- Sep 1, 2004
- 6,542
- 4,976
I’ve seen a lot of things in golf but this surely is one of the most exciting things I have ever witnessed. OK, obviously I’m biased as a proud European, but this was breath-taking stuff. "The Miracle of Medinah" they are calling it.
It’s my anniversary today so the wife and I went to the movies last night. Normally I would have been glued to this, but some things are more important (so the wife said anyway). But I knew the highlights were on TV late so I managed to avoid all news and social media, turned my mobile off and managed to get home about 11pm without knowing the result.
I settled down with a beer to watch and see the final result, to see if Europe could avoid the inevitable whitewash that seemed to loom. I knew the only chance Europe had was to front load the singles matches with all their form players. So it was a great gamble that seemed to pay off. The first five matches all fell to Europe. Game on!
But then, the matches in the middle and end seemed to be going for the Americans. Furyk had a putt to close out the game on 16 which looked in. Lefty’s chip on 17 looked in, again to close out the match. Striker missed an easy up and down on 17 and then bombed his approach on 18. Kaymer tried to hole his birdie putt on 18 and left himself 5 ft. Agghhhhhh, it was all too much!!
It was riveting stuff right to the end, all coming down to the last few matches. My predictions for a draw almost came true. Not sure why Woods conceded to Molinari on 18. Glad I didn’t have any money on that one!!
I was so happy for Jose Maria Olazabal. He had the team decked out in the colours of the late Seve Ballesteros. Seve must have been looking down on Europe on Sunday as they pulled off one of his trademark great escapes. I saw Jose Maria cry several times yesterday, anytime Seve’s name was mentioned he broke down. Talk about an inspirational captain, I would love to have experienced his team talk on the Saturday night. Apparently he had them all in tears!
So here’s my run down of the European players.
Luke Donald (-6) – played flawless golf. Should have closed out Bubba much earlier, but Bubba kept the interest alive with outstanding birdies on 15 and 16. Donald breathes easier when Bubba airmailed the green on 17.
Ian Poulter (-4) – like him or loath him, you have to take your hat off to his tenacity. The way he closed out on Saturday with 5 birdies to keep Europe in with a modicum of hope and the way he scrapped to close out Webb Simpson. Have to call that shank of Simpsons!
Rory (-5) – this was the match everyone wanted to see. Some fantastic golf, but Keegan hit a few too many wild shots and Rory was just too consistent. Not sure the police car thing was more than just a publicity stunt. He would have had calls from all his team mates, manager, etc. Just as well he turned up. Imagine if Europe had lost and it came down to that!!
Justin Rose (-6) – only magnificent against Lefty. What a match! They were -11 better ball, trading birdies at will. This was probably the key turning point for the Euros. Holing three key putts on the last three greens, surely Rose must win a major one of these days.
Paul Lawrie (-6) – just goes to show what hard work can do. Here was a washed out European resigned to the annals of a one hope wonder in winning the Open at Carnoustie. His career was in it’s twilight years until he decided to breathe some fire into his game. What a turnaround. Winning twice this season he played outstanding golf on Sunday to close out Snedecker.
Nicolas Colssaerts (+2) – was only magnificent on the opening few days. The putter went cold on him on Sunday and he didn’t hole a thing but what a baptism of fire for him.
Graeme McDowell (+1) – by his standards this was a disaster of a Ryder Cup for him, but he managed to get Europe’s first points on the board on Friday with Rory, so played a role.
Sergio (-2) – Great gutsy performance by the Spaniard. He got a lot of heat from a raucous partisan crowd but seemed to lap it up. I can’t believe that Furyk let that match slip through his hands. He should have closed that one out but obviously the pressure got to him. I like Jim, but he choked on that one. I’m sure mentally he thought he had the game won on 16, that obviously threw him.
Peter (-2) Hanson – played well but was up against a machine in Duffner. He hit three of the best fairway woods I have ever seen under pressure. He closed Hanson out despite a few nevery missed short putts. Hanson had his chances but was always sucking the hind tit.
Lee Westwood (-3) – the worst putter on tour, but one of the best ball strikers. Glad to see him roll a few in when it mattered. Not sure why he was made to hole a 1 foot putt to win by Kuchar through. Thought that was a classless act by him, but each to his own.
Martin Kaymer (level) – had a disastrous few years, so happy that he was the man that holed the final winning putt. Mind you it was a silly decision to try and hole his birdie putt on 18, could have backfired!
Francesco (level) Molinari – left to take on the mighty Woods. Seemed a scrappy match, and I thought that the Italian had blown it on 17 with a nervy chip. However I was blown away to see Eldrick miss on 18 and then concede the hole even though Molinari had 4-5 feet. It didn’t really matter as a draw was enough, I don’t think Woods realised the significance of his actions.
So all in the European had a mighty team total of -31 aggregate for all their players. Not sure what happened to the Americans. Outside Michelson and Duffner no-one else seemed to really shine. Momentum is a funny thing in team sport. The first five matches going blue obviously sent vibes throughout the course. The same happened at Brookline when the Americans came from behind to win.
