Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka suffer first European loss, but America start to sour
EUROPE LEADING: Spectators react after Tommy Fleetwood of Europe putt for eagle on the 11th hole during the morning foursomes on day two of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Three down and time to go for broke. Shane Lowry drove the short par-4 16th and gave Sepp Straka a chance. Suddenly he saw the possibility of a comeback. The putt rolled precisely towards the cup and Lowry raced after it, ready to roar with joy. Then it stopped short.
Max Homa followed up to deliver America’s first win in style. His partner Brian Harman had rolled in an eight-footer to halve the previous hole. Afterwards Homa boarded the buggie alongside his partner and drove throw the thoroughfare back to the clubhouse. Grateful American fans raced after him and held aloft phones for selfies, which the world number seven obliged. They needed something to get excited about. He had mounted a small bid to stem an overpowering blue tide.
Europe’s carried a historic 6.5-1.5 overnight lead into Saturday morning and started with another astonishing display of dominance as Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg humiliated Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9&7, the largest margin of victory in any 18-hole match in the event’s history.
Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood held off a spirited Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth challenge to prevail 2&1 while Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton overcame Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele by the same margin. It meant Europe headed into the afternoon sessions 9.5-2.5 up.
Meanwhile, the reckoning has already started. On Saturday morning, Sky Sports reported of a split in the U.S. camp led by Cantlay over the fact players are not paid for participating this week.
In the media, the travelling press corr have pulled no punches either. Editorial director of No Laying Up Kevin Van Valkenburg pointed the finger at the pairings, buddy system, course, bad data and an outfoxed captain.
“It was all bad,” he wrote on social media. “The Euros just kicked their asses, and to be honest, they have no answers. They deserve to be roasted.”
That tone carried into Zach Johnson’s press conference. At one point, a journalist asked him to clarify an earlier comment: “ You're quoted as saying, ‘extremely proud of what they have done.’ When we look at the scoreboard, 6.5, 1.5, we are trying to understand what part of that you're proud about.”
Speaking on CBS Sports Podcasts, journalist Kyle Porter pointed to the one-sided nature of several matches.
“Man, they just get over here and freaking roll over. I know they are used to going everywhere in the world and getting cheered and revered. They come here, get a few jeers and boos and they just curdle. Are they soft? I know this is ethereal and there is no data behind it, but just watching it, being out there feeling what is going you, you are like ‘show up.’”
At times they ran close on Saturday morning yet ultimately it was another big morning for Europe. The mood spread across Marco Simone golf course quickly. As Lowry played, he consistently peeked towards the big screens. When they approached the ninth, Hovland and Aberg stood near the green preparing for a celebratory interview. The Irishman’s friends and family went across to take pictures of the remarkable scoreboard.
On the flip side, Spieth was captured on camera and catching a glimpse as he walked down the fairway. “Nine and seven,” he seemed say to his caddy, in near disbelief.
“9&7???” pic.twitter.com/JhSYYOKSQe
— Joseph LaMagna (@JosephLaMagna) September 30, 2023
After his victory, Homa stressed the mood in the camp is still upbeat. “We know how good we are. Everybody knows how good the man to my left is. We obviously are in a big hole, but we have the right guys to dig ourselves out of it.” Dig out or bunker down.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
