Day three, Ryder Cup

Erasing some of their worst Ryder Cup memories, the Europeans wore the image of Seve Ballesteros on their sleeves and played their hearts out Sunday at Medinah to match the greatest comeback in history and head home with that precious gold trophy.

Europe got its payback for Brookline, when the Americans roared back from the same 10-6 deficit. This rally was even more remarkable, carried out before a raucous American crowd that began their chants of "USA!" some three hours before the first match got under way.

Jose Maria Olazabal squeezed his eyes and fought back tears when Kaymer holed a 6-foot par putt to beat Steve Stricker and give Europe the point it needed to keep the cup. This was the first Ryder Cup since Ballesteros, the soul of European golf in this event, died last May of a brain tumor. Olazabal wanted his team to wear navy blue, Seve's favorite color, and added a clever touch -- his iconic silhouette on the sleeves of their shirts.

"This one is for all of Europe," Olazabal said. "Seve will always be present with this team. He was a big factor for this event for the European side, and last night when we were having that meeting, I think the boys understood that believing was the most important thing. And I think they did."

Tiger Woods missed a 3-foot par putt on the 18th hole, and then conceded a par to Francesco Molinari of about that length to halve their match. That extra half-point made it a clear-cut win for Europe, 14.5-13.5.

Woods and Stricker, the anchors in the lineup, didn't win a single match at Medinah.

Ian Poulter was the first to embrace Olazabal, which was only fitting.

It was Poulter who gave Europe hope Saturday evening when he made five straight birdies to turn a loss into a win and swing momentum in Europe's favor. Poulter was up to his fist-pumping, eye-bulging tricks again on the final day, winning the last two holes in his match against U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson.

And he had plenty of help. Europe's top five players in the lineup all won, including Rory McIlroy, who was lucky to be playing. McIlroy thought his match was at 12:25 p.m. -- it was listed in Eastern time, not Central -- and needed a police escort to get to the course with 10 minutes to spare. Then, he came up with key birdies to hand Keegan Bradley his first loss of the week.

The biggest match might have belonged to Justin Rose. He was on the verge of losing to Phil Mickelson when Rose holed a 12-foot par putt to halve the 16th, made a 35-foot birdie putt from the back of the 17th green to win the hole, and then closed out Mickelson with a 12-foot birdie on the last hole.

Six of the 12 matches went to the 18th hole on Sunday. The Americans won only one of them.

The Americans also rallied from a four-point deficit to win in 1999 at Brookline. This was different, though. The Americans won big in those early matches. At Medinah, so many of them could have gone either way.

It was so close, so tense, that either side could have won the Ryder Cup down to the very end.

Stricker made an 8-foot par putt on the 18th, and Kaymer faced a par putt from 6 feet to win the match. If he missed, the Americans would get a half-point, and Woods was leading 1-up over Molinari and in the middle of the 18th fairway.

Kaymer, a former No. 1 and major champion who has struggled all year, poured it in the middle and the celebration was on.

He could barely speak at this point, not so much from pure emotion but having to scream over the crowd behind him. Players were hugging and crying, and the small European contingent that had been drowned out all week was serenading themselves with what has become the theme song of the Ryder Cup.

"Ole, ole, ole, ole," they sang merrily, even as the teams prepared for the closing ceremony.

Europe now has won seven of the last nine Ryder Cups, and even more remarkable about this comeback is that they did it on the road.

Davis Love III became the first U.S. captain to sit every player at least once before Sunday, wanting them to be fresh for the decisive day. Instead, the Americans faltered at the end -- especially Jim Furyk and Stricker, two of his captain's picks.

"The plan worked the first two days," he said. "It just didn't work today."

The only U.S. points came from Dustin Johnson, who went 3-0 in this Ryder Cup, Zach Johnson and unheraldedJason Dufner.

"We're all kind of stunned," Love said. "We know what it feels like now from the `99 Ryder Cup. It's a little bit shocking. We were playing so well, we figured it didn't matter how we sent them out there. We got a couple of matches flipped there in the middle that cost us."

Love thought all along the Ryder Cup would be decided in the ninth match by Dufner. It was most appropriate that Europe won the cup thanks to Kaymer.

Kaymer gave German golf some redemption from Kiawah Island in 1991, when countryman Bernhard Langermissed a par putt from about the same length that allowed the Americans to win.

