First blood in Ryder Cup to Europe
MIKE AITKEN AT THE RYDER CUP

ON A first day which unfolded in sunshine and shadow, the momentum of the 36th Ryder Cup match at the K Club was little changed yesterday from Europe's recent successes at Oakland Hills in 2004 and the Belfry four years ago. Tiger Woods struggled, Sergio Garcia flourished and Colin Montgomerie holed a crucial putt. Seven of the eight ties were settled on the last green as America played second fiddle in both the morning fourballs and afternoon foursomes and Europe seized a 5-3 advantage.

Thanks to a patient response from the US, who earlier in the afternoon looked frustrated by their lack of birdies in alternative shot, Europe had to be content with a two-point advantage.

If the sides were well matched with little to choose between them, Ian Woosnam was able to deploy all 12 of his troops while Tom Lehman kept Vaughan Taylor and Scott Verplank on the bench. Woosnam was rewarded as every one of his players contributed at least half a point to the cause, illustrating the strength in depth in the hosts' ranks.

"What a game of golf that was," enthused Europe's captain, after watching Montgomerie hole a six-foot putt on the last to avoid defeat against Phil Mickelson and Chris Di Marco as Europe took the foursomes 2½-1½. "It always seems to come down to Monty. But every single one of our players was great. We got it right on the first day and we'll put our strongest team out again tomorrow."

Lehman said that he was more frustrated than disappointed by the events of a compelling day's golf in which both teams played well. "We have to make sure that doesn't happen again," he said.

Although neither Irishman was at his very best, the combination of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley rode the wave of expectation for long stretches against Chad Campbell and Zach Johnson. In a contest which ebbed and flowed, the match was encapsulated on the 17th when Johnson made a telling birdie putt only for McGinley to hole from much the same distance which secured the cup in 2002.

Two up with three to play, Harrington and McGinley were outplayed over the closing holes as Johnson and Campbell claimed half a point thanks to three consecutive birdies. "They certainly deserved a half, although we were disappointed with how it finished," admitted Harrington.

Making his debut in the company of David Howell, Henrik Stenson demonstrated his touch is just as formidable as his power. The Swede's chip from clinging rough on the 16th earned a vital share of the spoils. On the last, the Englishman was unfortunate not to hole a glorious 20-footer for birdie. In another halved match, both pairings were round in an approximate 68 and the American combination of Stewart Cink and David Toms didn't spill a shot to par.

Asked if he expected to play in Saturday's fourballs, the Swede quipped: "I'm 30 seconds off the course and, as they used to say on Monty Python: 'I know nothing'." Happily, Stenson's golf is better than his knowledge of British TV since the catchphrase actually came from Fawlty Towers.

Standing on the 18th tee, Montgomerie faced the prospect of not winning a point on day one for the first time since Oak Hill in 1995 when he lost twice in the company of Nick Faldo. Partnering Lee Westwood in foursomes for the first time, the men rarely fired on all cylinders. Twice the Scot dumped his partner in the hazard, with a wayward 3-wood into the water at the 16th handing Di Marco and Mickelson the lead for the first time since the sixth.

But Montgomerie made amends when he ripped a 3-wood onto the 18th green and Westwood knocked an 80-foot putt from the back of the green within range for the Scot to hole a clutch-birdie putt. "Five points out of eight was a good day for us and we didn't lose a game in the afternoon," recalled the Scot. "If you followed our match, I think a half was a fair result."

Westwood hadn't played with Monty in four previous matches but guessed Woosnam put them together because the men carried experience and would be hard to beat. "Everyone is contributing and it's nice we've all played the first day," added the Englishman.

Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, Europe's best according to the world rankings, forged a two-hole lead against Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods after 12 holes which was countered by American birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th. The Spaniard and the Englishman fought back with a birdie of their own at the penultimate hole before Furyk put the Americans in the water on the last. Thereafter, even a miscued chip from Garcia couldn't prevent the Europeans winning two up.

Although he played no part in the foursomes, it was also a grand day for Darren Clarke, who hoped his two sons would watch Dad winning a point in a video recording of the match when they got home from school. So soon after the death of his wife, Heather, from cancer, Clarke admitted the Irish crowds "showed me that they care" as he did his best to repay them with a victory.

