Ryder Cup: US lead but Poults, Padraig pull it out of the bag for Europe
The US leads Europe 6 to 4 this afternoon at the end of the foursomes session, after Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy failed to force a half point against rivals Matt Kuchar and Stewart Cink at Celtic Manor.
McDowell had given the Northern Irish pair a chance on the 18th with a fine drive, but the 21-year-old McIlroy demonstrated his maddening inconsistency, following up his partner's tee shot with a poorly judged approach that overshot the green, only to find a bunker.
It would have taken a miracle for McDowell to recover, and though the US Open winner successfully guided the ball back onto the dance floor, the Americans still had two putts to take the match. Kuchar couldn't manage the putt, but his attempt was close enough for the Europeans to cede the match.
Earlier Luke Donald and Ian Poulter had salvaged a point for Europe, Donald setting Poulter up beautifully to sink his effort on the 17th to go 2&1 over Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton and give Europe a hugely important win.
And Poulter paid tribute to the crowd, telling reporters afterwards: "The crowd just give you a standing ovation, and that's just awesome, truly amazing."
And perhaps surprisingly, it was Padraig Harrington who was bringing the bacon home for Europe this afternoon. The Dubliner may have been in pretty woeful form earlier on, and the thought of him and rookie Ross Fisher pitted against Dustin Johnson, so nearly a major winner twice this year, and world No. 2 Phil Mickelson, must have had European fans fearing the worst.
But Harrington turned things around in the foursomes around the turn, coming tantalisingly close to draining a 50ft putt on the 9th - a play that earned Europe the hole regardless, after Fisher putted and Johnson failed to match him for par. On the 10th Harrington continued to shine, setting up his playing partner for a birdie, and the European pair finished the match 3&2.
Speaking afterwards, Fisher was full of compliments for his partner, telling reporters: "It was a pleasure to play with a three-time major champion, and we're absolutely delighted. It felt like we gelled really well together, and it's nice to get an early victory."
Harrington admitted to feeling the pressure, acknowledging: "I couldn't make any birdies this morning. I felt like I had to do a bit more and it made me step up a little bit. The supporters realise things are very tight, and we do need that support. The crowd's are very important, they've been fantastic, and luckily we gave them something to cheer about."
Elsewhere, Jim Furyk and Rickie Fowler salvaged a half-point from Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer despite the European pair looking to have the Americans' number for the entire match; Westwood seemed distracted by a camera flash during his missed putt on the 18th, which would have won the match, but Fowler had no such complaints, remaining focused as he made a simple 5ft putt to tie the match.
The Molinari brothers fought hard over the back nine to reduce a two hole advantage they'd ceded to their opponents Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan on the 17th. The Italian duo won the 12th and 16th holes to restore parity, only to lose the remaining two holes, after Johnson made a lengthy birdie putt on the 17th and then Francesco failed to sink a vital putt on the 18th.
Interviewed after the match, Edoardo told reporters: "I think we played great from the 11th on. It's a little unfortunate we didn't at least get a half because I think we played well on the back nine."
Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker saw off Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson with relative ease, the US pairing winning 4&3 over the European duo, despite the pair conceding a hole after Woods left Stricker in a bunker at one stage; aside from that discrepancy, the Americans rarely looked in trouble, with Stricker's fine putting proving definitive.
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