inches off the back of 2, so chips from the fringe to a couple of feet. Par, which allows Tiger to have a run at birdie. His putt’s dead on line, but unforgivably short. Fleetwood and Molinari will have a putt each for the hole. But Molinari doesn’t need to do anything, because Fleetwood’s putter, so hot yesterday, doesn’t appear to have cooled down! He rolls a 25-footer straight into the cup, it was never missing, and he hoists his hot club straight into the air in triumph. Meanwhile Poulter salvages par and the hole for the errant Rahm and Europe on 1, while Casey and Fowler half the 3rd with a pair of birdies.
1UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (3)
Casey/Hatton A/S Johnson/Fowler (3)
1UP Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods (2)
Poulter/Rahm A/S Thomas/Spieth (1)
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Three players have already got wet at the 2nd. But to be fair, the pin is tucked away far left of the green, close to the water. All four players find the dancefloor in match three, though. Molinari has gone closest; he’ll have a 15-footer downhill for his birdie. Meanwhile Fowler’s renaissance continues: he’s found the centre of the par-five 3rd with two magnificent cracks, and will have an eagle attempt from 20 feet.
The final match is out. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth cream lovely woods down the centre, both in prime position. Ian Poulter finds the middle of the fairway, but Jon Rahm takes too much club and fires his drive straight into the water. That was none too clever. Down on the green, with Reed pretty much out of it after his drive, Tiger, Molinari and Fleetwood surround the pin. They’ll all have good looks at birdie. None of them make it, though Tiger goes very close, his putt shaving the hole from 12 feet. Meanwhile a birdie at the par-five 3rd by McIlroy, spashing close from sand, puts some blue on the board in the first game.
1UP Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau (3)
Casey/Hatton A/S Johnson/Fowler (2)
Molinari/Fleetwood A/S Reed/Woods (1)
Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth
EUROPE 5-3 USA
Updated
This second match is utterly farcical! At the par-three 2nd, Casey finds water; Hatton can only send his ball into a greenside bunker. Then DJ gets wet! Finally Fowler rediscovers his mojo; after two wild hooks on the 1st, he arrows his tee shot to ten feet. That’s something else, given what’s just happened to him! What spirit! In goes the putt, and the damage of the first hole is repaired!
Garcia/McIlroy A/S Koepka/Finau (2)
Casey/Hatton A/S Johnson/Fowler (2)
Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods
The third match is out. And the Americans - Brooks Koepka apart - are looking nervous. Patrick Reed, perhaps spooked by what’s just happened to Fowler and DJ, sends his tee shot into the thick stuff down the right. Tiger steadies the ship with a lovely wood whip-cracked down the middle. Yesterday’s European heroes Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari both find the fairway, though a pumped Molinari toys with the drink. His ball stays up on the fringe, though. You have to marvel at the players who manage to keep it together on this tee; the atmosphere is electric!
Garcia/McIlroy A/S Koepka/Finau (2)
1UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (1)
Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods
Updated
Fowler’s started out in appalling fashion. Having hooked his first tee shot into the water, he hooks his third onto a grassy bank miles to the left of the green. He’s out of it, really, though he eventually bravely climbs up the steep bank just in case he manages to engineer a miracle chip-in. He could easily slip down the hill and into the water, but god bless his core strength. Anyway, he flies that through the green and he’s toast. Meanwhile DJ doesn’t really have a stance by the side of the water, and can only take his medicine, chipping back out onto the fairway. Then he spins a wedge onto the front edge of the green and back into the water! A nightmare start for the USA! To be fair to DJ, he had to go for the pin, near the front, because he was hitting three and Casey was on in two. But that was a complete fiasco for the Americans. Meanwhile up on 2, honours are shared in the putting competition.
Garcia/McIlroy A/S Koepka/Finau (2)
1UP Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler (1)
And up on the green again, Koepka and Sergio both go close with their medium-range birdie efforts. Close, but no cigar. A half. Then Sergio finds the water at the par-three 2nd. Rory’s on the green, but Koepka’s a lot closer. Meanwhile the US captain Jim Furyk tells Sky Sports that he isn’t necessarily going to pick all of his players again today. “We’ll take a look at it. Depends what happens this morning.”
Garcia/McIlroy A/S Koepka/Finau (1)
Back on the tee, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson cop for some ribbing ... and a twitchy Fowler immediately pulls his tee shot into the water down the left. Plenty of cheers greet that faux pas. It’s bedlam! The pressure’s on Dustin, then ... and he nearly follows his partner into the briny, though his ball stops just in time. Phew. They’re playing Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton: Casey pearls his drive down the track, a beauty, then Hatton takes his tee shot. He turns and tells his captain Thomas Bjorn: “I ripped it!” But it’s not a gleeful analysis. Pumped full of adrenaline, he’s hit that much further than he’d expected and that’s in the water too. Advantage to Europe, though, because I’m not sure DJ has a stance by the side of the water. We’ll see.