"It's a feeling I never had before," Kaymer said. "On Friday, I sat down with Bernhard and talked a little bit about the Ryder Cup because my attitude was not the right one. But now I know how important the Ryder Cup is."

No regrets for Love

United States captain Davis Love felt he had done all he could to win back the Ryder Cup for his country at Medinah.

Despite leading 10-6 heading into the final day's singles, the Americans slumped to a 14 1/2 - 13 1/2 defeat to Europe after one of the most dramatic fightbacks in the competition's history.

Europe won the first five matches of the day and eight in total before Francesco Molinari halved the last to secure an outright victory.

Love said: "I wouldn't have done anything different. They played great.

"We had a couple of matches get flipped there at the end that made it a little easier on them.

"This is a great team, we had a great week. We played together as a team and we said we wanted to win every segment.

"But we got beaten badly in this one, and any time you lose a segment that badly it is going to cost you the Ryder Cup."

Europe's victory equalled the best comeback by a team on the final day of the Ryder Cup.

Love was a playing member of the previous side to recover from such a four-point deficit, at Brookline in 1999.

The 48-year-old said: "Well it's exactly the same, the same score. They came back and won.

"Give them a lot of credit, they played very, very well.

"They had a couple of hot streaks in the first two days that kept them in it.

"Ian Poulter's hot streak at the end on Saturday gave them some confidence and I know they built on that."
Martin Kaymer claimed the crucial 14th point for Europe by holding his nerve to halve the final hole against Steve Stricker and win his match by a hole.

That was the penultimate match on the course, meaning the final one between Molinari and Tiger Woods could not affect the destination of the cup.

Nevertheless, the final score would still have ended tied at 14-14 had Woods, when one up, not missed a putt at the 18th and then conceded a hole to Molinari.

But Woods said: "I didn't pay that much attention - I was trying to get my point.

"I went one up at 17 and asked Joey (caddie Joe LaCava) what was going on down 18, because my responsibility was to be able to get my point.

"And then they said Europe had a chance to win on this hole, or retain the cup.

"Then after all that went down, my putt was useless. It was inconsequential.

"So I hit it too quick and gave him his putt. It was already over."

World number two Woods, who did not win any of his four matches all week, has now been on the losing side at six Ryder Cups.

The 14-time major winner said: "It's the second time it's happened to me being on the fairway.

"It happened at the The Belfry (in 2002) on 17, playing Jesper (Parnevik) and our match was inconsequential, and the same thing here."
Stricker, who partnered Woods three times in the opening two days, ended the competition without registering a single point.

The 45-year-old wild card selection said: "I feel I am disappointed that I let the 11 other players down and the captain.

"Towards the end of the season I played well, I was really only one birdie short of making the team on my own, so I felt I like deserved to be on the team.

Europe pull off 'Miracle of Medinah'

Europe equalled the biggest singles comeback in Ryder Cup history to win The Ryder Cup 14 ½-13 ½ and stun the USA after the most thrilling of final days at Medinah.
Dressed in the colours of the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe tonight pulled off one of his trademark great escapes in what will go down as the "Miracle of Medinah".

What looked mission impossible when Europe trailed 10-4 at one point late last night suddenly became possible after they dramatically won the first five singles games with Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie all putting in collossal performances, and then picked up further points from Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.

That put José María Olazábal's side, almost unbelievably, 13-12 up and as the holders they needed only a tie to retain the cup. Yet they ended up winning it 14 1/2-13 1/2.

Three games were still on the course. Peter Hanson lost the first of them on the final green, but Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari had it in their power to retain the famous gold trophy.

And Kaymer, left out all day on Saturday, was the one to deliver the point they required to match the biggest comeback in the event's history.

He was up against Steve Stricker. Level with two to go, the American bogeyed the short 17th after hitting his chip far too strongly.

Kaymer, bunkered off the final tee, found the green and had two putts for it once Stricker missed his long birdie attempt.

He gave himself and his team-mates palpitations when he sent his first one six feet past, but 21 years on from compatriot Bernhard Langer missing from the same distance to lose at Kiawah Island Kaymer made the one back and sparked jubilant scenes.

Moments before Molinari had fallen one down to Tiger Woods by bogeying the 17th himself, but suddenly it did not matter. The Cup was going back across the Atlantic.