To sum up, I think golf won yesterday. Davis Love III is a class act as was Jose Maria. It was great to see such a sporting occasion live up to the hype.
It’s my anniversary today so the wife and I went to the movies last night. Normally I would have been glued to this, but some things are more important (so the wife said anyway). But I knew the highlights were on TV late so I managed to avoid all news and social media, turned my mobile off and managed to get home about 11pm without knowing the result.
I settled down with a beer to watch and see the final result, to see if Europe could avoid the inevitable whitewash that seemed to loom. I knew the only chance Europe had was to front load the singles matches with all their form players. So it was a great gamble that seemed to pay off. The first five matches all fell to Europe. Game on!
But then, the matches in the middle and end seemed to be going for the Americans. Furyk had a putt to close out the game on 16 which looked in. Lefty’s chip on 17 looked in, again to close out the match. Striker missed an easy up and down on 17 and then bombed his approach on 18. Kaymer tried to hole his birdie putt on 18 and left himself 5 ft. Agghhhhhh, it was all too much!!
It was riveting stuff right to the end, all coming down to the last few matches. My predictions for a draw almost came true. Not sure why Woods conceded to Molinari on 18. Glad I didn’t have any money on that one!!
I was so happy for Jose Maria Olazabal. He had the team decked out in the colours of the late Seve Ballesteros. Seve must have been looking down on Europe on Sunday as they pulled off one of his trademark great escapes. I saw Jose Maria cry several times yesterday, anytime Seve’s name was mentioned he broke down. Talk about an inspirational captain, I would love to have experienced his team talk on the Saturday night. Apparently he had them all in tears!
So here’s my run down of the European players.
Luke Donald (-6) – played flawless golf. Should have closed out Bubba much earlier, but Bubba kept the interest alive with outstanding birdies on 15 and 16. Donald breathes easier when Bubba airmailed the green on 17.
Ian Poulter (-4) – like him or loath him, you have to take your hat off to his tenacity. The way he closed out on Saturday with 5 birdies to keep Europe in with a modicum of hope and the way he scrapped to close out Webb Simpson. Have to call that shank of Simpsons!
Rory (-5) – this was the match everyone wanted to see. Some fantastic golf, but Keegan hit a few too many wild shots and Rory was just too consistent. Not sure the police car thing was more than just a publicity stunt. He would have had calls from all his team mates, manager, etc. Just as well he turned up. Imagine if Europe had lost and it came down to that!!
Justin Rose (-6) – only magnificent against Lefty. What a match! They were -11 better ball, trading birdies at will. This was probably the key turning point for the Euros. Holing three key putts on the last three greens, surely Rose must win a major one of these days.
Paul Lawrie (-6) – just goes to show what hard work can do. Here was a washed out European resigned to the annals of a one hope wonder in winning the Open at Carnoustie. His career was in it’s twilight years until he decided to breathe some fire into his game. What a turnaround. Winning twice this season he played outstanding golf on Sunday to close out Snedecker.
Nicolas Colssaerts (+2) – was only magnificent on the opening few days. The putter went cold on him on Sunday and he didn’t hole a thing but what a baptism of fire for him.
Graeme McDowell (+1) – by his standards this was a disaster of a Ryder Cup for him, but he managed to get Europe’s first points on the board on Friday with Rory, so played a role.
Sergio (-2) – Great gutsy performance by the Spaniard. He got a lot of heat from a raucous partisan crowd but seemed to lap it up. I can’t believe that Furyk let that match slip through his hands. He should have closed that one out but obviously the pressure got to him. I like Jim, but he choked on that one. I’m sure mentally he thought he had the game won on 16, that obviously threw him.
Peter (-2) Hanson – played well but was up against a machine in Duffner. He hit three of the best fairway woods I have ever seen under pressure. He closed Hanson out despite a few nevery missed short putts. Hanson had his chances but was always sucking the hind tit.
Lee Westwood (-3) – the worst putter on tour, but one of the best ball strikers. Glad to see him roll a few in when it mattered. Not sure why he was made to hole a 1 foot putt to win by Kuchar through. Thought that was a classless act by him, but each to his own.
Martin Kaymer (level) – had a disastrous few years, so happy that he was the man that holed the final winning putt. Mind you it was a silly decision to try and hole his birdie putt on 18, could have backfired!
Francesco (level) Molinari – left to take on the mighty Woods. Seemed a scrappy match, and I thought that the Italian had blown it on 17 with a nervy chip. However I was blown away to see Eldrick miss on 18 and then concede the hole even though Molinari had 4-5 feet. It didn’t really matter as a draw was enough, I don’t think Woods realised the significance of his actions.
So all in the European had a mighty team total of -31 aggregate for all their players. Not sure what happened to the Americans. Outside Michelson and Duffner no-one else seemed to really shine. Momentum is a funny thing in team sport. The first five matches going blue obviously sent vibes throughout the course. The same happened at Brookline when the Americans came from behind to win.
To sum up, I think golf won yesterday. Davis Love III is a class act as was Jose Maria. It was great to see such a sporting occasion live up to the hype.