Golf: Garcia shakes off Ryder woe for title defense

MIAMI -- Sergio Garcia hopes to put the disappointment of Europe's Ryder Cup defeat behind him when he launches the defense of his PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship title in Mississippi on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Spaniard is the only player involved in last week's Ryder Cup in the field for the tournament in Jackson, and says that despite a grueling week in Wisconsin, his energy levels is good.

Garcia was one of the lone bright spots in Europe's 19-9 mauling by the US at Whistling Straits, winning three of his four games.

Despite the traumatic scale of the Europe loss, Garcia said Wednesday he has already been able to put the defeat into perspective.

"I've been fortunate to play many Ryder Cups and win many and also lose some," Garcia said. "We just got outplayed. It's as simple as that."

"They played better than us and we gave it everything we had. So we can't really ask ourselves for more.

"Obviously we would have loved to do a little bit better and probably be a little bit sharper on those key moments where they were sharp and we were just a little bit off and they took advantage of that.

"But other than that it's fine. I think the way I look at it there were so many positive things coming out of it, even though we lost, that you just got to look at those things."

Garcia said he had not slept much on Sunday after the defeat, but had managed to rest at his home in Austin.

"I feel pretty good at the moment," he said. "Obviously you all know how much I love the Ryder Cup and there's a lot of energy involved in it and that you put on it and stuff. I still love it every time I play it.

"At the moment I feel quite good. I don't think it has hit me yet and hopefully it won't hit me until I get back to Austin next week so I can have a good solid week here."

While other players involved at Whistling Straits have opted for a break this week, Garcia said he was determined to tee it up in Mississippi to defend his title.

"I try to defend my titles every time I can. I haven't been able to do it every single time, but I love to do it every possibility I have," he said.

Agence France-Presse

Golf: Tiger Woods trying 'to play golf again,' says Steve Stricker

Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker said Wednesday that Tiger Woods is continuing his rehabilitation from a February accident "to get better and try to play golf again."

Stricker made the comments in a SiriusXM Radio interview at Whistling Straits, Wis., site of the upcoming Ryder Cup. Stricker said he has talked to Woods "a lot," acknowledging that the 15-time major champion would not be joining Team USA as an assistant.

"He's a part of this Ryder Cup family; he won't be able to be a captain's assistant this time around just because of his ongoing rehabilitation to try to get better and try to play golf again, and that is going well," Stricker said in the interview. "He's progressing, he's doing well, things are moving in the right direction."

The last words from Woods publicly about his recovery came in late May when he said he was focused on "walking on my own."

Woods, 45, sustained serious injuries after crashing an SUV on Feb. 23 in the Los Angeles County city of Rancho Palos Verdes. He is recovering from open fractures to his tibia and fibula, which needed a rod inserted to aid healing, and also foot and ankle injuries that needed screws and pins placed to aid in stabilization.

He was hospitalized for almost a month after the crash.

Woods played three events in the 2020-21 PGA Tour season, most recently the 2020 Masters that was delayed until November, as he was recovering from back surgery. His career earnings are listed at more than $120 million.

The Ryder Cup begins Sept. 24.

-reuters-

Golf: Casey backs postponement of Ryder Cup because of coronavirus

LONDON -- English Ryder Cup veteran Paul Casey believes Europe's title defense in Wisconsin later this year should be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The biennial contest between Europe and the United States is scheduled for Whistling Straits on the shores of Lake Michigan Sept. 25-27.

Organizers earlier this week described as "inaccurate" a British newspaper report that plans were being made to push back the event by 12 months, as happened in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Casey cited that precedent when he was asked whether he would favour a delay of this year's clash while the world deals with the health crisis.

"Yes is the answer to that," he told the BBC. "I am never a fan of postponing stuff but it's been postponed before, so why can't it happen again?"

Like most other sports, the professional golf calendar has been heavily disrupted by the pandemic.

The first two major championships of the year, April's Masters and the PGA Championship in May, have already been postponed.

The U.S.-based PGA Tour, which runs the game's most popular circuit, has cancelled all tournaments until mid-May at the earliest.

But for the suspension of the tour, Casey would have been playing for a third successive title at the Valspar Championship in Florida this week.