A tearful Olazábal said: “When I saw we had a chance coming down the stretch I was very emotional. The boys have done an unbelievable job. I have a few thoughts for my friend Seve and this one is for him.

“That’s why I’ve always said that this event is so special. Last night I told them I really believed we could do it and they just believed in themselves. That’s why we’re here as winners.”

Stunned American Captain Davis Love said: "I would not have done anything differently. They played great.

"When you lose a segment (session) that badly it's going to cost you."

The four-point overnight deficit became three when Luke Donald beat Masters Tournament Champion Bubba Watson 2 and 1 in the top game. It was a massive relief after he led by four with four to play.

Scot Paul Lawrie beat Sunday's FedEx Cup winner Brandt Snedeker 5 and 3 - he was six under par with an eagle and four birdies - and Rory McIlroy then saw off previously unbeaten Keegan Bradley 2 and 1.

That was not the World Number One's only drama of the day, though.

As the singles began word reached everybody that McIlroy, out in the third game, was nowhere to be seen around the course.

Two minutes late and he would forfeit the opening hole, five minutes late and he faced disqualification, but to the relief of every European he was driven into the parking lot with ten minutes to go, got his shoes on and gave a superb display.

Olazábal admitted his heart had been "racing quicker than expected" until McIlroy teed off and added: "We did not have that in mind.

"All of a sudden we realised Rory was not here and started to look for him. Finally we got hold of him and he came in."

It was reported the Northern Irishmen had seen a 12.25pm tee-off time on television, but it was Eastern Time - one hour ahead of Chicago.

After his win McIlroy said: "I was just casually strolling out of my hotel room when I got a phone call saying you have 25 minutes.

"I have never been so worried driving to the course. Luckily there was a State Trooper outside who gave me the escort - if not I would not have made it on time."

McIlroy never trailed, but star man Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Garcia all did.

Poulter, whose finish to the second session of fourballs really inspired the comeback, made it four wins out of four - and 12 wins in his last 14 cup games - beat US Open Champion Webb Simpson on the last after being two down early on.

They were level with two to go, but Simpson failed to get up and down from a bunker on the short 17th and could not grab the birdie he needed on the last.

Rose's second win over Phil Mickelson in his cup career came in amazing fashion. He trailed by one with two to play, but holed from 40 feet on the 17th and 14 feet at the last.

Mickelson, America's record cap-holder and winner of his first three games, could only stand and admire - and graciously applauded everything Rose did at the end.

Mickelson can still consider himself to have had a good week.

The only previous side to win from four down entering the singles was Ben Crenshaw's in Boston in 1999 but Europe have arguably trumped that with this most incredible away win.

Comeback kings! Europe complete remarkable turnaround to retain Ryder Cup

Europe have retained the Ryder Cup after an historic final day comeback at Medinah stunned their American hosts.

Jose Maria Olazabal's side had looked dead and buried for much of the weekend and headed into Sunday's singles matches 10-6 down.

But a remarkable fightback was kick-started by Luke Donald, who won the first of five matches in a row for Europe before Martin Kaymer held his nerve on the 18th green to secure the 14th point required with a win over Steve Stricker.

As the final match then headed to the 18th green Tiger Woods was one up against Francesco Molinari before he conceded the hole following a missed putt to ensure a 14½-13½ win.

Making history: Europe turned over a 10-6 deficit to retain the Ryder Cup

More to follow...

Luke who's talking: Donald won the first match of the day

Nerves of steel: Poulter continued his fine form to see off Webb Simpson

No 1: McIlroy overcame a strong challenge from Keegan Bradley

Coming up Rose's: Justin Rose won the last two holes to win a thriller against Mickelson

Braveheart: Lawrie (right) easily saw off Snedeker

Johnson and Johnson: American duo Dustin (above) and Zach (below) won the hosts' first points of the day

Making amends: Westwood bounced back from a shaky first two days to beat Kuchar

Down and out: Furyk reacts after his missed putt on the 18th hands victory to Garcia

We said we love come back in the morning

Donald beats Watson 2&1

MEDINAH, Illinois, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The 39th Ryder Cup was set for an intriguing finish as Englishman Luke Donald set a perfect tone for holders Europe with a 2&1 win over Bubba Watson in the top singles match on Sunday.