It was slightly surprising that Koepka only got one run-out yesterday. Not just that he’s the player of 2018, with his victories at the US Open and PGA. Not just that he won his match yesterday morning with an ice-cool par at the testing 18th. He’s schooled in European golf, having played over this side of the pond on tour early in his career. It’ll be very interesting to see how he does today. He’s on the green in two, with a look at birdie from 20 feet downhill. Sergio’s inside him, though, having only just got over the water and he’s got an uphill 15-footer from the fringe.
The sun’s up, and the fever is high. Someone, please, call Dr Golf! Here come Rory and Sergio, waving and smiling, as the crowd do their thing. Then Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau make a quiet entrance. That’s home advantage for you. Everyone’s wrapped up warm; it’s pretty nippy out there. The Americans receive some pantomime boos, but gentle giant Finau turns and waves anyway, flashing a warm, friendly smile. Koepka’s not having it, though, eyes straight forward. Then the reception for the Europeans, Sergio hanging a paternal arm around Rory. A loud, sing-song chorus of Sergio, Sergio; Rory, Rory unfortunately doesn’t lend itself so well to a chant. But they try. Finau and Koepka lash irons down the middle; Sergio smacks a 3-wood down the track, while Rory flirts with the water down the left but stays on the fairway too. All good. We’re up and running! Day two of the 2018 Ryder Cup, everyone!
Here we go, then, all aboard another rollercoaster ride around the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines! The 94-step-high gallery behind the 1st tee has been entertaining itself with the Icelandic Thunderclap that’ll no doubt become the leitmotif of the 2018 Ryder Cup, whatever happens. So there’s quite an atmosphere bubbling up already. The picturesque and wonderfully testing Albatros Course is already being spoken of as one of the great Ryder Cup venues, its water, tight fairways and punitive rough all contributing to yesterday’s to-and-fro drama. (If you fancy comparing it to previous venues, Nick Callow’s superb history of the Ryder Cup is highly recommended, a comprehensive and very pretty whistle-stop tour around your Medinahs, K Clubs, Kiawah Islands and Walton Heaths.) Will it deliver again today? All signs point to yes!
Bonjour! Hello! Morning y’all!
What a see-saw opening day! Lest ye forget, this happened in the morning fourballs:
Rose/Rahm lost to Koepka/Finau 1UP
McIlroy/Olesen lost to Johnson/Fowler 4&2
Casey/Hatton lost to Spieth/Thomas 1UP
Fleetwood/Molinari beat Reed/Woods 3&1
USA! USA! USA! But then this occurred in the afternoon foursomes:
Stenson/Rose beat Johnson/Fowler 3&2
McIlroy/Poulter beat Watson/Simpson 4&2
Garcia/Noren beat Mickelson/DeChambeau 5&4
Molinari/Fleetwood beat Thomas/Spieth 5&4
Europe’s first-ever clean sweep in the foursomes (the USA have done it four times in the past) meant they turned a 3-1 lunchtime deficit into a 5-3 overnight lead. It was one hell of a day. But there’s plenty of golf to be played yet. And we start this morning with another four fourballs. Here’s when they’re going out (all times BST, add one hour for local, subtract five for the east coast) ...
7.10am: Garcia/McIlroy v Koepka/Finau
7.25am: Casey/Hatton v Johnson/Fowler
7.40am: Molinari/Fleetwood v Reed/Woods
7.55am: Poulter/Rahm v Thomas/Spieth
US captain Jim Furyk has gone with the same fourballs line-up as named yesterday morning ... the one difference being the Thomas/Spieth partnership taking over as anchors. Europe captain Thomas Bjorn has mixed his morning men up a wee bit: Molinari/Fleetwood, two points in the bag already, will go out again, as will Casey/Hatton, but Ryder Cup living legend Sergio hooks up with Rory, while Ryder Cup living legend Poults pairs up with Jon Rahm.
The holders will be desperate for a positive response today. They can’t afford to let the gap grow ahead of tomorrow’s decisive singles. But Europe will be on a high after their record-breaking afternoon yesterday, and may take some stopping. Settle back, relax, and enjoy as two great teams go head-to-head. It’s the 2018 Ryder Cup! It’s hotting up! It’s on!
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