"I'm obviously disappointed," the world number 24 added. "I was looking forward to going for three in a row, but it's amazing how quickly things have changed.

"The situation is no longer about golf, it's about worrying about people's safety, people's health and the economic impact of that."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Molinari clinches Ryder Cup glory for dominant Europe

PARIS - Italian Francesco Molinari fittingly took the glory as Europe regained the Ryder Cup from the United States in dominant style on Sunday, but it was a complete team effort that delivered what turned out to be a crushing 17.5-10.5 victory.

With Molinari safely on the 16th green, Phil Mickelson conceded their singles match after firing his tee shot into the water, taking Europe to the magical 14.5 mark they needed to win the Cup for the fourth time in the last five.

It completed a magical year for Molinari, the British Open champion, who became the first European to win all five matches in a week -- having not won any of his previous six.

Europe were effectively assured of victory when the Italian teed off as he, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia were all dormie and guaranteed at least half a point - with Europe needing just one more.

All three went on to secure wins and Swedish rookie Alex Noren completed the day's action in style when he sunk a 40-foot putt to beat Bryson Dechambeau on the last and complete a 7.5-4.5 singles victory for Europe.

It seemed a long time since the United States won Friday's opening morning fourballs 3-1 but, after Europe roared back to sweep the foursomes 4-0 in the afternoon, they never looked back.

"How do you sum that up?," European captain Thomas Bjorn said. "I just cannot describe how I feel about these 12. They have been amazing from day one and it was easy for me to guide them.

"It doesn't happen very often that everybody on the team scores points and so I think we got it right this week - we worked as a team."

The Europeans, playing in France for the first time, had started the day 10-6 up needing to secure four and a half of the 12 points available to win back the trophy and extend their stranglehold on home soil dating back to 1993.

Only twice before had a team come from four down going into the singles to win -- the U.S. at Brookline in 1999 and Europe in 2012 at Medinah but another stunning comeback never really looked on the cards.

Justin Thomas, who was the top American performer with four points, Webb Simpson and Tony Finau gave Jim Furyk's team a glimmer of hope with early wins but then the European points started pouring in.

Thorbjorn Olesen hammered Jordan Spieth and fellow rookie Jon Rahm beat Tiger Woods -- leaving the weary-looking 14-times major champion with a stunning four defeats out of four.

Ian Poulter, "Mr Ryder Cup", then got to smash his fist against the European crest on his chest one more time as world number one Dustin Johnson conceded on the 18th green.

AMAZING SCENES

The three dormie games meant victory was secure but Ryder Cup tradition demands a man who delivers the winning point and nobody has delivered this week like Molinari, whose mesmerising consistency was perfectly suited to a course designed to offer maximum punishment for the wayward.

"This means more than majors, more than anything, I couldn't even dream of a summer like this," said Molinari, who won all his four pairs matches with Tommy Fleetwood in another European first.

"I've been carried the other guys the other two times I was on the winning side and it was about time to help them."

Moments later Garcia beat Rickie Fowler 2&1 to become the competition's all-time leading scorer, his three points taking his career tally to 25.5 to overhaul Nick Faldo and fully justify Bjorn's decision to select him as a wildcard.

"I don't usually cry but what a week," said the Spaniard.

Stenson duly handed Bubba Watson his fourth defeat in four singles matches before Noren added the icing with the last shot of the week.

"They outplayed us," said U.S. captain Jim Furyk, who has cut a dignified figure through difficult times for his team which included nine major champions.

"We got some momentum but the Europeans responded well as they have all week," he said. "It's a course they know pretty well but they did a great job playing it. They hit key shots and knocked in the clutch putts.

"But you could not ever have a better venue or better crowd to play in front of - it's been a wonderful week."

Four years ago after defeat in Gleneagles Mickelson was hugely critical of captain Tom Watson but he had nothing but praise for Furyk.

"We had phenomenal leadership - they put us players in a position to succeed but unfortunately it didn't happen," said the 48-year-old Mickelson, the five-times major champion who lost both his matches this week.

"The European side played some exquisite golf and flat-out beat us - but they beat us on the course."

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Toby Davis and Ed Osmond)

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Ryder Cup glory in sight for Europe as they lead by four

PARIS - Europe head into the final day of the 42nd Ryder Cup with Jim Furyk's American side exactly where they want them after stretching their lead to a commanding 10-6 on Saturday.

