Ryder Cup, Europe ahead of the US 11.5-4.5

In Bethpage, one hour from the end Europe was winning all four of Saturday afternoon’s Fourballs, which would have given a sensational form to the advantage over the USA. Then the Americans overturned a meeting thanks to JJ Spaun, but Europe still stretched by two other points by closing on Saturday with another part of 3-1 (like Friday morning and Saturday morning) and in the end the total result is 11.5-4.5. Which means that with two and a half points in the 12 singles on Sunday the Ryder Cup would remain in the hands of the team led by Luke Donald. Never, since Great Britain has expanded Ryder to all European players in 1979, a team had passed 11 points after the first two days. However, unfortunately, on Saturday afternoon what was feared on the eve, a part of the public confused the mockery with the insults and the right to cheer with the claim to contribute to the victory of their team disturbing the opponents. A behavior considered normal in a football stadium but not in a golf course.

disorders

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The situation escaped from hand in the middle of the afternoon, when – probably for the beer sold yes at a high price, at least 18 dollars per can, but still very drinks – the fans no longer stopped screaming on the Green of the six while Rory was preparing to pit. Until then, for two days, many shouts, many teasing, but still nothing serious. Instead at that point Rory lost patience and said: I don’t shoot until they silence. From then on it was an escalation, with the Americans on the field more and more “on fire” and the audience increasingly noisy. Justin Thomas, one always ready to ask people to openly manifest their enthusiasm, also intervened several times asking for silence when the opponents were pulling. It should be the minimum … Rory and Lowry complained with the safety for behavior and some fans have also been removed. Notices have been exposed on the scoreboards that no exaggerations would have been accepted due to drunkenness. The quarrel between Fleetwood and Dechambeau between 15 and 16 who also involved Francesco Molinari, deputy captain of Europe, who spoke to divide the two players who were screaming against, also sensational. Chicco discussed with Ted Scott, the Caddie of Scheffler, but the situation then returned more and more in normal, also for the results that cooled the American boats.

injury

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In the 4 afternoon lines, Donald decided not to use his only debutant in the afternoon, Rasmus Hojgaard who had already skipped the morning session. Then he had to change the cards for Hovland’s injury. But his stars have all given their best and obtained the impossible, that is, an advantage that has gigantic proportions … As we said, since 1979 no one had ever exceeded 11 points after two days, the maximum had been set by Europe in 2004 and the USA in 2021. In the end the tension is devouring the Americans, not the Europeans.

Mcilroy/Lowry (EUR) b. Thomas/Young (USA) 2 UP

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This was above all the game in which the fans have unleashed more, moreover Mcilroy is the European flag and too many thought they had to do something so as not to wave it. But the Gazzarra had the result of tickling the pride of the two Irish who enhanced themselves in the struggle, between Birdie and Eagle (Lowry). The embrace that Mcilroy and Justin Thomas exchanged on the green of the 18th, after the American had done everything to calm his fans. In any case, Rory and Shane, friends since kids, are a couple who are taking on the contours of the legend. And Mcilroy recognized that it was Lowry who kept him on all the difficult day: “The merit is all of this boy” he said indicating it. And he replied: “I love to play the Ryder, I love being in a team, that’s why I wake up in the morning.

Fleetwood/Rose (EUR) b. Scheffler/Dechambeau (USA) 3 & 2

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This was the first match to finish. The Dechambeau-Scheffler couple had to be that of dreams, or at least so she was considered on the eve. Instead Scottie lost all 4 meetings, Bryson won only one. The two British, Fleetwood and Rose, kept their nerves, also picked up the impossible. It will be difficult to choose the cover man of the possible European victory, but Tommy will surely be one of the canditates: 4 points for the moment waiting for the Sunday singles, the first player since 1979, when the players of continental Europe entered the competition, to win all 4 matches away. He had already done it at home, in Paris in 2018, together with Francesco Molinari. He alone has almost the same points as the entire American team (4.5).

Spaun/Schauffele (USA) b. Rahm/Straka (EUR) 1 Up

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Jj Spaun, the winner of the US Open, does not steal his eyes but is effective and is very little wrong. When needed, as at 17, he puts the ball a few cm and then pals the birdie that draws the match. And not happy it refreases the same at the 18th, with yet another birdie that gives victory to the USA in comeback. Straka and Rahm get lost right after playing well all day. Sin.

Hatton/Fitzpatrick (EUR) b. Burns/Cantlay (USA) 1 UP

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Hovland had been announced, but a neck pain suggested prudence and so the Norwegian was replaced at the last moment, so they played Fitzpatrick and Hatton together, who had to rest. Instead he replied well to the call: for him four consecutive birdies between 15 and 18. The challenge with Burns and Cantlay, two who know how to check the emotions and were in the game until the end. But with this Europe it seems there is really nothing to do.