europe revel in picture-perfect day
Casey produced a magical moment.
By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Dublin
Just when we thought we had seen everything in this 36th Ryder Cup, Paul Casey came up with the picture of perfection. His four iron tee shot into the 213 yards par three 13th was struck just about as crisply as a golf ball can be hit. It thudded into the green and released at a dead weight, rolling slowly, almost lazily, into the cup. Casey flung his arms, in the shape of a letter 'Y,' to the sky, his four iron flew into the crowd behind his neck and he embraced foursomes partner David Howell with a great shuddering hug. And you could not help thinking that the fifth hole-in-one in Ryder Cup history acted as the billowing flag in the summit of a day which will live long in the memory of this tournament. It was a wonderful day, one which defied the monsoon rains with which Mother Nature attempted to douse it. From the moment Sergio Garcia and his Spanish mentor Jose Maria Olazabal coasted to a 3&2 fourballs victory over Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco with a laughter-filled display of shot-making which demonstrated how team and togetherness can triumph over individual reputation. To the way in which Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke emulated that particular lesson with another 3&2 victory against Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk. No grumbling about the weather, no doubts about the pace of the greens, the European team simply got on with the hard work of delivering the goods in the tough world of professional sport. You could not help thinking that the Americans, who for so long dominated this event, had left much of their passion and commitment in the warmth and comfort of their manicured fairways and greens on the US Tour. The suspicion is that too many of the US team prefer playing for the huge money on offer these days across the Atlantic and no longer require the glory which goes with representing their country. That may be harsh, especially on young guns such as Zach Johnson and JJ Henry who were clearly giving their all to the cause on their Ryder Cup debuts. But the demeanour of Mickelson, in particular, was not of a man hurting. It was of a golfer with his eyes on the first flight back to his personal comfort zone on Monday morning. Meanwhile, the continuing demons suffered by Tiger Woods are difficult to explain, other than by his psychological aversion to playing the game with regard to anyone else, including his playing partner. True, he rescued some credibility by coming back from his morning blues to record a 3&2 victory over Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley in the foursomes with Furyk. But it did not come close to resonating in the manner of Garcia and Luke Donald's 2&1 victory against Mickelson and David Toms, the highlight of which was Europe's win at the 16th. Garcia picked the approach off wood chippings, flew it across the River Liffey to a fearful pin position and then watched as Donald sank the 12-foot putt. That saw even a customer as cool as Donald pumping his fists while the watching Clarke pulled on a cigar the size of a driver with the crowd roaring for England and, of course, Spain. Donald's verdict? "That was the loudest roar I've ever heard on a golf course." At least it was until Casey's hole-in-one which left Europe having won every session so far by two-and-a-half points to one-and-a-half points. Which means, with the match standing at 10-6 to Europe, Ian Woosnam's team need just four wins and a half in tomorrow's singles to keep the trophy. It is possible America could come back. They are much more comfortable in the singles format. But, after a spectacular Saturday, it would take a brave man to back against Woosnam's men. So far they have been picture perfect.