With Europe needing to win eight points on the final day to retain the trophy, world number three Donald birdied two of the first four holes, then held off a late Watson fightback before sealing victory at the par-three 17th.

Despite hitting his tee shot there into a greenside bunker, the Chicago-based Englishman splashed out of the sand to a foot for a tap-in par to give his team a perfect boost.

Donald's victory trimmed the U.S. lead to 10-7, though Europe still face a daunting task in their bid to retain the trophy as they need to match the biggest ever last-day comeback.

The Americans famously won the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline after trailing 10-6 going into the final day.

Europe, who top-loaded their singles order with their best players, led in three of the remaining matches, trailed in three and were all square in five on a sunny afternoon at Medinah Country Club.

Scot Paul Lawrie, who chipped in to birdie the fourth and eagled the par-fifth, was four up on Cup rookie Brandt Snedeker after 12 holes while Italy's Francesco Molinari was one up on Tiger Woods after five.

Woods, playing in the anchor match, had been beaten in his three previous encounters this week and faces the prospect of finishing pointless for the first time in seven Ryder Cups.

Dustin Johnson was two up on Belgian Cup rookie Nicolas Colsaerts after 12 holes while rock-steady Zach Johnson was two up on Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell after 10.

Also putting welcome red colour on the board for the U.S. were veteran Jim Furyk, one up on Spaniard Sergio Garcia after nine, and rookie Jason Dufner, four up on Swede Peter Hanson after eight.

The second, third and fourth matches out were tantalisingly poised.

U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson, who sank a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-four first to match Ian Poulter's chip-in there, was all square with the Englishman after 13 holes

Northern Irish world number one Rory McIlroy, who gave his team an early scare after making his teeoff by barely 10 minutes due to a mix-up over his starting time, was level with Keegan Bradley after 13.

Englishman Justin Rose, who had gone two up on Phil Mickelson after just two holes, was level with the American veteran after 12. (Editing by Larry Fine)

Brilliance of Poulter and McIlroy keeps Europe in hunt

Ian Poulter birdied each of the last five holes as "he" with Rory McIlroy won their match on the final hole to close the gap to four points.


A remarkable display from Ian Poulter saw Europe claim the last two points of the day and restrict America to a 10-6 Ryder Cup lead ahead of Sunday’s singles in Chicago.

Trailing 5-3 overnight, only Poulter and Justin Rose picked up point for José María Olazábal’s men in the morning foursomes and when Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson beat Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari and Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar edged out Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie America led 10-4.

With the American comeback from 10-6 down at Brookline in 1999 the biggest deficit overturned on the final day, Europe’s grip on the trophy looked tenuous at best.

However, Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald held off a thrilling comeback from Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods to win on the final green, before Poulter took centre stage.

Playing with World Number One Rory McIlroy, the Englishman holed a string of nerve-jangling putts to birdie the last five holes of the Medinah layout and steal a one-up victory over Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson – his 15 footer at the last greeted by a huge roar.

The Englishman, winner of all his three games so far, now has a phenomenal record of 11 wins and only three defeats in his cup career.

Poulter said: "We needed to get something going. We had to make birdies and wow - five in a row. It was awesome.

"I had the World Number One backing me up and it allowed me to hit some shots."

They had been two down with six to play and McIlroy added: "At least I had a little bit to do with it, making birdie at 13, but when Ian gets that look in his eyes it's really impressive.

"It was incredible making that run like we did."

Europe still require a slice of history to keep the trophy this side of the Atlantic -since the competition began in 1927, the United States have never lost more than a two point advantage on the last day.

American Captain Davis Love said of losing the last two games of the day: "We're not disappointed - our guys all played real well.

"We lipped out a bunch of putts. We've not lost a segment (session) yet."

They took the morning foursomes 3-1 to make it 8-4 and the fourballs were shared 2-2.

Olazábal stated: "Those last two matches were massive. It gives us a chance - it's been done in the past.

"Things have not gone our way, especially on the greens, but I believe momentum will come our way. Why not tomorrow?"

The gap was six points when Masters Tournament champion Watson and US Open winner Simpson overran Rose and Molinari 5 and 4 and Dustin Johnson’s 20 foot putt on the 17th then proved crucial.

Lawrie won the 16th to square it after Europe had been two down early on, but Johnson raised the roof at the next and the 18th was halved in par.

"It's probably the loudest roar I've ever heard, especially in this situation," Johnson said.