Thomas Bjorn's men began the day 5-3 ahead, ended the morning fourballs 8-4 to the good and consolidated their advantage during the foursomes despite American resistance.

Over the opening two days there have been few chinks in the European armour with Anglo-Italian pairing Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari leading the onslaught.

Sent out again by Bjorn, they combined to inflict two crushing defeats on 14-times major champion Tiger Woods on Saturday as the American's miserable weekend continued.

Fleetwood, one of five rookies in Bjorn's dozen, is the first European debutant in Ryder Cup history to win his first four matches while his union with this year's Open champion, already nicknamed Moliwood, is the first from Europe to win maximum points from the first two days.

"They were phenomenal," Bjorn said.

Stunning cameos from Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey and another rookie, Tyrrell Hatton, mean Europe are 4.5 points from regaining the trophy they lost at Hazeltine two years ago.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas valiantly kept the U.S. afloat but Furyk's misfiring team require a miracle on Sunday.

Only twice has a side overturned a four-point deficit on the final day although a draw would retain the trophy.

"We need a big couple of points early on, and then the pressure moves solely on to them," said Spieth, who has three points from four matches here with Thomas.

"If we can get two or three points early, it gets to be quiet and uneasy around here. That's the goal."

It would take more than that to silence the raucous crowds that swarmed to the Parisian countryside, serenading their heroes as the putts dropped and iron shots stung the greens.

'MOST IMPORTANT 18 HOLES'

But while Bjorn admitted he is "really, really, really" happy with the first two days, he knows it is not over -- pointing to Europe's "Miracle in Medinah" in 2012 when they overturned a four-point deficit on the Sunday to stun the Americans.

"You think of Brookline, Medinah and plenty of other examples where scorelines don't mean much," the Dane said.

"This is probably the most important 18 holes ahead of these 12 players for a long time."

Incredibly, Europe had trailed 3-1 after Friday's fourballs, before a barnstorming sweep of the foursomes.

Furyk picked exactly the same pairs for Saturday's fourballs -- players with 23 major titles between them -- but this time, with a teasing north-easterly wind up across Le Golf National, they could barely locate a fairway or green.

McIlroy and Garcia withstood a fightback by Brooks Koepka and Finau for a 2&1 victory -- Spain's Garcia nailing it with a stupendous 25-foot birdie on the 17th that provoked an eruption of roars aross the course.

Casey's red-hot putter helped him and Hatton to a comfortable 3&2 win against Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler, and Woods was given little support from Patrick Reed who spent most of his time hacking through knee-high rough in a 4&3 loss to Fleetwood and Molinari.

When Woods lost again later it was his 19th defeat in 29 fourballs and foursomes.

Spieth and Thomas snapped a sequence of eight unanswered European points as they beat Poulter and Spanish rookie Jon Rahm.

Woods toiled away in the afternoon with Bryson Dechambeau but the magic was not there and he was powerless to prevent a 5&4 defeat by "Moliwood".

Johnson and Koepka lost a fierce tussle 2&1 against Europe's old reliables Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.

The U.S. finally put some more red on the board, though, with Spieth and Thomas defeating Poulter and McIlroy 4&3 after losing the first two holes, and Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson getting the better of Garcia and Swede Alex Noren -- a match in which the second hole was shared with triple-bogey sixes.

It left Garcia tantalizingly short of the one point required to take his tally past the 25 of all-time Ryder Cup points record scorer Nick Faldo.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon, Pritha Sarkar and Neville Dalton)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Ryder Cup not over despite Europe fightback warns Bjorn

Europe battled back to lead the Ryder Cup entering Saturday's second day of competition thanks to an unprecedented foursomes sweep of defending champions the United States, yet European captain Thomas Bjorn warns the trophy fight is far from over.

Europe seized a 5-3 lead after Friday's opening fourball and foursomes sessions at Le Golf National thanks to four romps in the afternoon foursomes, the Americans unable to last past the 16th hole.

"It was great but we need to put our heads back on quickly," Bjorn said. "There's no time to celebrate. There's still a job to be done."

