US win pre-Ryder Cup head to head

THE FIRST serious head-to-head of the season between the probable US and Ryder Cup teams has ended very emphatically in favour of the Americans at the Masters.

They provided the first and third players, Phil Mickelson and Chad Campbell, and also included Fred Couples, Tiger Woods and Stewart Cink in the top ten.

Where were the Europeans? Well, until Jose-Maria Olazabal came surging through on Sunday with his magnificent round of 66 for a share of third, the answer is: virtually nowhere. Colin Montgomerie, Henrik Stenson and Paul McGinley have virtually booked their places at K-Club in September. They all missed the cut.