Europe takes early Ryder Cup lead
STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) – The tears of Darren Clarke gave way to exhaustive relief for Colin Montgomerie. American red shifted to European blue on the scoreboard. A day that began in brilliant sunshine ended in gray skies and showers. The Ryder Cup was 11 hours of relentless action Friday, with wild swings in momentum and emotion and the tightest opening day of matches in the 79-year history of the event.
All for a familiar result:
Europe is in the lead again.
Clarke delivered the inspiration, Sergio Garcia was unstoppable as ever, and the Europeans showed equal parts of depth and determination as they built a 5-3 lead, getting points from all 12 players on a team they claim is their best ever.
“I played all my players,” captain Ian Woosnam said. “They played exceptionally well, every single one of them. I would have been happy with just one point, but being two ahead is great.”
Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk won the first point of this Ryder Cup, but it was the only American victory all day.
The United States did manage half-points in four other matches, however, and while captain Tom Lehman got into a cart with his face awash in frustration, it could have been worse.
Two years ago at Oakland Hills, the Americans were already down by five points at this stage. There was no reason to panic yet.
Even so, it looked for the longest time as though the U.S. would be tied at worst.
“It’s a pretty fine line between no points, a half-point and one point,” Lehman said. “We didn’t get much going our way.”
Seven of the eight matches went all 18 holes, including all four alternate-shot games in the afternoon – the first time since 1969 that an entire session went the distance. No team ever had more than a 3-up lead.
The final blow came from Montgomerie, who made a 6-foot birdie putt to earn Europe another halve, although it looked as though he had won a major.
Time and again, Europe came through at the end.
Garcia and Luke Donald, who couldn’t handle Woods in the final group of the last two majors, teamed up to take him and Furyk down on the last two holes of alternate shot. Garcia hit a wedge out of the rough to 2 feet on the 17th in the afternoon foursomes, and then Furyk hit his second shot into the par-5 18th in the water to lose the hole.
“No excuses there,” Furyk said. “I made a bad swing.”
Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, unbeaten in the Presidents Cup last year, failed to win a match Friday. Clarke’s birdie on the 18th secured a 1-up victory for him and Lee Westwood in the morning, and the Americans lost a 1-up lead on the last hole of alternate shot in the afternoon. Westwood was already on the green, some 80 feet away, when DiMarco put his second shot in the bunker. Mickelson blasted out to 10 feet, but DiMarco missed the birdie putt moments before Montgomerie made his to earn the tie.
David Toms and Stewart Cink had to settle for a half despite being in great position for birdie on the last two holes.
“There were a lot of tight matches,” Lehman said. “We didn’t make a lot of putts.”
Lehman didn’t make many changes. He settled on his pairings when the Americans arrived in Ireland at the start of the week, and raised questions over who played – and didn’t play – on Friday.
J.J. Henry, one of four rookies on the U.S. team, teamed with Cink in the morning better-ball session and rallied the Americans from a 3-down deficit to earn a half against Paul Casey and Robert Karlsson, a match so well-played that both teams shot 65. As well as Henry played, however, Lehman decided to sit him out in the afternoon.
Scott Verplank and Vaughn Taylor didn’t play at all. The surprise was Verplank, especially since Lehman made him a captain’s pick because of his accuracy and putting, which are particularly important in alternate-shot.
“I like the teams we put out today,” Lehman said, declining to answer the question directly. He said both Verplank and Taylor would play Saturday.
Europe was euphoric, especially Clarke.
He wasn’t even sure he would play in the Ryder Cup after his wife, Heather, died Aug. 13 of breast cancer. Woosnam made him a captain’s pick and then sent him out with Westwood in the last match of the morning.
The ovation shook the bleachers surrounding the first tee at The K Club as tears filled Clarke’s eyes when he walked into the arena, sharing hugs with Mickelson and DiMarco.
“It will stay with me forever,” Clarke said. “Hugs from Phil and Chris, my partner, the reception I got. I’ll never forget that.”
Longs Drugs Challenge
DANVILLE, Calif. – Karrie Webb moved into contention for her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the year, shooting a 2-under 70 in windy conditions for a share of the second-round lead with Jeong Jang in the Longs Drugs Challenge.
Jang followed her course-record 64 on Thursday with a 73 to match Webb at 7-under 137 on the Blackhawk Country Club’s hilly, twisting Lakeside course.
Lorie Kane (71), Stacy Prammanasudh (68) and Maria Hjorth (68) were a stroke back at 6 under, and Morgan Pressel (68), Cristie Kerr (70) and Jill McGill (71) were 5 under. Annika Sorenstam (70) and Lorena Ochoa (72) were in a group at 4 under, and local star Paula Creamer was 1 under after a 74.
Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO – Eric Axley shot a bogey-free 7-under 63 for a share of the second-round lead with D.A. Points in the Texas Open.
Points had a 66 to match Axley at 9-under 131 on the LaCantera Golf Club’s Resort Course. Paul Goydos was another stroke back after a 63.
Former European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer (65) was two strokes back at 7 under along with Charley Hoffman (67), Frank Lickliter II (66), Dean Wilson (67) and David McKenzie (68). First-round leaders Alex Cejka and Justin Rose struggled Friday.
Rose shot a 71 to fall four strokes back, and Cejka was six shots behind after a 73.