There was more to encourage Woosnam than Lehman when the captains grabbed a sandwich for lunch after Europe won the fourball matches 2½-1½. The Americans haven't won the first session in the biennial contest since 1991 at Kiawah Island when Dave Stockton's men got off to a flier and seized the foursomes 3-1.

Since then, the Europeans have always been quicker out of the blocks. Admittedly, Woods and Furyk gave the Americans the start they wanted by defeating Montgomerie and Harrington one up. But this wasn't a trend-setting success which covered the K Club in red, white and blue. In fact, an out-of-sorts Tiger needed to rely on Furyk to hold the fort as the Scotsman and the Irishman putted poorly.

Easily the best point from the morning matches was won by Clarke and Westwood, one up against Mickelson and DiMarco, America's other dream team. From the moment the big Ulsterman walked onto the first tee and was welcomed with hugs from Mickelson and DiMarco as well as the most extraordinary acclaim from the Irish galleries, it was clear this was going to be no ordinary match. Clarke, understandably, was appreciative of the affection shown by his opponents. "That's what the Ryder Cup is about," he said. "It's not about animosity, it's about a match among friends we want to win."

Westwood didn't need to say much to his old friend, but his presence seemed to act as an emotional shield for Clarke. "I was nearly crying when they gave Darren that reception," recalled the Englishman. "Then I looked at Billy, Darren's caddy, and he was also nearly crying. That just made me worse."

As for the man himself, Clarke was energised by the affection of the galleries and launched a 300-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, located the green with an iron and holed a ten-foot birdie putt to demolish the first hole.

"I don't know how I managed it," he admitted. "Once you get onto the first tee - and that tee shot was always going to be a tough one for me - you get back into it.

"This is my job and that's why I tried to get back into this. Around the turn, my partner kept me going and we came good in the end."

Carding 67 to the American pair's 68, Woosnam's wildcards justified their selection thanks to a tenacious effort on the testing 16th hole when a birdie 4 proved good enough to win a tight contest. "That was the turning point," said Westwood. "Then Darren hit a tremendous second shot into the last. The last match in the morning was always going to be key and could have gone either way."

If the old firm of Clarke and Westwood needed to be resolute to hold off the indomitable DiMarco, who made a flurry of birdies on the back nine, the outstanding individual display in the fourballs came from Garcia. As exuberant and emphatic as he's always been in the Ryder Cup since making his debut at Brookline seven years ago, Garcia was instrumental in taking the Spanish Armada to the turn in 30 and orchestrating a 3&2 win over David Toms and Brett Wetterich. Having spent a large chunk of his matchplay career in the incomparable company of Seve Ballesteros - the great man was in the gallery for the first time since he captained Europe to victory in 1997 - Olazabal was unstinting in his praise for his young compatriot. "There was just one secret about our win and that was Sergio," said the 40-year-old, who collected his first point in seven years. "He was just awesome, and the way he played made the game of golf look easy."

Like Montgomerie, Garcia is a looser, more aggressive competitor in match play. He thrives on the encouragement of his team-mates and brings the same passionate intensity to the contest which was once the trademark of Ballesteros.

The vociferous support of the 45,000 spectators who jammed every nook and cranny of the K Club also played a part in eliciting the best from a Real Madrid supporter accustomed to the bedlam of the Bernabeu.

"I found the 16th green with a 3-iron for my second shot," he recalled. "You should have heard the noise. It made me shiver. I had goosebumps down the back of my neck. It was a great way to finish the match, especially since I was playing with someone as special as Jose Maria.

"We helped one another out, and that's what good pairings are supposed to do at the Ryder Cup."

Wetterich, on the other hand, described his first experience of the Ryder Cup as "nerve-wracking". The rookie thought he'd known what to expect, but hadn't quite envisaged the magnitude of the occasion.

"When Sergio and Ollie were making putts for birdies, you certainly heard the crowds," he said. "I'm definitely not used to that. They both played great, made a lot of birdies, and there wasn't a whole lot we could do."

