Fowler blunder lifts Europe
Europe went into the second session of the Ryder Cup needing to stage a fightback at Celtic Manor – and were helped by a blunder from Jim Furyk and rookie Rickie Fowler.
Already one down to Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer in their foursomes match, Furyk pulled his drive on the 461-yard fourth, but although Fowler was given a free drop because of the state of the ground, he took out another ball.
The rules stipulate that you must continue with the same one and Furyk instantly accepted the punishment – the loss of the hole – with no argument.
Six foursomes matches, two more than usual, were out on the course as tournament officials altered the format to try to make up for the time lost to the rain on Friday.
And the schedule was also altered with Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker initially named in the first match but then moved to the fourth after being last to finish their fourball match this morning.
They were one up on Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez after five holes with Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan also one up on Edoardo and Francesco Molinari after eight.
Furyk and Fowler hit back after their blunder with two straight birdies but were still one down after eight, while Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson were all square with Ross Fisher and Padraig Harrington after seven.
Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson, the rookie pairing with one win already under their belts, had recovered from two down to be level with Luke Donald and Ian Poulter after five, while Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were again facing Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar and were one up after four.
Earlier in the day, Westwood and Kaymer had led from the front to beat Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson 3&2 in the opening fourball match, with McIlroy and McDowell then coming back from two down with six to play to halve their match with Cink and Kuchar.
Overton and Watson beat Donald and Harrington 3&2 – Harrington failing to contribute a single birdie – before Stricker carried Woods to a two-hole victory over Poulter and Fisher.
McIlroy prompted the biggest cheer of the week so far with a birdie from 30ft on the 17th to get back on level terms and ensure the second match would go down the 18th.
All four players found the 18th fairway but Kuchar and McDowell were too far back to go for the green and sensibly laid up.
Cink and McIlroy went for it in two, but Cink’s came up just short of the green and rolled back down the steep slope into the water, while McIlroy – who hit the longest drive – hit an awful approach which never threatened to find dry land.
“I’ve got you covered, it’s all right,” McDowell said to McIlroy as they walked down the fairway, but his heart was in his mouth moments later when his pitch span back past the flag and was lucky to stop millimetres short of rolling into the water as well.
That left McDowell and Kuchar with putts of around 20ft for birdie, but neither player was able to convert.
“Rory was on maximum yardage and didn’t quite make it,” McDowell said. “When mine landed I would not have taken it back for a second, but about five or six seconds later I would have done. Thankfully the greens staff left a little bit of fringe.
“This kid (McIlroy) was unbelievable this morning. We struggled yesterday but this guy was off the charts this morning. He’s one of the best players in the world and one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
McIlroy added: “I said to G-Mac walking up to 17 let’s try to make a two and I was able to do it. It was an unbelievable feeling with so much support and buzz from the crowd. This is certainly different.
“We could have sneaked a win on the last but from two down with six to play we’d probably have taken a half.”
Current foursomes scores:
Miguel Angel Jimenez & Peter Hanson 2 down to Tiger Woods & Steve Stricker (8)
Edoardo Molinari & Francesco Molinari 2 down to Johnson Zach & Mahan Hunter (10)
Lee Westwood & Martin Kaymer 2 up on Jim Furyk & Rickie Fowler (10)
Padraig Harrington & Ross Fisher 1 up on Phil Mickelson & Dustin Johnson (8)
Ian Poulter & Luke Donald A/S Bubba Watson & Jeff Overton (6)
Graeme McDowell & Rory McIlroy 1 up on Stewart Cink & Matt Kuchar (6)
Europe 1.5 USA 2.5
