Golf: Americans need biggest comeback ever to win Ryder Cup
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) – The Americans’ comeback was short-lived. The next one will have to be the biggest ever for them to win the Ryder Cup. Backed by the clutch performance from its English rookies and reliable play from Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, Europe put the United States in another huge hole Saturday by taking an 11-5 lead and making victory Sunday seem like a mere formality.
It is possible? Sure, it’s possible,” Phil Mickelson said of an American comeback. “Is it likely? Probably not. For all intents and purposes, we’ve likely lost the cup. But we’re going to try and win it.”
“I never in my wildest dreams would have thought we would have a six-point lead,” captain Bernhard Langer said. “We came here as defending champions. We have the cup with us and we want to take it back home. So far, so good.
“I’m not scared at all,” Langer said. “I’m actually pretty sure and convinced that out of the first three matches, I’d be very surprised if we don’t get two points.”
So far, it’s been awesome.
Europe looked as if it might get swept in the morning, but recovered to win 11/2 points. Then it turned the Ryder Cup into a runaway, sending Tiger Woods and Davis Love III to a crushing loss and whipping up on the rest of their teammates.
The Irish duo of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley beat Woods and Love 4 and 3 in the alternate-shot matches. In other afternoon matches, Americans Phil Mickelson and David Toms beat Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Levet 4 and 3, Garcia and Luke Donald edged Jim Furyk and Fred Funk 1-up, and Westwood and Darren Clarke routed Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas 5 and 4.
In the morning best-ball matches, Woods and Chris Riley beat Clarke and Ian Poulter 4 and 3, Love and Stewart Cink defeated Harrington and Colin Montgomerie 3 and 2, Haas and DiMarco halved with Garcia and Westwood, and English newcomers Paul Casey and David Howell beat Furyk and Chad Campbell 1-up.
Safeway Classic
PORTLAND, Ore. – Candie Kung and Lorie Kane overcame the wind and the rain – and a rally by Annika Sorenstam – to top the Safeway Classic leaderboard.
Kung shot a 4-under 68 to match Kane (69) at 7-under 137, two strokes ahead of two-time defending champion Sorenstam, Janice Moodie and Carin Koch with a round left.
Grace Park (69) and Christina Kim (71) were in a group at 4 under after enduring wind gusts to 24 mph and occasional downpours at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
On Friday, first-round play was suspended for more than an hour because of an afternoon thunderstorm and another squall stopped play as darkness fell. Thirty-one players had to complete their opening rounds Saturday morning.
Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO – Bart Bryant shot a course-record 10-under 60 – matching the PGA Tour’s lowest round of the year – to take a three-stroke lead over Hunter Mahan (62) into the final round of the Texas Open.
Bryant had a 16-under 194 total on the La Cantera Golf Club course. Joe Ogilvie (61), Pat Perez (63), Todd Fischer (63), Tim Clark (64), Patrick Sheehan (65), Scott Simpson (66), Ryan Palmer (67) and J.J. Henry (67) were four strokes back.