Zimpapers Logo

Europe staged a stirring comeback to lead the USA 5-3 going into the second day of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
Paul McGinley’s home side won 3½ points out of four in the afternoon foursomes session yesterday to claw back a deficit of 2½-1½ on an absorbing day in the hills of Perthshire.
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson were the star partnership for Europe with a 5&4 fourball victory against Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, and a 2&1 foursomes win over Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson.

Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia lost their morning fourball with a narrow last-hole defeat to Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, but forced a crucial half on the final hole against Rickie Fowler and US debutant Jimmy Walker.

Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson beat Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar by two holes to secure the first foursomes point, while Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson ended Mickelson and Bradley’s run of four straight wins with a 3&2 victory.

By contrast, Europe were 5-3 down at the end of the opening day at Medinah two years ago.
“We’ve seen in Ryder Cups over the years how important momentum is and we showed real strength of character to respond to that American surge and get blue back on the board,” said European captain McGinley, a veteran of three Ryder Cups as a player.

“It’s been a great day, a lot of momentum, but let’s take stock.”
His counterpart Tom Watson insisted that his team could turn the contest around quickly.

“I’m disappointed with the result but not the attitude,” he said. “I told them in the locker room it is 5-3. You win two matches, you’re back in it.”
England’s Rose and Swede Stenson, neighbours in Lake Nona, Florida, maintained their formidable form on a breezy afternoon and quickly forged ahead with birdies at the first and sixth.

Mahan and Johnson, playing their first match of the day, were soon level after winning two straight holes, but Rose drained a lengthy putt on the 11th and made another decent one for a half on the 12th prompting Stenson to bow before him in admiration. The Americans were all-square again by the 14th but Europe won the 15th and 17th to seal the win.

“It’s been really special, the captain put a lot of faith in me and Henrik, sending us out first this morning,” said Rose. “I thought we were really strong today.”
World number one McIlroy and third-ranked Garcia, playing his seventh Ryder Cup, were looking at two defeats in a day at two down with two to play against Fowler and 35-year-old rookie Walker.

The two teams had been all-square after 10 before the Americans eased clear with birdies on the 11th and 12th. McIlroy holed a good putt to grab a hole back on 13 but the US pair won the 15th and Walker missed a three-foot putt for the win on 16 after Fowler’s crunching 230-yard approach from the rough.

Taking advantage of Europe’s good fortune, McIlroy then drained a 40ft putt across the 17th to take his match up the last for the second time. The Northern Irishman’s drive caught the right rough on 18, but Garcia found the green with a stunning five-wood to set up an eagle chance. Walker’s bunker shot left Fowler 15ft short and he was unable to match the European birdie to clinch the match.

“We’ve played two really tough matches and at least we’ve half a point to show for it,” said McIlroy.
“We needed it. We at least wanted to get them down 18 and Sergio hit the shot of the day.”

Westwood, playing in his ninth Ryder Cup, and debutant Donaldson sat out the first session, as did their American rivals, but fought back from an early one-hole deficit.

The Europeans lost the third but were all-square with a birdie on the short sixth and stayed ahead until the end after winning the seventh with a par.
“I have as much fun playing as I do watching someone take to it like a duck to water,” said Westwood of Donaldson.

The Welshman added: “That first tee is like a sudden death play-off in a major – it feels like there’s 20,000 people on one hole. It’s incredible. It’s an awesome event to play in.”

Northern Ireland’s McDowell and enigmatic French debutant Dubuisson went ahead at the second and were never less than one up to keep Mickelson and Bradley at bay in the final match of the day.

In other morning matches, American rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed defeated Medinah hero Ian Poulter and Scottish debutant Stephen Gallacher 5&4 but US captain Tom Watson may rue leaving the youngsters out of the foursomes, while Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer shared a half with Fowler and Walker. — BBC Sport