A Mountain to Climb

So, the 39th Ryder Cup is one day old and, so far, it has not disappointed.
Friday morning foursomes were full of the nip and tuck that makes the Ryder Cup what it is, with the early European momentum being dragged back by a spirited American team, to leave the first session at 2-2. In the afternoon, the home team simply blew Europe away in the better-ball matches, the one exception being a tall Belgian man who didn't seem to realize how difficult the Ryder Cup is meant to be. Carrying his partner Lee Westwood, Nicolas Colsaerts gave his captain some hope by shooting -10 on his own card and securing a vital point for Europe. This was after Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson had annihilated Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson in the top match, followed by wins for the inspired new pairing of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, as well as Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.
Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker finished the first day pointless and, although Tiger bounced back from a woeful foursomes display to play some decent golf in the fourballs, Davis Love III has decided to leave him and his partner on the bench for Saturday morning's foursomes; the first time Tiger has been rested at a Ryder Cup.

It may be easier to say after the poor afternoon session, but I think that José María Olazábal showed some poor captaincy in the afternoon. After seeing the Americans build momentum and rescue a 2-2 result from the morning's play, it was vital that Europe got out of the blocks fast and got points on the board in the fourballs. The answer? Put out the guys who you know will deliver. Ian Poulter sat on the sidelines after winning with Justin Rose in the morning, and we saw the four mrning subs make their first start of the matches. I agree with the sentiment of getting all 12 players out on Day 1, but it needs to be a flexible approach. Resting Poulter was madness. Luke Donald and Sergio hadn't looked their best in the foursomes, but you can guarantee that Donald will hole his putts and that Sergio will always produce some magic. Peter Hanson and Paul Lawrie were unlucky to come up against the unstoppable force that was Watson and Simpson, but I can't help feeling that holding back at least one of them until Saturday would have been a stronger move. Martin Kaymer was almost invisible for most of the afternoon, and showed why he has not been contending like his 2009 and 2010 self.

DL3's captaincy was good, although it has to be said that he has any easier job at times, given the talent at his disposal. He's claimed that he doesn't want any player playing all 5 matches, and that Tiger's rest has nothing to do with his Friday morning form. Fair enough Davis, although just try and stop Mickelson and Bradley walking on to the first tee this afternoon.

So, how do they match up on Saturday morning?


Match 9: Webb Simpson & Bubba Watson v. Ian Poulter & Justin Rose

We got plenty of the famous Poulter stare yesterday, so anyone who doubted if he was as up for this as ever quickly had those doubts put to bed. He looks comfortable with Rose, and vice versa - I get the feeling Rose will be relieved to be back with Poulter after failing to get anything going with Martin Kaymer.
Simpson and Bubba were outstanding yesterday - there's a case to be made that Bubba might be more of a fourball player, although that swing manages to put the ball in the fairway more often than simple physics would suggest. Simpson is just a class act in all dimensions, and thrived yesterday in Bubba's company.

Verdict: Really tough match to call, but I just get the feeling that Poulter, knowing the trouble his team is in, will drag something out of this no matter what. Should be a cracker.

Europe to win 2&1


Match 10: Keegan Bradley & Phil Mickelson v. Luke Donald & Lee Westwood

What can you say about this American twosome? Mickelson has been mentoring Bradley for some time now, so they're obviously totally comfortable in each other's company. Love will be as delighted to have found a partner for Mickelson as much as Bradley, given Lefty's questionable Ryder Cup record. Bradley took to the Ryder Cup like a duck takes to water, if ducks hole everything within sight and leap around to beat the band. These guys are the pairing that have lit it up so far, and it's tough to see them stopping just yet.
Donald lost to this group with Sergio in the morning yesterday, but didn't play bad golf. Westwood played a lot of bad golf in both matches and, as expected, couldn't hole a putt. He'll be delighted to have Donald taking responsibility over some of the short game, but will have to deliver with the long game.

Verdict: The U.S. pair were awesome to watch yesterday; it was impossible not to enjoy Bradley's enthusiasm and Phil's delight. I don't doubt that they will continue to play well, but they're up against a cool matchplayer in Luke Donald, who should help to settle Lee Westwood. I don't quite know where I'm getting this from, but I'm going to back the boys in blue to get something here.

Halved Match


Match 11: Jason Dufner & Zach Johnson v. Nicolas Colsaerts & Sergio Garcia

Can Nicolas Colsaerts continue his magic from yesterday? Before the match, I'd have seen him as a fourball player - heaps of birdies but sitting out of a few holes after doing damage off the tee. He took Woods and Stricker on single-handedly with barely an error, and he should enjoy having Garcia's infectious enthusiasm beside him today.
Dufner and Johnson played solidly to beat Westwood and Molinari in the foursomes, holing their putts where they needed to. Dufner looked nervous at the beginning, but anyone who's watched his career progress will know that once he's in the comfort zone, he's hard to get out.

Verdict: These predictions seem a little topsy-turvy, but I'm going to give the home team a win here. They look calm and settled now, and they're going to continue to hole their putts. I can't imagine that Colsaerts isn't a little drained after his magnificence yesterday, and I just hope that he can recover himself in times for his obvious fourball appearance in the afternoon.

U.S. to win 3&2


Match 12: Jim Furyk & Brandt Snedeker v. Graeme McDowell & Rory McIlroy

The final foursome of the 2012 Ryder Cup sees a rematch of the opening match. In Part 1, the Europeans looked to be cruising before surviving a fantastic comeback from the Americans to win it with a shaky par on the last. McIlroy and McDowell never got going in the afternoon, but it's hard to see them not picking themselves up and getting things going again today. McIlroy continued to miss some important putts, but G-Mac tends to make what he needs.
Furyk and Snedeker aren't the most charismatic pairing on the course, but they'll be disappointed that they couldn't convert their fightback into a point yesterday morning. Snedeker needed to find a good drive on the last but he blocked it miles right. The Ryder CUp isn't easy, and he'll need to bounce back fast. Furyk's experience and calm was invaluable on the back nine yesterday, but the veteran will need to hole a few more putts if he and Snedeker are to take down the Macs.

Verdict: No more than Poulter, I think the Europeans will deliver when the heat is on. They know they're in the anchor match to either shore things up or to put the final touch on a winning session. They played enough good golf yesterday to show that they're in form, and G-Mac has that look in his eyes.

Europe to win 4&2


By my calculations, that's a 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 session for Europe, which would reduce the American's lead to a single point going into the afternoon. Optimistic? Maybe so.

Check back as the foursomes wind down for a preview of the final team matches of this year's Cup.