Europe claw their way back at Valhalla
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 The 37th Ryder Cup | Day Two | 21 Sep 2008
Their day one, three point advantage may have been reduced to just two at the end of day two, but the USA Team have the all important lead as the 37th Ryder Cup heads into tomorrow’s 12 singles matches. The USA Team now lead by 9-7.
This is still either team’s event and with the Europeans needing just a 14-14 tie to be taking the trophy back to Europe they are still very much in the hunt despite trailing.
The Europeans closed the gap in the morning Foursomes, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose continuing on the good combination they had shown on day one by defeating Stewart Cink and Chad Campbell in the opening match of the day. When debutante Oliver Wilson combined with Henrik Stenson to overcome the previously undefeated Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim the overall margin had been reduced to just one.
Wilson, in what would be his only match of the first two days, holed an impressive putt at the 17th to close out the match and, now successfully blooded in the heat of the battle, he will be all the better for the exposure prior to tomorrow’s singles. He and Stenson remarkably reversed a 4 hole deficit to close the Americans out at the 17th.
The next match to finish was when Graeme McDowell and Miguel Angel Jimenez birdied the final hole of their encounter with Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan to salvage a half point.
The final match of the morning went to the Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry who led from the first hole against Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson and eventually won 3 & 1 to secure the only full point of the morning.
With the margin reduced to two leading into the afternoon’s Fourball matches, the afternoon developed into a very tight affair. Two of Azinger’s picks for the team did him proud when J.B. Holmes and Boo Weekley were never behind in their match against Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen and won 2 & 1.
The three remaining matches went to the final hole with Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis securing a half point against Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell leading for most of their match against Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk before winning 1 up and Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson fighting back from a two hole deficit against Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan for what yet may be a crucial half point.
The leading individuals on both sides have both been Captain’s selections. The controversy of Ian Poulter’s selection has become a distant memory, his three points to date playing a key role in keeping Europe in with a chance of retaining the Trophy. Poulter’s only defeat came in the Foursomes on day one.
Hunter Mahan also has three points to his name and has been undefeated in his four matches.
Tomorrow promises so much. As we have seen on many occasions over the last few years, things can turn rather quickly on the final day and what appears a comfortable lead can quickly disappear.
The match ups for tomorrow are eagerly awaited and both captains will be keen to build momentum early. This may yet turn out to be one of the Ryder Cup’s most exciting days.