"My partner had been carrying me all day pretty much, but that was one of the best putts I've ever made."

Poulter and McIlroy were two down with six to play, but McIlroy's 15 footer at the 13th set up a thrilling climax.

Poulter got up and down from bunkers at the next two, first for a half and then for a win to level the match, rolled in a 15 footer to take the 16th and, with Zach Johnson close, made no mistake from nine feet for a half in birdie twos at the short 17th.

Dufner hit the best approach of the four into the last, just three feet from the flag, and holing it - he had the chance to go first because of where his partner was - Poulter had to make his from more than three times as far.

That he did adds another chapter to an amazing cup story for one of Olazábal's two wild cards.

He won his last four games in the 2008 defeat, three out of four in the 2010 win and now his first three this week.

Ryder Cup, Singles pairings.

Welcome to The 2012 Ryder Cup newsletter after a roller coaster second day that saw a resurgent Europe give themselves hope of retaining their title at Medinah thanks to some scintillating play to close out the afternoon foursomes.

With just one day to go, and only 12 singles matches remaining, here is the line-up ahead of what promises to be a thrilling climax:

Match One: Bubba Watson v Luke Donald
Match Two: Webb Simpson v Ian Poulter
Match Three: Keegan Bradley v Rory McIlroy
Match Four: Phil Mickelson v Justin Rose
Match Five: Brandt Snedeker v Paul Lawrie
Match Six: Dustin Johnson v Nicolas Colsaerts
Match Seven: Zach Johnson v Graeme McDowell
Match Eight: Jim Furyk v Sergio Garcia
Match Nine: Jason Dufner v Peter Hanson
Match Ten: Matt Kuchar v Lee Westwood
Match 11: Steve Stricker v Martin Kaymer
Match 12: Tiger Woods v Francesco Molinari

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The World Number Two lives 25 miles from Medinah Country Club

The World Number Two lives 25 miles from Medinah Country Club, which hosts the 39th edition of the biennial contest, having move from England to Chicago to study at Northwestern University in 1997.

Fifteen years on, Donald has come to call Chicago home, but his allegiances remain firmly with his country and continent of birth, which he represents with an obvious pride.
“It's a unique situation for me,” he said. “Obviously my home is here, 25 miles just north of here. I'll be the only guy on both teams that is more familiar with this town than probably anyone.

“Hopefully I can garner a little bit of the support from the crowd because of that and turn that into a slight advantage for Team Europe, but it is a unique experience for me.
He added: “I've obviously reaped the benefits of going through the college system over here, which really helped me with my golf. I enjoy living here and I feel very comfortable here, but I don't think that changes how you feel about where you grew up.”
Donald, who made his debut on American soil as part of Bernhard Langer’s record breaking team in 2004, has so far only been part of a winning European side – a record he is hoping to maintain at Medinah.

Having won six out of his six matches in Foursomes – the format that will launch The 2012 Ryder Cup on Friday morning – Donald will be out to extend that particular 100 per cent record as well this week.

The 34 year old has formed formidable Foursome partnerships with Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood in his three previous Ryder Cups, and after practising with both players he is keen to resume either pairing.

Donald, who last year became the first player to top the European Tour and PGA Tour money lists in the same season, reserved praised for Westwood, the most experienced member of the European Team, and believes their contrasting games dovetail perfectly in the Foursomes format.
“We have different games obviously,” he said. “Lee is great off the tee. He hits it long and straight. I think with his long game, my short game - a lot of people have spoken about that in the media before. If you put the two together, we could have a few more than zero Majors between us. I think we obviously complement each other.
“Lee is a personality on a golf course, he's just very easy going. Nothing bothers him. He exudes a lot of confidence, especially this week, and that rubs off well on me.”

Ryder Cup, pairings for the opening Friday Foursomes Matches

After two years of build-up, the pairings for the opening Friday Foursomes Matches were revealed at the conclusion of The 2012 Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony.

Match One: Rory McIlroy / Graeme McDowell vs Jim Furyk / Brandt Snedeker
Match Two: Luke Donald / Sergio Garcia vs Phil Mickelson / Keegan Bradley
Match Three: Lee Westwood / Francesco Molinari vs Jason Dufner / Zach Johnson
Match Four: Ian Poulter / Justin Rose vs Steve Stricker / Tiger Woods