In the low-scoring game of a long morning in which 18 holes took the best part of five and a half hours to complete, Paul Casey and Robert Karlsson halved with Stewart Cink and JJ Henry. The Englishman and the Swede were three up at the turn after an eagle from Casey and two birdies from Karlsson deflated the Americans.

But Cink and Henry floored the accelerator after the turn and five birdies in six holes from the tenth handed an advantage to the visitors. Casey, winner of £1million at the World Match Play last weekend, responded with a birdie 4 at the 16th when his partner was cast adrift on the Liffey, which duly secured the half for Europe.
Preferred lines

THE decision to use preferred lies during the morning fourballs and afternoon foursomes at the Ryder Cup yesterday was taken by Andy McFee, the European Tour's chief referee, after consulting with the captains of both teams.

It meant players who hit shots in the fairway were allowed to mark their ball, lift it to be cleaned, and replace it within six inches of the marker - but no nearer the hole. Although the use of preferred lies at major championships is regarded by golf purists as inappropriate - normally the ball must be played as it lies - sodden conditions underfoot at the K Club meant balls were picking up mud.

Since excessive dirt can change the flight pattern of a ball, the introduction of lift, clean and place ensured the standard of play at golf's greatest team competition remained high.
Quotes of the day

"I'd better not or I will start welling up. That will stay with me forever"

Darren Clarke talks about the reception he received on the first tee ahead of his fourball match with Lee Westwood.

"I don't know how I managed to do it, but I went flush-flush-flush on the first and made 3."

Clarke again.

"There was one secret today and that was Sergio. He was just awesome. He has all the tools and the way he played today, the game of golf looks easy."

Jose Maria Olazabal could have found a replacement for Seve Ballesteros.

"I had, what do you say, 'goosebumps?' down the back of my neck."

Sergio Garcia finds time to learn some new English words after his birdie on the 16th seals victory over David Toms and Brett Wetterich.

"It even got to starter Ivor Robson. Just before the start he said 'Welcome to the foursomes' instead of fourballs. That shows you what it felt like."

Colin Montgomerie spots a mistake on the first tee.

"I was struggling, I didn't warm up particularly well. I struggled in the middle part but Jim was in about every hole."

Tiger Woods gives an honest assessment of his play after driving into water on the first tee and relying on partner Jim Furyk.

"They're all square."

American fan makes an astute observation as the opening match goes down the first fairway.

"Like he said on Monty Python, I know nothing."

Henrik Stenson gets his British comedy shows mixed up when asked if he will be playing in tomorrow's fourballs. Fawlty Towers not popular in Sweden perhaps.

"We are all contributing, which is great news, and we've all played on the first day which is very positive."

An unbeaten and happy Lee Westwood.

"What a game of golf that was. Two points ahead? I don't know what we are."

European captain Ian Woosnam is caught up in the excitement.

"It was a tough finish, no doubt about it. It stings a little but the team has played well. At 5-3 it's still anybody's ball game, I don't feel too concerned but still a little frustrated."

US Captain Tom Lehman reflects on a day when seven of the eight matches were concluded on the 18th.

Source:- Scotsman

All the Americans can hope for now is a repeat of Brookline, the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history. All the Europeans can think about is Oakland Hills, their biggest blowout ever.

Sergio Garcia extended his Ryder Cup unbeaten streak to nine matches, Darren Clarke delivered another storybook finish and Paul Casey showed with one magical shot - a walkoff hole-in-one - just how much everything is going their way.

Not even a late victory by Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk could lift their team's spirits.

The Europeans built a 10-6 lead on Saturday by winning their fourth straight set of matches, a first for them in the 79-year history of the Ryder Cup. They needed only four points from 12 singles matches remaining to capture the cup, and an outright victory would be the first time Europe has won three in a row.

"We're getting closer to our mark," captain Ian Woosnam said. "We've got to get over our hurdle tomorrow."

The way the first two days have gone, the Sunday singles matches might look like a mere speed bump.

They have won each of the four sessions by the same score (2 1/2-1 1/2) and in the same manner. They post European blue numbers on the board early, then ride the momentum of a team that has never been this strong.