Reigning British Open champion Francesco Molinari of Italy, winless in five prior Ryder Cup matches, paired with English rookie Tommy Fleetwood to beat Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed 3 and 1 in fourballs and the duo then ripped Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth 5 and 4 to complete the historic foursomes sweep.

"We didn't come here to win the foursomes," Molinari said. "We came here to win something else."

Molinari will join Fleetwood for a Saturday fourballs rematch against Woods and Reed, who sat out Saturday afternoon.

US captain Jim Furyk dismissed fears of back problems for Woods, saying: "I'd have to say that's not true. He was actually out practising after the matches. I'm not aware of anything like that."

Woods, the star attraction after ending a five-year win drought last weekend, liked his shotmaking.

"My game is fine," he said. "My putting feels solid. I'll be ready come tomorrow."

Other Saturday morning matchups, all featuring US duos trying to repeat Friday wins, send four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia against three-time major winner Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau, Ian Poulter and Jon Rahm against Spieth and Thomas and Englishmen Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton against world number one Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler.

- 'Event still pretty young' -

"We refocus and look forward to tomorrow," Bjorn said. "I've also been around long enough to know it could swing around again."

Europe need 14 1/2 points from Saturday and Sunday's 12 concluding singles matches to win for the ninth time in 12 attempts and reclaim the Cup while the Americans need 14 to retain the trophy.

Europe's charge came after the US squad seized a 3-1 lead after morning fourballs, the best American result in an opening session in Europe since 1989.

"They wanted to go out and prove something," Bjorn said. "That says something about the group."

The Americans are trying to end a 25-year European win drought and see plenty of time to reverse their situation.

"The event is still pretty young," Furyk said. Eight out of 28 points, a pretty small percentage of this thing being played.

"Our guys, I think they will respond. I really do. We'll come back tomorrow and I think we'll be firing."

The sweep added fire to Europe's hopes with one of their greatest Ryder Cup sessions ever.

"It's hard to say it's not right at the top," Bjorn said. "It is right at the top when you clean sweep. It's something pretty special to all the guys on that golf course."

It was important to Furyk as well.

"The afternoon going 4-0 is significant," he said. "We will figure out the afternoon for tomorrow and try and do better.

"We're two down with 20 points left. There's time. We'll see how it goes and try to put ourselves in position."

js/mw

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Golf: US powers into early Ryder Cup lead despite Woods defeat

The United States made a strong start to the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on Friday as Jim Furyk's men claimed a 3-1 lead after the opening session despite a defeat for Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed.

The away team are bidding to win the trophy for the first time on European soil since 1993, and made an excellent start.

Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau stunned Jon Rahm and Justin Rose 1-up in the opening match, taking the lead for the first time at the final hole.

Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler then raised hopes of a repeat of the 2016 first-morning whitewash for the holders by swatting aside Rory McIlroy and Thorbjorn Olesen 4 and 2.

But after Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas edged out Tyrrell Hatton and Paul Casey in a thrilling match 1-up, British Open champion Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood produced a late surge to down a misfiring Woods and Reed 3 and 1.

The former world number one, playing in his first Ryder Cup since 2012, and the Masters champion were then left out by Furyk for the afternoon foursomes.

It is the Americans' largest first-session lead in Europe since 1989.

Johnson and Fowler won the first point, easing past an out-of-sorts McIlroy and European rookie Olesen.

Dane Olesen struck his first Ryder Cup tee shot into the water, but spent much of the match carrying four-time major winner McIlroy, who was out of form, failing to make a single birdie or win a hole.

McIlroy and Olesen both missed lengthy birdie tries on the 16th hole to end a one-sided match with a whimper.

- Beginner's luck -

Europe led for the majority of the opening match, but collapsed late on as the US edged in front for the first time at the final hole.

Rose and Rahm took a 2-up lead after some sparkling play around the turn, but lost the momentum as Koepka and Finau drew level with two holes to play.

Rookie Finau, a captain's pick by Furyk, saw his tee shot at the par-three 16th hit the wooden boards separating the green from the water, before spinning into the air and coming to rest three feet from the hole for a simple birdie.

"I like pulling those out when it really matters," he smiled. "Sometimes you get a good kick. Sometimes you don't."

Spaniard Rahm bogeyed the 18th and FedEx Cup winner Rose found water to gift the Americans victory.

