Europe on brink of Ryder Cup victory
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WITH Europe on the brink of a third successive Ryder Cup victory, the atmosphere at Gleneagles is brewing up for the final day.
Two storming foursomes sessions on Friday and Saturday helped Paul McGinlay’s team build up a 10-6 lead, with just Sunday’s singles to come.
It means Europe need just four points to retain the cup, while USA need a minor miracle to turn things around.
Huge crowds are congregating around the Perthshire course, with high expectations of another famous European success.
This year’s Ryder Cup has belonged to Englishman Justin Rose, who has won three and drawn one of his matches so far.
Rose partnered Henrik Stenson to three of his wins, including an amazing performance in Saturday morning’s fourballs where the pair clocked up a Ryder Cup record score of 12-under when they beat Matt Kuchar and Bubba Watson 3&2.
That match along saw the four players score 19 birdies between them, with Rose grabbing seven of them.
“I was obviously in a great zone this morning and playing great and I made everything I looked at,” said Rose.
Later that day he partnered German Martin Kaymer to a half point against unbeaten American rookie pairing Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, who have undoubtedly been the stars of the USA team.
After that close contest Rose said: “This afternoon was more of a battle. We gave up a couple of bogeys at 16 and 17, and 1-down playing the last.
“Martin actually turned around my mind-set. He said ‘Come on, we deserve half a point out of this match.”
While Europe now have a comfortable 10-6 lead, it is the same score America led with in the last Ryder Cup in Medinah two years ago, when Europe made an incredible comeback in the singles to snatch the trophy.
First out on Sunday morning is Irishman Graeme McDowell against the unbeaten Spieth, while some fascinating matches have been drawn out.
World number 1 Rory McIlroy takes on America’s young superstar Rickie Fowler, while Rose takes on Hunter Mahan.
Home hope Stephen Gallacher, who lost his only outing so far in the opening day’s fourballs, takes on multiple major winner Phil Mickelson in a tough encounter in match 5.
The final match out at 1.48pm sees French rookie Victor Dubuisson, who has won both his games so far, take on Zach Johnson.
If Dubuisson wins, he would become the first rookie since Mickelson in 1995 to win three out of three games.