Europe won two years ago in Oakland Hills by a record score of 18 1/2-9 1/2. More than winning the cup, Garcia wants to drive home dominance by making it a clean sweep.

"We don't want to go out there thinking, 'Let's get 4 1/2 points,' because that's not the way to go," Garcia said. "We want to go out there and win the singles, get as many points as we can."

The Americans were in such shambles that Vaughn Taylor, a rookie who didn't see his first Ryder Cup action until Saturday afternoon, contributed as many points - a half-point - as Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco.

The U.S. hopes were inspired by a scored that looked familiar.

Seven years ago at Brookline, they also trailed 10-6 and faced long odds. They stacked their best players at the front of the lineup, then staged the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history for a 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory.

"Our team does not feel this is over by any stretch of the imagination," said U.S. captain Tom Lehman, who won the opening singles match that day in Brookline. "We know that we have to play our best golf tomorrow. And we think we can do that."

Lehman is sending David Toms out against Colin Montgomerie with Tiger Woods in the fourth spot.

Trouble is, the best players are on the other team.

Garcia teamed with Jose Maria Olazabal for a 3-and-2 victory in fourballs over Mickelson and DiMarco, then joined Luke Donald in beating Mickelson and David Toms on the 17th hole in foursomes. Garcia has never trailed in the 66 holes he has played this week, and a victory Sunday would make him the first European to go 5-0 in the Ryder Cup.

The Americans have won only three of the first 12 matches - two by Woods and Furyk, the other by Zach Johnson and Scott Verplank, the latter playing his one and only match.

"It's imperative we as a team get off to a quick start, just like we did in '99," Woods said. "Hopefully, we can do the same tomorrow. The Europeans are playing great. We have to beat them. They're not going to give it to us."

Indeed, all they have to carry them along are memories.

Lehman, however, didn't wag his finger at reporters and say, "I have a good feeling about this," the way Ben Crenshaw did in 1999. Nor does he have the same props in place. President Bush - then the governor of Texas - was at Brookline and delivered an inspirational speech about the Alamo on the eve of the final round.

Someone pointed out that Bush was at The K Club, and perhaps history could repeat itself.

"That was the other George Bush," Lehman corrected him. George H.W. Bush, the 41st president, is a guest at this Ryder Cup.

The biggest difference is the strength of the European team. At Brookline, three European rookies never played a match until Sunday singles - sent out against the United States' best. This time, Europe has used all 12 of its players at least twice, and all have earned points.

"That wasn't 10-6," Colin Montgomerie said of the '99 score. "That was 10-9 overnight. We had three rookies that not played before, and they happened to draw the three top Americans. ... So I don't want any comparisons with the score line of 10-6 as it was in 1999. This is a very, very different situation."

Perhaps the best comparisons are to Oakland Hills. Not only did Europe dominate two years ago, the U.S. captain was on the defensive about some peculiar decisions. Hal Sutton was criticized for putting Woods and Mickelson together.

This time, Lehman left people wondering why he used a captain's pick on Verplank, then used him only once. J.J. Henry came through in the clutch in both his fourball matches, only to have Lehman leave him on the bench in the afternoon. Lehman also took three matches - two losses and a halve - to figure out the Mickelson-DiMarco pairing was ineffective.

Then again, Europe had a lot to do with that.

Garcia has not lost in nine matches, an unbeaten streak that matches Olazabal for the longest in European history. Arnold Palmer holds the Ryder Cup record by going 12 matches in a row without losing.

The closest Garcia came Saturday was in the alternate-shot match in the afternoon, all square until Toms hit into the water on the 15th hole. The Americans were poised to tie the match on the par-5 16th, however, when Garcia drove into the rough, and Donald chipped out into a muddy patch of grass. Fearless as ever, Garcia went over the River Liffey and right at the flag, finding the green.

Lehman was standing behind the green when Donald rolled in the 25-foot birdie putt. The U.S. captain slowly closed his eyes, his index finger pressed gently on pursed lips, and shook his head. He had seen this too many times.

"Those putts for us. ... we're due to start making them," Lehman said.

