With Bubba Watson once again pumping up a raucous crowd on Medinah’s first tee – and Europe’s Rory McIlroy distressingly late – the Ryder Cup’s decisive day got underway as the United States seeks to close out its commanding 10-6 lead.Watson’s drive went screaming into the crowd right of the fairway – but a splendid recovery shot left him 12 feet from the hole, where he curled in a right-to-left putt for birdie. Luke Donald also birdied as they halved the opening hole.
That was about the same time that world No.1 McIlroy finally showed on the grounds of Medinah Country Club – reportedly needing a ride from Chicago police to get through traffic after confusion about his tee time.
“My heart was racing,” European captain Jose Maria Olazabal told NBC. “All of a sudden, we realized that Rory’s not here. We started to look for him [on the grounds] and nobody knew.”
Unable to warm up, McIlroy wolfed down an energy bar and struck a few putts on the practice green before heading out for the day's third match.
The Americans need just 4 1/2 more points Sunday to reclaim the diminutive gold trophy. Europe needs 8 points to keep possession.
“All I going to stress to them is all you can do is just go win your match,” said U.S. captain Davis Love III. “We don’t want them to talk about how many points we need or what it’s going to take to win.”
The Europeans, meanwhile, need to duplicate the biggest Sunday comeback in Ryder Cup history – 1999’s legendary U.S. charge at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
“I believe, yeah,” Olazabal said. “It’s not over until it’s over. There is 12 matches to be played. Of course we have a tough task ahead, but it’s not over – simple as that.”
To that end, Olazabal frontloaded his singles lineup with his big guns. Donald and Ian Poulter, facing Webb Simpson in Match 2, were the catalysts who almost singlehandedly halted the Americans’ momentum in Saturday’s fading light.
They were followed by stalwarts McIlroy and Justin Rose, the only men to play all five sessions at Medinah this week.
Love, meanwhile, scattered his talent throughout the lineup. Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson – who teamed to go 3-0 over the first two days – took the next two slots after Simpson.
Brandt Snedeker, the FedEx Cup champion and best U.S. putter, plays in Match 5 against Scotland’s Paul Lawrie. Tiger Woods took the final slot, facing Italy’s Francesco Molinari.
The Americans take a lead into Sunday for just the third time since the 1981 edition – which was just the second competition after the Cup was opened to players from continental Europe.
Paying tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe’s Sunday attire featured a white shirt paired with navy blue slacks and sweaters – the Spaniard’s traditional Sunday attire as he won three British Opens and two Masters titles.
Ballesteros, the heart and soul of Europe’s Ryder Cup rise in the 1980s, passed away 16 months ago after a long battle with brain tumors. He and Olazabal teamed to form the “Spanish Armada” – the winningest duo in Ryder Cup history.
“If we can do anything to get this trophy in this position, and Seve is looking down on us,” Poulter said, “then you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
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That was about the same time that world No.1 McIlroy finally showed on the grounds of Medinah Country Club – reportedly needing a ride from Chicago police to get through traffic after confusion about his tee time.
“My heart was racing,” European captain Jose Maria Olazabal told NBC. “All of a sudden, we realized that Rory’s not here. We started to look for him [on the grounds] and nobody knew.”
Unable to warm up, McIlroy wolfed down an energy bar and struck a few putts on the practice green before heading out for the day's third match.
The Americans need just 4 1/2 more points Sunday to reclaim the diminutive gold trophy. Europe needs 8 points to keep possession.
“All I going to stress to them is all you can do is just go win your match,” said U.S. captain Davis Love III. “We don’t want them to talk about how many points we need or what it’s going to take to win.”
The Europeans, meanwhile, need to duplicate the biggest Sunday comeback in Ryder Cup history – 1999’s legendary U.S. charge at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
“I believe, yeah,” Olazabal said. “It’s not over until it’s over. There is 12 matches to be played. Of course we have a tough task ahead, but it’s not over – simple as that.”
To that end, Olazabal frontloaded his singles lineup with his big guns. Donald and Ian Poulter, facing Webb Simpson in Match 2, were the catalysts who almost singlehandedly halted the Americans’ momentum in Saturday’s fading light.
They were followed by stalwarts McIlroy and Justin Rose, the only men to play all five sessions at Medinah this week.
Love, meanwhile, scattered his talent throughout the lineup. Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson – who teamed to go 3-0 over the first two days – took the next two slots after Simpson.
Brandt Snedeker, the FedEx Cup champion and best U.S. putter, plays in Match 5 against Scotland’s Paul Lawrie. Tiger Woods took the final slot, facing Italy’s Francesco Molinari.
The Americans take a lead into Sunday for just the third time since the 1981 edition – which was just the second competition after the Cup was opened to players from continental Europe.
Paying tribute to the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe’s Sunday attire featured a white shirt paired with navy blue slacks and sweaters – the Spaniard’s traditional Sunday attire as he won three British Opens and two Masters titles.
Ballesteros, the heart and soul of Europe’s Ryder Cup rise in the 1980s, passed away 16 months ago after a long battle with brain tumors. He and Olazabal teamed to form the “Spanish Armada” – the winningest duo in Ryder Cup history.
“If we can do anything to get this trophy in this position, and Seve is looking down on us,” Poulter said, “then you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
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