harrington fightback in vain
Stenson and Harrington lost out.
By Deric Henderson, PA, Dublin
In-form Zach Johnson held off a late challenge by Ireland's Padraig Harrington to win a critical fourball point for the United States. He fired seven birdies, including a fantastic chip-in a the 17th, to give the Americans a 2 and 1 victory. A jubilant Tom Lehman, who watched the closing holes, punched the air in triumph before rushing to embrace his men, because even though they were never behind it was a win he desperately needed to stay in touch with the Europeans. Johnson, 30, on his Ryder Cup debut, gave himself and the out-of-touch Scott Verplank the lead with a birdie at the first, and even though Sweden's Henrik Stenson levelled with a par at the sixth, the US pair pulled ahead to go two up after 10. Torrential rain began leaving pools of water on some of the fairways and the Americans seemed to be coasting it until Harrington gave them a fright at the 15th. He chipped in from several feet off the edge after a rules official refused him permission to have the green swept. Harrington was told it could not be done because his ball was not on the putting surface. Europe looked to have won it though, but then Johnson rolled in a fabulous putt for another birdie three. On the par-five 16th, Harrington hit a cracking second shot with a wood to leave himself with a long putt. He got down in two to pull one back, and everything looked set for a dramatic finish after all four found the fairway on the tough 17th. Three of them hit the green with their seconds. Harrington and Stenson putted just short and when it seemed the match might go all the way, Johnson chipped in from the right hand side. The ball checked, and then rolled in from two feet. Verplank was clearly unhappy about being left out of the afternoon foursomes, even though he admitted he did not play well. But he was full of praise for Johnson, who woke him up with a late-night phone call to insist he wanted to drive first at every tee. With Johnson hitting birdies at four of the first five holes, Verplank did not argue. Afterwards he admitted: "I said: 'You just keep hitting first. You're doing great.' All I did was rub massage oil on his back and give him water and pat his forehead." Johnson said he made all the putts. He added: "It was a team effort, regardless of what anybody says. I know he didn't play that great. Fortunately I did, but that's the way it goes." Stenson said he and Harrington tried everything they could. They had also gone close on 13 and 14. He added: "It was a disappointing day losing the game, but some days you can only take your hat off and say well done."
