Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2016 - 24

EPIC ADVENTURE  2016 RYDER CUP
Day 1 Foursomes, Four-Ball
Noted and
Quoted
Small moments
throughout the
Ryder Cup added up
to an unforgettable
weekend at Hazeltine.
FIT FOR A KING
From the tribute at the opening ceremonies
to his 1975 Ryder Cup golf
bag adorning the fi rst tee, the presence
of Arnold Palmer-who passed away
on Sept. 25, two days before the event
began-was felt everywhere throughout
Hazeltine National GC. He left his imprint
all over the game and will forever
be attached to these Ryder Cup
matches.
IN HIS CUPS
Phil Mickelson was walking to
the 10th tee for his Thursday
practice round and noticed
a fan carrying three beers.
" You're going triple-fi sted,
huh? " Mickelson said, tipping
his cap to the fl ummoxed
fan. " Well played,
sir. Well played! "
For the fi rst time in 41 years, the U.S.
Ryder Cup team swept Friday morning's
foursomes matches, before running
into a buzz saw during the afternoon
session, as Europe clawed its way
back to claim three of the four afternoon
four-ball matches.
" [The Euros] seemed to birdie every
hole. They played really well, " Love
said.
After Reed and Spieth jumped all
over Rose and Stenson during the
morning session, the Europeans returned
the favor in the afternoon,
carding nine birdies in 14 holes and
cruising to a 5-and-4 victory.
The only bright spot for the U.S. late
Friday was Brandt Snedeker and Ryder
Cup rookie Brooks Koepka, who defeated
Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett,
5 and 4.
During the afternoon, Dustin Johnson
and Matt Kuchar trailed Rory
McIlroy and Thomas Pieters 4-down
through 10 holes. Kuchar reached
the 572-yard par-5 16th in
two, and McIlroy followed suit
by putting his second to 15 feet.
Phil
Mickelson
WINNING CURES EVERYTHING
Talking to vice captain Tiger Woods on
the practice range, Patrick Reed put
both hands on Woods' shoulders and
said with a laugh, " I'm sick and tired
of answering questions about Tiger
Woods, Tiger Woods. " After Reed's
Ryder Cup, that should no longer be a
problem.
AN HONORARY BUD GRANT
Reed clearly had a fi re burning inside
him. In the 48-degree weather of Friday
morning for the fi rst foursome at 7:35
a.m., Reed strode to the fi rst tee in short
sleeves, impervious to the frigid and
foggy morning. He warmed the hearts
of Minnesotans everywhere.
Thomas
Pieters and
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy
22
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2016
www.mngolf.org
He would close out the match
by sinking his eagle opportunity
as Europe claimed three
of four points to jump back
into contention.
" It's incredible. For me,
I've played in one Ryder
Cup in the U.S., and this
is the second one. This is
defi nitely more hostile
than the one at Medinah, "
McIlroy said, referring
to the taunting
and jeers from American
fans.
The last time the U.S.
Jordan
Spieth
swept the Europeans in the opening
session was 1975 at Laurel Valley Golf
Club in Ligonier, Pa. Captained by Arnold
Palmer, the U.S. won 21-11.
Day 2 Foursomes, Four-Ball
The Europeans held sway in the morning,
keeping the U.S. to just 1½ points.
Down by 3 after fi ve holes, Phil Mickelson
and Rickie Fowler fought back
to within 1, but a pair of late birdies
clinched the match at 16 for McIlroy
and Pieters, winning 4 and 2.
Elsewhere, the solid putting of
Snedeker and Koepka put Stenson
and Matt Fitzpatrick down
3 and 2, securing a full point for
the U.S.
A par at 18 was enough
for Rose and Ryder Cup
rookie Chris Wood to put
away Jimmy Walker and
Zach Johnson to earn another
point for
Europe.
Holding what
seemed like an unbeatable
4-up lead through 11 holes
early Saturday, Reed and
Spieth stumbled late, carding
three consecutive bogeys.
They saw Sergio Garcia and
Rafa Cabrera Bello draw even
with a birdie at 17 to eventually
secure a ½ point for Europe.
" It's the Ryder Cup; it's as
simple as that, " Garcia said of
the comeback. " It was tough out
there. They played so well. I felt
like we played really, really good
foursomes. I had to take a lot of
breaths on 17 and 18 because the
emotions were so high. "
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