U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell made a show-stopping putt in the closing match against Hunter Mahan to give Europe a spectacular 14.5–13.5 victory in the 38th Ryder Cup. It was an electrifying day when a motivated Team USA rallied in singles matches on Monday to possibly pull off a Ryder Cup upset with a huge come-from-behind victory.
Team USA was 3 points down (9 ½–6 ½) going into Monday’s 12 singles matches and fought back courageously by winning 6 and halving 2 matches. Europe won 4 of the singles matches.
Graeme McDowell became the hero for the European team. In legendary style, he won the winning point to get the Europeans to 14 ½ points, the exact amount needed to win back the cup. Hunter Mahan was both tearful and speechless at the press conference after the tournament. If Mahan could have rallied to at least halve the match with McDowell, the U.S. would have retained the cup. That is how close the contest became in the last singles match.
Mahan was 3 down after 11 holes, but he fought back and was just 1 down after sinking birdies on holes 12 and 15. The momentum then seemed to be on the American side until McDowell drained a long birdie putt on 16 to get a 2-up lead. Mahan still had a fighting chance for a half-point by winning the last two holes but on the par-3 17th, he hit short of the green, and followed it up with a poor chip and missed putt for par that would have put pressure on McDowell. After his miss, Mahan conceded the match to McDowell, and thus the Ryder Cup to Europe.
European Captain Colin Montgomery received kudos for his effective leadership and for putting McDowell in the final singles match that confirmed McDowell as one of the toughest championship players in the world. He had showed his ability to close the deal by not only winning the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, but also the Wales Open just prior to his U.S. Open victory.
“Graeme McDowell was put there for a good reason; he’s full of confidence, and that showed. That birdie on 16 was just quite unbelievable, quite unbelievable,” said European captain Colin Montgomery.
Commenting on Montgomery’s captaincy, McDowell said, “He’s been amazing. For the last two years he’s been right up for this, there’s nothing quite like Colin Montgomery. He’s everything there is in The Ryder Cup and to be able to do that for him today was really special.”
If Captain Corey Pavin had put Tiger Woods in the closing match instead of Hunter Mahan, the U.S. may have retained the Ryder Cup. Of course, Pavin had no way of knowing that Woods would be on top of his game as he demolished his competent opponent, Francesco Molinari, 4 and 3, with 7 birdies and an eagle in just 15 holes.
Europe has won 6 of the last 8 Ryder Cups and now dominates this biennial championship the way the U.S. did in the years prior to the 1980s. Ever since the European side was expanded in 1979 from just the two countries of England and Ireland, to include continental Europe, the U.S. lost its dominance of this team championship.
The next Ryder Cup takes place in 2012 at Medinah, outside Chicago, Sept. 28-30.
Team USA was 3 points down (9 ½–6 ½) going into Monday’s 12 singles matches and fought back courageously by winning 6 and halving 2 matches. Europe won 4 of the singles matches.
Graeme McDowell became the hero for the European team. In legendary style, he won the winning point to get the Europeans to 14 ½ points, the exact amount needed to win back the cup. Hunter Mahan was both tearful and speechless at the press conference after the tournament. If Mahan could have rallied to at least halve the match with McDowell, the U.S. would have retained the cup. That is how close the contest became in the last singles match.
Mahan was 3 down after 11 holes, but he fought back and was just 1 down after sinking birdies on holes 12 and 15. The momentum then seemed to be on the American side until McDowell drained a long birdie putt on 16 to get a 2-up lead. Mahan still had a fighting chance for a half-point by winning the last two holes but on the par-3 17th, he hit short of the green, and followed it up with a poor chip and missed putt for par that would have put pressure on McDowell. After his miss, Mahan conceded the match to McDowell, and thus the Ryder Cup to Europe.
European Captain Colin Montgomery received kudos for his effective leadership and for putting McDowell in the final singles match that confirmed McDowell as one of the toughest championship players in the world. He had showed his ability to close the deal by not only winning the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, but also the Wales Open just prior to his U.S. Open victory.
“Graeme McDowell was put there for a good reason; he’s full of confidence, and that showed. That birdie on 16 was just quite unbelievable, quite unbelievable,” said European captain Colin Montgomery.
Commenting on Montgomery’s captaincy, McDowell said, “He’s been amazing. For the last two years he’s been right up for this, there’s nothing quite like Colin Montgomery. He’s everything there is in The Ryder Cup and to be able to do that for him today was really special.”
If Captain Corey Pavin had put Tiger Woods in the closing match instead of Hunter Mahan, the U.S. may have retained the Ryder Cup. Of course, Pavin had no way of knowing that Woods would be on top of his game as he demolished his competent opponent, Francesco Molinari, 4 and 3, with 7 birdies and an eagle in just 15 holes.
Europe has won 6 of the last 8 Ryder Cups and now dominates this biennial championship the way the U.S. did in the years prior to the 1980s. Ever since the European side was expanded in 1979 from just the two countries of England and Ireland, to include continental Europe, the U.S. lost its dominance of this team championship.
The next Ryder Cup takes place in 2012 at Medinah, outside Chicago, Sept. 28-30.
Session 4 Results
Singles
Steve Stricker, USA, def. Lee Westwood, Europe, 2 and 1
Stewart Cink, USA, halved with Rory McIlroy, Europe
Luke Donald, Europe, def. Jim Furyk, USA, 1-up
Dustin Johnson, USA, def. Martin Kaymer, Europe, 5 and 4
Ian Poulter, Europe, def. Matt Kuchar, USA, 5 and 4
Jeff Overton, USA, def. Ross Fisher, Europe, 3 and 2
Miguel Angel Jimenez, Europe, def. Bubba Watson, USA, 4 and 3
Tiger Woods, USA, def. Francesco Molinari, Europe, 4 and 3
Rickie Fowler, USA, halved with Eduardo Molinari, Europe
Phil Mickelson, USA, def. Peter Hanson, Europe, 4 and 2
Zach Johnson, USA, def. Padraig Harrington, Europe, 3 and 2
Graeme McDowell, Europe, def. Hunter Mahan, USA, 3 and 1