The visitors secured a third point as Spieth and Thomas held off a thrilling comeback from Casey and Hatton in a high-quality clash.

Spieth and Thomas, good friends off the course, raced into a 3-up advantage as the former poured in five birdies in the opening seven holes.

The 25-year-old Thomas maintained that lead with birdies at the ninth and 10th holes, but Casey made four straight birdies before a pin-point Hatton approach made it all-square with five to play.

The Americans edged back ahead, though, and Hatton missed a 15-foot attempt to salvage half a point on the last green.

"It was great. We had a great start, too. Playing Ryder Cups over here are extremely fun," said three-time major winner Spieth. "We were able to feed off each other."

The home side started a possible fightback, though, with the heroics of Fleetwood sending the crowd into delirium with magnificent birdie putts on the 15th and 16th to grab a 2-up lead on Woods and Reed, having been 2-down after 10.

The big-name American pairing were off the pace throughout despite a strong start by Woods.

But the 14-time major champion lost his way on the back nine, with him and Reed both finding water and missing several fairways, leaving Molinari with a simple two-putt to get Europe on the board.

The Italian did even better than that, draining his birdie try to secure his first-ever full Ryder Cup point on his third appearance in style.

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Mickelson 'would welcome' Ryder Cup pairing with Tiger

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France -- Phil Mickelson, whose disastrous 2004 pairings with Tiger Woods have become the stuff of Ryder Cup legends, said Tuesday he would enjoy another chance and thinks Woods would as well.

Mickelson and Woods will be teammates for holders United States against Europe when the 42nd Ryder Cup begins Friday at France's Le Golf National.

But it's questionable if Woods, a 42-year-old winner of 14 major titles, and left-hander Mickelson, a five-time major champion at age 48, would be united in foursomes or four-balls by US captain Jim Furyk.

"I think we would both welcome it," said Mickelson, who has grown closer to Woods since they began work on a USA Ryder Cup task force in 2014.

Asked if the pairing might happen, Mickelson said: "I do have an idea of what captain Furyk is thinking, yeah." Asked to elaborate, Mickelson answered: "What a good looking man you are."

Rivals most of their careers, they were partnered in 2004 by US captain Hal Sutton when they were the two top-ranked players in the event.

On day one, they dropped a morning four-ball match 2&1 and were defeated in foursomes 1up, losing the final hole after Mickelson sailed his tee shot into deep woods left of the fairway and Woods gave him a death stare for the ages.

"When we go over like little details as to why we were or weren't successful, when I talk about it openly and try to share insight, sometimes it comes across like I'm trying to take a shot at somebody, and I don't want to do that, so I'm not going to go into that anymore," Mickelson said of their 2004 pairing.

Mickelson notably revealed the lack of input by players into captain Tom Watson's decisions in a 2014 loss at Gleneagles, then became closer to Woods when they combined in a US attempt to improve Ryder Cup results in the wake of the flop in Scotland.

"That's a big part of it," Mickelson said. "When we started to really work together to succeed in the Ryder Cup, I think we realised that we both have a lot more in common than we thought and we both have really come to appreciate working together to achieve things."

Mickelson said he and Woods would fare better together now.

"The bottom line is going to be preparation," Mickelson said. "When we can eliminate the variables, eliminate the uncertainties, it eliminates the pressure."

Mickelson, set to face Woods in a pay-per-view golf showdown in November, asked Woods to be given a shot per side for their $9 million clash in Las Vegas after Woods snapped a five-year win drought two days ago by winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

"I'm trying to negotiate a shot a side," Mickelson said. "It didn't go over very well in the initial discussions but I'm still working on it. We've got some negotiating to do, given how well he played last week."

- A win to cherish? -

Mickelson makes his 12th Ryder Cup appearance, having played in 12 in a row since 1995. But Americans haven't won in Europe in 25 years, something Mickelson wants to change in what is likely his last chance as a player.

"I am aware this is most likely the last one on European soil and my last opportunity," he said. "That would mean a lot to me personally. I think it would mean a lot to our team and to the United States.

"If we were able to come out on top, it would be something I would cherish the rest of my life. Because I've played in these events for so long and have never won over here, it would be one of the moments I would cherish the most if we were able to come out on top."

