Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2016 - 25

SHOT OF LIGHTNING
Several matches ended on the 16th
green in front of massive crowds along
the former hole No. 7. When Rickie
Fowler hit his birdie putt to square a
match on Friday, the crowd erupted in
unison like a bolt of electricity shot
through their shoes. The move to
change the routing of the holes proved
to be one of the best decisions of the
event.
Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler react to the fans singing the national anthem.
Staging a Saturday afternoon
surge, the U.S.
took three
points from the Europeans.
Four-ball partners Mickelson
and Kuchar, and Reed
and Spieth each jumped out
to early leads during the afternoon
session and went on to earn
full points. But the biggest boost came
from J.B. Holmes and Ryan Moore,
who grabbed a late lead to stun Lee
Westwood and Willett for a crucial
third point.
With three consecutive birdies to begin
the afternoon four-ball match Saturday,
Mickelson and Kuchar hung on
to defeat Garcia and Kaymer, 2 and 1.
" It was so much fun playing with my
big brother, Phil Mickelson, " Kuchar
said. " We've talked about it for years.
Almost joked about it during rounds
of golf in regular PGA tournament
play. "
Justin Rose
Brooks Koepka
A birdie at the second followed
by an eagle at the fi fth gave the
undefeated team of McIlroy
and Pieters a 2-up advantage
on the long-hitting duo of
Johnson and Koepka. Consecutive
birdies at eight and nine
gave the Europeans a 4-up lead at the
turn, and four more birdies on the fi -
nal eight holes closed out the match at
17, 3 and 1.
After falling behind on the opening
hole, Reed (teamed with Spieth)
evened up the match with two birdies,
and then put the U.S. team on his
shoulders, carding three birdies and an
eagle over the next four holes to build
a 3-up cushion. Over 17 holes during
the afternoon session, Reed played his
own ball at 8-under par, sinking three
consecutive birdies late in the round to
earn a third point for the U.S.
IT'S NOON SOMEWHERE
At approximately 8:10 a.m. at the fi rst
tee, the American Marshals, who had
been there since dawn battling European
fans in cheers, started a new one.
" Where's the beer cart? Where's the
beer cart? " Cheering makes you thirsty.
American
Marshals
OH, BROTHER
Masters champ Danny Willett didn't get
into the action of his fi rst Ryder Cup until
Friday afternoon, and that was likely
due to his brother Peter's ill-conceived
comments-about American fans being
a " baying mob of imbeciles " -earlier in
the week. Peter may have gotten the
attention he wanted, but it shouldn't
have come at the expense of his brother,
whose record for his fi rst Ryder Cup was
0-3-0.
CASH TALKING
Dave Johnson, an insurance salesman
from North Dakota, sank the biggest
putt of the practice rounds. Heckling
Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose on the
practice green for missing a 10-footer,
Johnson said, " Even I could make that. "
So Stenson pulled him from the crowd
to do so, and Rose placed a $100 bill
on the green next to the ball. Johnson
drained it, took the money and later got
it autographed. Putt for dough, indeed.
Patrick Reed
Jordan Spieth
www.mngolf.org
Fall 2016 MINNESOTAGOLFER
23
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2016