There was nothing he could to stop Casey, who used a 4-iron from 213 yards on the 14th hole with he and David Howell already 4 up against Johnson and Stewart Cink. The Irish fans were in a frenzy when the shot landed about 3 feet short of the cup, and they were euphoric when it rolled to the edge and dropped on the last turn.

"It's going to be expensive," Casey said, referring to a tradition of buying drinks for the house.

Then again, he won $1.88 million last week at the World Match Play Championship. Someone asked whether the ace or the 1 million pounds meant more. He paused, then looked over at his teammates.

"What would mean more is the team ... to go out there and win the singles," Casey said.

Associated Press

Tiger lost in the life of riley

World number one has everything except the ability to enjoy the camaraderie and competition of his sport's most prestigious team event. And it shows, says David Davies

Admittedly the weather was, as the Irish say, on the 'soft' side - that is to say there was a howling gale blowing - and admittedly his golf was just a tad away from perfection, or, as the Irish say, bloody awful, but yesterday Tiger Woods looked unremittingly miserable.

Despite the multi-millions in dollars, the jet, the yacht, the flash cars; despite a beautiful wife and several acres of mansion in Orlando, Florida and despite being able to rub the noses of the rest of the world's golfers into the dirt on a very regular basis, Woods yesterday was not a happy man.

Normally this would not matter. What is the misery of one multi-millionaire set against the anguish of the rest of us? But yesterday there was a group of men, fellow golfers, to whom it did matter, the 11 other players that comprised the American Ryder Cup team.

It was not so much that Woods was playing poorly. It was more the manner in which he displayed his suffering. For this is a man who wears his woes openly. When things go wrong the self-recriminations are bitter; he tortures himself. At one stage in yesterday morning's fourball matches, as a monsoon lashed down, Woods was wearing only a short-sleeved shirt, soaked to the skin, and you suspected this was deliberate. 'Take that you dummy,' he was saying to himself.

He hit a rocket to the right off the 6th tee and stood there, face contorted, trying to bury his head in his hands. He hit a second into the 6th that pitched on a slope and spun back, away from the pin, and he doubled up as if in agony. It went on like that until, blessed relief, the match was lost and Woods, released, was able to smile at last and congratulate, with real warmth, one of his opponents, Darren Clarke.

The problem with all this is that in normal circumstances Woods is the best golfer in the world, and by a considerable margin at that. And in normal circumstances, ie playing as if he invented the game, Woods is probably the most impassive golfer in the world. He has his 'game face' and he usually plays with features so unexpressive they might have been carved out of Mount Rushmore. It is only when his game falls apart that the expressions, tortured, appear.

So how does this relate to Tom Lehman's good men and true? Well, it seems that the thinking is that if Woods is the best by miles, everything he does must be part of the reason, so this US Ryder Cup team are the most expressionless, uncommunicative ever to represent their country. They have majored in impassivity. Granted they touch knuckles after doing something good, but as they also do it after doing something bad it is clearly meaningless.

Despite Lehman's efforts to bring about bonding, mostly they go around game-faced, and none more so than Grim Jim Furyk, Woods' anointed partner. Just how this partnership is supposed to work has never been clear. Woods is enormously naturally talented; Furyk makes the most of what he has. One is quite good looking; the other isn't. One hits it miles, the other is medium short; their games just don't gel. On the other hand, they do both spit.

Furyk is a man who has taken impassivity to new heights. He brings to mind the Dorothy Parker review of a Broadway show when she said of Katherine Hepburn that 'she runs the whole gamut of emotions, from A to B.' He and Tiger are the high priests of a religion in which the greatest heresy is to utter the words: 'It's only a game.' Their mantra clearly is: 'Nice guys don't win.'

There were times yesterday when Woods looked as though he would like to personally throttle Lee Westwood, who, with Clarke, was laughing and joking and clearly enjoying his game of golf.

This latter is a concept that appears to have escaped the Americans. Most of the them are very good players in their own right, but it is almost as though they feel obliged to follow the gospel as promulgated by Tiger: thou shalt not crack thine face.

This, surely, can be a limiting factor in any sport. It must help to play with a lightness of heart, to be able to behave as a normal human being and therefore to relax and play without any worries.