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Furyk named U.S. captain for 2018 Ryder Cup

Former U.S. Open winner Jim Furyk will captain the defending champion United States in the 2018 Ryder Cup against Europe at Le Golf National in Paris, the PGA of America said on Wednesday.

Furyk, nine times a player in the biennial competition, served as a vice-captain under Davis Love III at Hazeltine last October for the U.S. team that won golf's top team event for the first time since 2008.

"This is such an honor, I'm actually feeling a little overwhelmed," Furyk told a news conference at PGA headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

"It's been my favorite event in my entire career. In my opinion, the Ryder Cup embodies everything special about golf."

   
The 46-year-old Furyk was hailed as a "natural leader and great communicator" by PGA of America President Paul Levy in introducing him as the 28th U.S. Ryder Cup captain.

Furyk, a 17-times winner on the PGA Tour who last August recorded the lowest ever PGA Tour round when he shot a 12-under-par 58, was widely considered the frontrunner for the job.

According to multiple reports the selection committee, which included Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Love, whittled down their list for captain to either Furyk or Fred Couples.

Furyk, who is ranked 34th in the world and missed a large chunk of last season after wrist surgery, was part of the Ryder Cup task force created after the U.S. team he played on suffered a humbling defeat at Gleneagles in 2014.

Among the changes that came from that task force, whose aim was to help improve U.S. fortunes in an event they dominated until the mid 1980s, came a plan to groom future captains that would ascend from vice-captaincy roles.

Furyk, who will by trying to register the first U.S. Ryder victory on foreign soil in 25 years, said Love would serve as a vice-captain.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn was named as Europe's captain for 2018 last month.

Furyk has had his share of Ryder Cup disappointments, compiling a 10-20-4 record as a player with his teams losing seven of nine competitions. Yet his love for the event burns strong.

"It has the teamwork, the camaraderie, the competition, the passion. It brings fans together from worldwide," said Furyk, whose nine Ryder Cup appearances as a player are second behind only Phil Mickelson's 11.

"I get chills thinking about all the events I have been able to participate in and how fortunate I've been."

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Spieth and Reed inspire U.S. foursomes sweep

CHASKA, Minnesota - A fired-up Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed set the tone as the United States took early control at the Ryder Cup on Friday with a stunning 4-0 sweep of the opening foursomes matches against holders Europe.

It was the first sweep by the U.S. in an opening session since 1975 at Laurel Valley, and gave the hosts a perfect start in their quest to end a run of eight defeats in the past 10 editions.

"It's a good start," U.S. captain Davis Love III told reporters after a chilly, overcast morning at Hazeltine gave way to bright afternoon sunshine.

"But it's long way to go. There's a lot more points out there. Keep doing the same thing over and over every session."

Thunderous roars of "USA, USA, USA" echoed across the ultra-long Hazeltine National layout as twice major winner Spieth and fellow young gun Reed beat European heavyweights Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson 3&2 in the top match to secure the first point.

Olympic champion Rose and British Open winner Stenson went 3-0 when paired together at Gleneagles two years ago and they were sent off first by captain Darren Clarke in a bid to give Europe a fast start.

"Any time you are take on Rose and Stenson, it's never simple," Reed, who sank an 18-foot birdie putt at the par-five 16th to seal the win, told reporters. "We had a great game plan coming in, we stuck with it.

"Just hit a lot of greens. In alternate shot you have to do that, give yourself opportunities. And we were lucky enough to be able to hit a lot of greens and have good looks."

Soon after, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar completed a 5&4 demolition of an out-of-sorts Lee Westwood of England and Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters in the anchor match with massive galleries cheering them all the way.

PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson came from one down after 11 holes to beat Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Germany's Martin Kaymer 4&2 before Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler delivered the most surprising point of the morning for the Americans.

Fan favourites Mickelson and Fowler were wayward off the tee for most of the session and trailed Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Englishman Andy Sullivan by two after 14 holes before scraping through a fluctuating contest to win one-up.

"All points are big here," said Mickelson, 46, competing this week in his 11th Ryder Cup. "This is a match I felt more pressure than any other Ryder Cup.

"But Rickie was able to get the best out of me and I hit some good irons. We showed a lot of heart to win that match."

