Ryder Cup 2010: Sunday Highlights
Europe took a 3-points lead in Foursomes on Sunday to make its way into the Monday singles. It now requires only 5 points from seven matches to declare victory in the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Sunday proved to be a showdown for the last Ryder Cup winners as they lost all of their matches against the Europeans, although earlier, Saturday’s round of the four-balls was pleasant for them with three victories and one halve.
Sunday started with a match between Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker and Lee Westwood, Luke Donald. The Americans lost when the opposite side picked up 6&5. This European victory was already expected based on the strong form of Westwood. He has scored 11 points
in his last three matches.
Earlier, Westwood had wrapped Saturday with a four up while he started the foursomes with a first shot of 35-footer for two at the 10th hole. He and Donald together birdied the next two holes also. Later, Westwood wedged a six-foot putt on the
13th hole and pushed Woods and Stricker to their first defeat in last seven games.
This victory extended Westwood's record against Woods in the event to an amazing six wins and only one defeat while Donald's six foursomes, since his maiden in 2004 Ryder Cup, have earned him six victories. Donald said of his partner, "Westy's putt on the
10th was just magnificent....it was just amazing to see that go in and it was nice to show they were beatable."
His statement seemed to be referring to Woods, when he and Mickelson had trailed 10-6 in 1999 at Boston but still won. The rowdy crowd played a huge part in that victory but the world number one and number two didn’t stand a chance at Wales where the crowd
roared at Westwood’s shot but forgot to clap at Stricker’s birdie.
Donald’s dreams appear to have come true. Firstly, he found a game that helped him knock Tiger down and now he has found a partner who drained the world number 1 when he was at five under par. The next match was of G-Mac and Wee Mac with Zach Johnson and
Hunter Mahan. Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy won their match after a half and a loss. They beat the American side with 3&1.
With three up and still four to play, McDowell sank an 18-feet birdie for a half at the 15th hole to which Johnson responded with a 30-foot putt. McIlroy contributed with two points when he rolled in a 25-foot effort at the par-3-17th.
Later, while talking to the media, he said, “To get that first win is fantastic and to do it alongside this guy makes it even more special."
The U.S. Open champion commented on this statement saying, "This is completely different. This is pure adrenaline and it's a chance to experience it with one of your best friends. It’s been an honour and this is the best show on Earth as far as golf goes
- I love it."
Sunday was a mixture of foursomes and four-balls. After the foursomes, four-ball session started with Europe seizing its first win against Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson. Ross Fisher and Padraig Harrington won the match by 2&1. That was their second victory
together and the Irishman was impressed by his partner with whom he had earlier ended 10 games without even a single victory.
Meanwhile, Miguel Angel Jimenez and his partner Peter Hanson, who were earlier beaten by Woods and Stricker at foursomes, opened their tally and smashed a round of 8-6 against Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton. The day’s last match was of Kaymer and Poulter
against Mickelson and Fowler. Once again, Europe won by 2&1 when Poulter chipped a seven-feet putt at the 15th hole.
With this, another day wrapped at the course of Celtic Manor where the 38th Ryder Cup is currently in progress. Europe took the lead by winning five matches and it has now entered the singles which are taking place today to decide the final rider
of the 2010 Ryder Cup.
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