Europe take 10-6 lead into Ryder Cup final day

[rooster59]

Europe take 10-6 lead into Ryder Cup final day

By Martyn Herman

 

Sep 29, 2018; Paris, FRA; Europe golfer Tommy Fleetwood and Europe golfer Francesco Molinari celebrate after winning their match during the Ryder Cup Saturday afternoon matches at Le Golf National. Mandatory Credit: Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Europe will take a healthy advantage into the final day of the Ryder Cup after emerging from Saturday's fourballs and foursomes matches with a 10-6 lead over the United States.

 

Inspired duo Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari led the charge with two victories over a struggling Tiger Woods to take their tally so far at Le Golf National to four points.

 

Thomas Bjorn's European side, bidding to retain the trophy they lost at Hazeltine two years ago, dominated a misfiring American side in the morning fourballs, taking the series 3-1.

 

The U.S. offered more resistance in the foursomes, winning two matches, but they could not eat into the deficit.

 

Jim Furyk's side need eight points from Sunday's 12 singles matches to retain the trophy.

 

Fleetwood is the first European rookie to win four points in a row while he and Molinari, dubbed "Molliwood" after a sensational weekend are only the second pair to win four points from their opening four matches in Ryder Cup history.

 

Having crushed Woods and Patrick Reed in the fourballs they then gelled superbly to beat a deflated Woods and American rookie Bryson Dechambeau by an even more emphatic 5&4.

 

Woods, who dragged himself through two matches on Saturday, showed occasional bursts of brilliance but he has now lost 19 of his 29 matches in fourballs and foursomes and seven in a row.

 

Justin Rose, rested for the morning fourballs, returned to partner Henrik Stenson in the foursomes to a 2&1 defeat of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka - ranked one and three in the world.

 

Europe did not have it al their own way though on a pleasant, breezy day south west of Paris.

 

Three-times major winner Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas set the benchmark for the Americans with two points on Saturday.

 

They earned a gritty 2&1 win over Spain's Jon Rahm and Ian Poulter in the fourballs and returned later to beat Poulter and Rory McIlroy 4&3 in the foursomes having lost the opening two holes.

 

Only twice in Ryder Cup history has a team come back from a four-point deficit going into the singles, although as holders Furyk's side need only draw to retain the trophy.

 

After being second-best for two days, however, a Sunday counter-attack looks as though it will be beyond them.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-30

 

[khwaibah]

Making America Great Again. NOT.????

[Wake Up]

I am an American and cheer for the USA. But my hat is off to the European golfers who always play well in the Ryder Cup. Dang it.  ????

[vogie]

4 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

I am an American and cheer for the USA. But my hat is off to the European golfers who always play well in the Ryder Cup. Dang it.  ????

Still a long way to go yet, but looking forward to it. Poor old Tiger looks as if he doesn't want to be there. 

[Kadilo]

I’ve been following it via the radio all weekend and the one constant theme that keeps coming up is that the body language of some of the American players is dreadful as if they despise each other.
No conversations, even walking separately to the next hole. Compare that to the Europe team and it’s obvious they all get on really well.
Great crowd too. The French have done the competition proud.
As they say, it’s not over til..........


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[farmerjo]

The USA are struggling to hit fairways and the rough is unforgiving.

Been good entertainment so far.  

Edited September 30, 2018 by farmerjo

[Jonnapat]

Super big win for Europe.

Very much hope Trump was watching

[Kadilo]

Annihilated, get in there !