The U.S. have lost the Ryder Cup at home just four times since the matches began in 1927, and are bidding to end a run of three successive defeats in the competition. (Editing by Tony Jimenez/Andrew Both)

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VIRAL: Heckling golf fan has last laugh

Has the @rydercup started already?????????? pic.twitter.com/s6EImcbnZv

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) September 29, 2016

CHASKA, Minnesota -- A fan who heckled European Ryder Cup duo Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan when they could not make a putt in practice on Thursday celebrated as if he had won $1 million after being invited to show what he could do.

McIlroy, Sullivan, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose pulled David Johnson out of the crowd at Hazeltine National and offered him $100 if he could do any better.

Johnson responded by rolling a 15-foot putt straight into the hole before launching into an extravagant series of fist-pumps and high fives.

A grinning Stenson pointed to the sky as the ball disappeared into the cup and then gave the fan a big bear hug.

McIlroy, Rose and Sullivan also embraced Johnson in delight before the beaming fan raised his $100 bill into the air with pride.

"I closed my eyes, hit the putt and it happened to go in," he told reporters.

Holders Europe will be chasing a fourth successive victory over the United States when the biennial team event gets underway on Friday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Salute for Palmer planned at the Ryder Cup

CHASKA, Minnesota - A video tribute, a moment of silence and a tangible salute to Arnold Palmer will be part of a celebration of the late golfer's life at this week's Ryder Cup matches between U.S. and European golfers.

A tribute to Palmer, who died on Sunday at age 87, will be held on the first tee on Friday's opening of the competition, PGA of America president Derek Sprague said on Monday.

U.S. team captain Davis Love III and European captain Darren Clarke said the teams would both honor 'The King' during the 41st edition of the biennial match play competition.

"We're still working on the details," Love told reporters.

"The PGA Tour and the Palmer family created a logo and an Arnie's Army mention, and I think there's going to be buttons for the fans and pins for the players.

"As soon as we get those, Darren and I have agreed, whatever we do, we are going to do together. Both teams are going to do the same thing and honor the Palmer family wishes for whatever they would like to see us wearing."

Clarke said his players were stunned and saddened by the news of Palmer's death.

"He will be sadly missed," the Northern Irishman said.

"He was a global superstar, in not just our sport. He transcended our sport. Arnie's Army was known worldwide, and we are as shocked and saddened over Arnold's passing as everybody.

"Our sport wouldn't be where it is without Mr. Palmer."

Love said the passing of Palmer was emotional for some members of the team, but reckoned his legacy as a champion would inspire his players.

"Arnold is going to want us to put this behind us and go play. It's going to be tough to do, but we are definitely going to draw inspiration from his spirits," said Love.

"We already had pictures of him in our locker room and team room, and we'll add a few more. He'll be with us forever." (Editing by Frank Pingue)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spieth prizes Ryder Cup glory over Tour Championship win

As much as Jordan Spieth would love to complete a successful title defence at the Tour Championship this week, team victory at the Ryder Cup next week is an even bigger goal for the American.

If forced to choose between the two, Spieth told reporters at East Lake in Atlanta on Tuesday that he would opt for Cup glory.

"That's kind of rude," the twice major champion said in response to the question, before answering it directly when he could have diplomatically brushed it off as a hypothetical.

"I don't have a Ryder Cup (win). I think I will have a Ryder Cup at some point. You want what you don't have. I've watched the other side of that (Ryder Cup defeat in 2014) and it hurt.

"It was tough in that closing ceremony. When we boarded the plane back home, it was an empty feeling and we don't want that again," said Spieth, 23, who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2014. "We remember that. We want that celebration.

"I'm pretty confident how we're going to go about our business. I think we've got a fantastic team this year."

Spieth spent Sunday and Monday at Hazeltine National in Minnesota, site of next week's biennial showdown between the United States and Europe, seeking to squirrel away course knowledge.

The former world number one says he will have no trouble this week eliminating the Ryder Cup from his mind as he chases the tournament crown and also the $10 million bonus handed out to the winner of the season-long FedExCup points race.

But the Ryder Cup will be very much on the mind of others at East Lake in the elite 30-man field who are vying for the 12th and last spot on the American team.

CUP PRESSURE

Their battle to impress captain Davis Love, who will name his final wild card selection on Sunday night, will provide an intriguing subplot to the event, with Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger among those on the short list.

