US in control of Ryder Cup on day one
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 The 37th Ryder Cup | Day One | 20 Sep 2008
For the first time since 1995 the USA Ryder Cup side has the luxury of taking a lead into day two of the competition at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky. It is not just a lead but it is a significant one and might have been even more than the 5½ to 2½ margin it stands at after the opening Foursomes and Four-ball contests.
In 1995 Europe came back to win after they had trailed the Americans by 5 to 3 after the opening day. The margin it has already created in 2008, however, provides the USA its equal biggest opening day lead since the event was played for just eight points on the opening days in 1979.
Prior to that, ten opening day matches were played but it was reduced to eight in 1979 and today is the best position the Americans have been in since.
It may be just coincidence, but Paul Azinger’s decision to change the order of play on day one and have the Foursomes in the morning has paid dividends. Even though he will be disappointed that his final afternoon pairing of JB Holmes and Boo Weekley let a point slip in their match against Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen, Azinger will be sleeping a lot easier tonight than his adversary Nick Faldo.
Holmes and Weekley led Westwood and Hansen by one hole playing the last, but both Americans found water from the tee and lost the hole. That effectively ensured a swing of one point and provided the Europeans at least a small consolation on what had been a hard day.
The Americans came back from behind in both the morning and afternoon and have the ascendancy heading into tomorrow’s repeat of the opening day format.
The opening matches on day two will see Ian Poulter and Justin Rose against their conquerors in today’s Foursomes, Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell.
Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan, who were brilliant on day one when winning both their matches, will face Graeme McDowell and Miguel Angel Jimenez in the second match off at 8.20.
Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim are up against debutant Oliver Wilson, who is about to experience the heat of the Ryder Cup for the first time, and Henrik Stenson at 8.35.
At 8.50 the final match sees Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry against Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlssson. Karlsson and Harrington salvaged a half point in their morning match on day one against Kim and Mickelson and Captain Faldo will be counting on his most inform pair going one better.
The Europeans are certainly down but not yet out.