The Ryder Cup produces tension like no other golf event and for three days the hopes and expectations of whole continents hang heavy on the shoulders of 24 golfers. It is a time to produce your best, a time to be able to produce your best and it does not suit everyone to feel they must be Sphinx-like in their behaviour.

It really doesn't help and the figures prove it. This is Tiger's fifth Ryder Cup and his teams in three of the other four have lost. The points disparity in that time is Europe 62, USA 50 and Tiger's personal record, going into yesterday afternoon's foursomes matches was played 23, won 8, lost 13 and halved 2.

It is perhaps significant that the best match Woods ever played was in 2004 in the morning fourballs with Chris Riley, an old college mate and a bit of a joker. Riley kept up a constant stream of one-liners, Woods couldn't keep a straight face and they won 4&3.

What happened next? Riley was too weary to play with Woods in the afternoon and he lost 4&3. Perhaps that's it. Its just too tiring being funny.

Observer

STRAFFAN, Republic of Ireland -- Europe retained the Ryder Cup in emphatic style on Sunday with a dominating singles performance that won the trophy for a record third successive time.

Swedish rookie Henrik Stenson claimed the point that guaranteed victory after English duo David Howell and Luke Donald had posted quick-fire wins to take Europe to an unassailable 14 points tally.

"I didn't know that was the one but I am delighted," Stenson said.

The Europeans won all five sessions for the first time and took the concluding 12 singles by eight and a half points to three and a half, their biggest-ever winning margin. They triumphed overall by 18 and a half points to nine and a half.

Colin Montgomerie extended his remarkable unbeaten record in singles to eight matches -- six wins and two halves -- when he beat David Toms one up in the first match before Paul Casey defeated world number three Jim Furyk two and one.

Although Stewart Cink and Tiger Woods notched early points for the Americans, the scoreboard was predominantly blue.

Howell, who sunk a series of long putts, then beat Brett Wetterich five and four and Donald beat Chad Campbell two and one.

That left Stenson to beat Vaughn Taylor four and three to spark the celebrations.

There was time for more cheers - and many tears - when Darren Clarke then completed a three and two victory over Zach Johnson to cap an emotional week following the death of his wife from cancer last month.
Fantastic

"This is just as good as it gets, for the Europeans, and for the Irish it's just fantastic," said a tearful Clarke.

Asked of his memories of the week he said: "I've got too many to list. The team have been unbelievable, as have the American team and their wives.

"It's been a difficult week but from the moment I decided to make myself available I wanted to make sure I was prepared."

European captain Ian Woosnam said: "Very emotional. I just can't say enough about my team - they've played absolutely fantastic.

Montgomerie drew first blood for Europe to maintain his remarkable record.

Montgomerie birdied the third and fourth, was pegged back at the fifth but regained his two-shot cushion with a birdie two at the 14th where he struck a three-iron to five feet.

Toms cut the deficit by sinking an 18-foot birdie putt at the 17th before the Scot got up and down from a bunker to claim Europe's first point of the day with his sixth singles triumph in eight Cup matches. The other two were halved.

"I had it in the bag and I'm getting used to these putts on the last green," a smiling Montgomerie told reporters.

"Woosie has done a great job and we've been fantastic."

Moments earlier, an inspired Cink put paid to Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who had won his four previous matches this week.

With his approach play in sparkling order, Cink birdied the first, second, fourth and fifth to take charge against an opponent who has won his four previous matches this week, winning four and three.

Woods made himself the Americans' leading scorer when he beat Robert Karlsson three and two
Romped home

Casey, boosted by four early birdies in match two, romped home three and two against Jim Furyk, who had not lost in his previous four singles encounters.

Winner of last week's World Match Play Championship, Casey sank a 10-footer at the first and a 15-footer at the third before tightening his grip on the match with further birdies at the fifth and seventh.

One bright spot for the Americans was a hole in one for Scott Verplank at the 14th - Casey claimed an ace at the same hole on Saturday.

Verplank beat Padraig Harrington four and three to give the Americans their only other success

JJ Henry managed to halve with Paul McGinley but Jose Maria Olazabal and Lee Westwood, who was not fully fit, added wins for Europe.

Source: CNN News