Spieth played with all three at Hazeltine on Monday.

"You could see how badly each of them wanted to be there," he said. "I think being on the property excited them even more. We want whoever's playing the best to be the last pick and I think there are five or six options."

Spieth has particular sympathy for twice Masters champion Watson, the world number seven.

"I couldn't imagine being in his position," said Spieth. "I don't know if anybody's been passed up at that spot (but) he didn't seem upset about anything, like he was entitled to anything.

"I think he really feels like he needs to do his job this week."

Spieth said he did not mind if Love chose a veteran or a rookie for the final spot.

"Doesn't make much difference, whoever's playing the best golf," he said. (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

McIlroy may be even better on return - Poulter

GULLANE, Scotland - Ian Poulter says it is a real shame Rory McIlroy will miss next week's British Open at St Andrews but he believes his Ryder Cup team mate could return to golf better than ever after his injury layoff.

Four-times major winner McIlroy, who triumphed in the Open at Royal Liverpool 12 months ago, is unable to defend his trophy after rupturing ligaments in his left ankle while playing football with his friends last weekend.

"Rory would have wanted a run at St Andrews next week, it's a good course for him," Poulter told Reuters in an interview during the Scottish Open at Gullane.

"There is not a lot of danger down the left half of the course. He hits it right to left off the tee so he would definitely have been licking his chops (lips) at the prospect.

"It's a shame the injury has taken him out. It will be hard for him to sit at home and watch it on TV but sometimes these things happen and it makes you come back even stronger," added Poulter.

"He's sitting there as world number one right now so a guy like him, as good as he is, coming back potentially stronger, is something we're all going to have to watch out for."

McIlroy has been criticised for playing football with a major championship just around the corner but Poulter said the 26-year-old Northern Irishman had simply been unfortunate.

"You can wrap yourself up in cotton wool for the rest of your life if you want but having a little kickaround with your mates, I would have said 999 times out of 1,000 you are good," said Europe's Ryder Cup talisman.

"He got unlucky, it was just one of those situations that's caught him out. It was a freak accident but accidents happen," added Poulter who missed the cut at the Scottish Open after rounds of 70 and 71 gave him a one-over total of 141.

The injury has deprived the golfing world of a potential shootout between British Open and U.S. PGA champion McIlroy and American Jordan Spieth, 21, who has won this year's U.S. Masters and U.S. Open.

GOOD HANDS

Poulter said the contrast in styles between the two youngsters was particularly interesting.

"With Rory and Jordan being ranked number one and two in the world, golf is in good hands," he said. "We've got two fantastic players up there at the forefront.

"You've also got two slightly different players. Rory hits the ball 350 yards and Jordan holes putts from 350 yards," Poulter joked. "It's kind of a good mix."

Like Spieth, the Englishman is renowned as an excellent putter and never was that facet of his game better illustrated than at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Chicago when he holed five birdie putts in as many holes in the Saturday afternoon fourballs.

The 39-year-old Poulter has won 12 times on the European Tour, including two World Golf Championship events, and said he was not stressing about the fact he has yet to land a major victory.

"I'm getting on, getting ever older," laughed the world number 28. "If I hung up my boots today I could quite happily sit at home and be a very happy man.

"What I've achieved has been pretty good. I don't believe I'm finished, I think I've still got quite a lot to offer.

"Not only would I like to add more general tournament wins to my tally, I'd like to add some majors as well. If I did that I would be a very, very happy camper," said Poulter.

"If not I can sit at home and certainly say I've given it a great run. I'm quite happy with the trophy cabinet right now but I've left some space for extra additions."

Poulter made his British Open debut at St Andrews 15 years ago and has twice come close to winning golf's oldest major.

"I was runner-up in 2008 and tied for third in 2013, close but no cigar so it would be nice to swap the silver salver for the silver jug at some stage," he said smiling.

"I understand more about my game now than I did 15 years ago. I'm older and wiser in some respects and I feel my game is stronger than it was.

"When I get into certain positions these days I like to think I'm more equipped to take on certain challenges and hopefully I can do that next week," said Poulter.

Poulter was speaking after handing over the "captaincy" of the online Ballantine's Golf Club (www.ballantinesgolfclub.com) to Europe's triumphant 2014 Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley. (Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com