Colsaerts keeps Euro flag flying
Starting the afternoon fourball session at 2-2, Europe could have been pleased with the way they had stayed in the hunt during the opening foursomes matches but nothing could have prepared them for the onslaught unleashed by Davis Love III’s Americans as they won three of the four better ball matches, Nicolas Colsaerts almost single-handedly keeping the Europeans in the hunt by earning a valuable point at the end of play in an outstanding debut match.
The Belgian rookie sank eight birdies and an eagle as partner Lee Westwood was reduced to a spectator role in their match with Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, won at the final hole after Woods finally produced some stunning form to make a fight of it over some dramatic closing holes.
Two down with three to play, Woods drained a long putt to birdie the 16th, marching off the green with finger pointing ahead of him straight to the par-three 17th, at which he dialled in his iron off the tee to five feet. Yet Colsaerts matched him, sinking a 25-foot putt at the par-three 17th to spark a similar reaction to ensure at least a half-point.
And when Woods failed to birdie the 18th, victory was Europe’s, keeping the holders within two points of the hosts in their search for the 14-14 draw to retain the trophy.
The significance of Colsaerts’ performance was recognised by vice captain Paul McGinley: “Who said rookies were weaknesses? That’s a phenomenal performance. That was psychologically massive.
“It’s important not to panic, it’s only one session and it’s not the end of the day by any stretch of the imagination.”
Woods called Colsaerts eight birdies and eagle show “one of the greatest putting rounds I’ve ever seen”. The Belgian himself simply said: “You got to go with what you’ve got in your pants.”
Honours had been even after the morning foursomes with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell scoring a valuable point for José Maria Olazabal’s team in a 1-up victory over Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker at the top of the draw while Ian Poulter and Justin Rose brought up the rear with a vital 2&1 defeat of Woods and Stricker to level the first session 2-2.
Vital, because Europe had been dealt a massive blow to morale when the previously bulletproof pairing of Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia were blown away by veteran-rookie partnership Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. As Donald and Garcia went down 4&3, Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari soon followed 3&2 victims to Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner.
Then came the US charge in the Chicago sunshine. Bubba Watson got the crowd going at the first tee box and Peter Hanson and Paul Lawrie never stood a chance. Watson’s partner Webb Simpson nailed his second shot to set up an opening birdie. Masters champion Watson and US Open winner Simpson, kept out of the morning session, were like men possessed. They sank birdies at seven of the first eight holes to take a 6-up lead before the turn and leave the Scot and the Swede shellshocked, & finally stopped 5&4 to avoid further punishment on the 14th.
“The train left on the front nine,” Hanson said. “They were nine under for the first 10 holes and me and Paul didn’t play good enough to jump on that train. Six down after 10, that was hard.”
The defeat, and the failure of the woefully off-form Martin Kaymer to contribute to Justin Rose’s effort to rein in Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar, called into question Olazabal’s decision to play every one of his 12-man team on the opening day.
Kaymer failed to register a birdie as Rose tried to match the US pair that had also been held back by captain Love and the Europeans were three down after seven holes.
A Rose birdie at 12 gave them hope but anything less than a US victory would have been an injustice for Kuchar and Johnson and when they won the 15th hole with a Johnson birdie they were dormie three, a halved hole at the 16th sealing the point.
By then, Europe were already chasing, McIlroy and McDowell failing to contain the supercharged Mickelson and Bradley and going down 2&1 having never led.
Four-time major winner Mickelson signed off with a superb iron off the 17th tee to three feet that Bradley holed out with for a two that halved the hole and secured victory amid raucous scenes.
“I love playing with Keegan,” gushed Mickelson. “He’s played so good all day and just kept me up the whole time. It’s been awesome.” Could be a long weekend.
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