Golf: Ryder Cup: Europe strong as an ox, but not yet at the finish line

At the 42nd Ryder Cup, Europe’s top golfers are on the verge of a big surprise at the gates of Paris, the favourites from the USA on the verge of bankruptcy on the Old Continent. Captain Thomas Björn’s European twelve-man team continued their brilliant performances from day one on Saturday and will take a 10:6 lead into the final twelve singles on Sunday (12 noon in the LIVETICKER).

Europe needs 14.5 out of 28 points to triumph on the Albatros Course of the Le Golf National near the French capital. For the defending champions from America, who have not won on the Old Continent for 25 years, 14 points are enough. Four points behind seem to be a lot, but the overseas guests are rated more highly in the singles.

As on Friday, British-Open winners Francesco Molinari (Italy) and Tommy Fleetwood (England) were a success in Team Europe in front of more than 50,000 spectators. The duo were also on fire on day two, winning both matches again, and both times one of their opponents was Tiger Woods.

“It’s hard to play against a team that putts so well. You need birdies, and we didn’t make them,” Woods said.

Molinari/Fleetwood are the only participants with a flawless balance of four points at four starts. This has never been achieved by a European pair before.

Tommy Fleetwood is also the first Ryder Cup rookie to win four consecutive points for Europe. “This is very special. I’m glad we did our job for the team,” said 27-year-old Fleetwood.

After the historic catch-up with four wins in the four Foursomes on Friday afternoon, the Europeans started again furiously on Saturday with a 5:3 lead in the back and won three of the four duels in the Fourballs. The cheers of the European fans did not fade away any more, their faces shone with the sun over the par 71 course.

The classic foursomes in the afternoon were more balanced. Apart from Molinari/Fleetwood against Woods/Patrick Reed, only Olympic champions Justin Rose (England) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden) scored one point for Europe. They kept world number one Dustin Johnson and US Open winner Brooks Koepka in check in an exciting duel.

Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson and Justin Thomas/Jordan Spieth, on the other hand, achieved clear successes. Watson/Simpson defeated Sergio Garcia/Alex Noren (Spain/Sweden), who won the Fourballs the day before, as well as Thomas/Spieth defeated the British pairing Ian Poulter/Rory McIlroy.

In contrast, superstar Tiger Woods was again disappointed in the Ryder Cup. In the afternoon, the 14-time Major winner took his third bankruptcy in the third match against Molinari/Fleetwood alongside debutant Bryson DeChambeau.

Woods thus showed a weak balance of 20 defeats in 33 Ryder Cup encounters before the individual. “We have a lot of work to do tomorrow. We need a good start,” said the 42-year-old.