USA take first blood at Ryder Cup
The second day of the Ryder Cup is underway, thankfully minus the driving rain that held up play for seven hours yesterday.
In fact, Celtic Manor's Twenty Ten course was positively sunny this morning, though the same may not be said for the current disposition of European captain Colin Montgomerie. The USA currently lead on 2½ against Europe's 1½, after the fourballs session that began way back at 7:45 yesterday morning finally concluded today at around 10:45.
Only Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer could win their match for Europe, beating the USA's Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson 3&2. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell halved their match against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar, doing well to come back after being 2down yesterday, while Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods won 2up against Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter.
Perhaps most surprisingly, the wildcard picks of Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald proved no match for the rookie pairing of Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton. On hearing of US captain Corey Pavin's selection, Montgomerie had implied the rookies were a weak link for team USA; whether those snipes had irked the first-timers or whether the pair just had too much in the locker for their European rivals, the score finished 3&2 to the USA.
More worryingly for Europe - and especially for Monty, who has gone out on a limb in choosing Padraig Harrington over England's Paul Casey - the Irishman's form continues to disappoint, Dubliner Harrington in the doldrums with some poor play. In failing to contribute a single birdie, Harrington effectively left Donald to shoulder the load for Europe.
Donald played well, but couldn't defeat the combined might of Watson and Overton who had found the groove, and the hope must be that Harrington shakes himself from his current funk to justify his place in the team. Because after the close of that first session, those who predicted an easy win for Europe have surely been silenced.
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