Ryder Cup: After another dismal afternoon at Gleneagles, Tom Watson's U.S. ...
GLENEAGLES - Ian Poulter rediscovered his strut for one hole at least but it was enough to turn the final match and prevent the United States from storming back into a tie after three sessions of the Ryder Cup Saturday morning.
Poulter's chip-in from 40 yards on the 15th hole with Rickie Fowler already tight gave he and Rory McIlroy a halve against Fowler and Jimmy Walker. The U.S., riding the momentum of two one-sided wins in the previous two matches could have taken a 2-up lead with three to play but the Europeans would win the 16th with a birdie before Fowler's clutch putt on 17 and birdie on 18 ended the match at all square.
The fourballs session ended with Europe holding a 6 1/2 -5 1/2 lead heading into the afternoon foursomes, a format dominated by the home team Friday.
The 15th hole was one of the few times Poulter had contributed anything and the first time he was able employ his double -armed, screaming meemie, fist pump. But it was one of those classic Ryder Cup moments and it came in a critical match after three blowouts. The red-hot Justin Rose teamed with Henrik Stenson to win their third point in a 3-and-2 win over Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar.
It wasn't the first time that an unlikely shot turned the final match. The Europeans appeared ready to go 3-up through with both looking at birdie putts on the par 3. But Fowler holed out from the bunker and both McIlroy and Poulter missed. The Americans would win three out of four holes to take a 1-up lead before Poulter turned the momentum again.
The incredible first match had 23 birdies with the European team reeling off nine straight to close it out. Watson and Kuchar were 9-under and still lost. Rose and Stenson were 12-under through 16, a Ryder Cup record.
But whatever energy that put into the big crowds, the next two matches snuffed it out. Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan never gave Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson a chance to get into the match. With Furky making everything he looked at and Hunter Mahan contributing an eagle on 14, the Americans were 9-under par and cruised to a 4-and-3 win.
Then there were the rookies, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed. Tom Watson didn't consider them resting them Saturday afternoon, not after they dominated Martin Kaymer and Thomas Bjorn, 5-and-3. They still haven't played the 16th hole this week.
Spieth was asked how they put aside the disappointment of not being included in the Friday foursomes after playing better than any other American pairing.
'That part is very easy,' he said. 'We're here to do one thing and that's to play for Tom Watson and the United States and try to get as many points as possible. Whenever we're asked to play, all they ask is us go out and grind and try to get our points. So far we're 2-0 and hopefully we can continue.'
But Spieth also added that alternate shot is 'probably my favorite style of golf.
'This will be a new thing for Patrick and I, but we practiced earlier in the week with it and played well,' he said.
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