2012 Ryder Cup Thread

[Thomkal]

The Ryder Cup has started-on ESPN and the three veterans counted on to carry the US team-Woods, Mickleson, and Furyk, are struggling again, especially Tiger.

[Big Fo]

The younger American players are doing well though. Watson/Simpson are 5 up through seven.

It'd be great if USA could have a good Friday, it seems like we always get off to bad starts.

[Thomkal]

Well Europe was up in all four matches this morning and the US managed to escape with a 2-2 split. Woods/Stricker lost in the morning and for some reason were put together in the afternoon where they are currently the only US team losing (1 Down). Watson/Simpson just crushed Europe and won 5 UP. The very hot team of Mickelson/Bradley won in the morning and are up 3 UP right now. Kuchar/D. Johnson also doing well-3 UP too currently.

[Big Fo]

In the afternoon it's not like Woods and Stricker are doing badly, Colsaerts is just having a brilliant round. I think he's -8 on his own ball so far.

I mean, I wouldn't have minded Dufner and Zach Johnson getting another match in the afternoon after their strong morning showing (especially compared to Woods and Striker) but Woods and Stricker have basically run into a buzzsaw this afternoon.

[Big Fo]

Amazing shot from Mickelson just now.

[Thomkal]

Tiger and Stricker being rested tomorrow morning, D. Johnson/Kuchar somewhat surprisingly being rested too. Tiger did have five birdies in the afternoon match, so yes he did play better, but missed two key putts coming in. But he did keep them in the match against a very hot Colsearts-what was it like 8 birdies and an eagle for him?

[mauchow]

Bradley and mickelson put em away quick. 7&6.

[Big Fo]

5-3 on day one, 5-3 on day two.

USA was close to making tomorrow's matches something of a formality but Europe held on to win two late fourball matches.

USA needs 4.5 of the 12 points available in tomorrow's singles matches to win the cup.

[kingfc22]

Rory gets CST and EST mixed up and has arrived at the course only 10 minutes before his tee time.

[kingfc22]

Poulter starts off like he ended yesterday...on Fire! Europe would be out of this if it wasn't for him.

[Dr. Sak]

Rory just pulled a Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy.

[kingfc22]

Europe with the lead in 6 matches with all 12 finally underway.

[kingfc22]

Bubba with a chip-in to stay alive.

[Thomkal]

Don't look now, but Europe has won the first five matches, and the US just one-and its tied at 11.

[kingfc22]

Didn't think it would happen, but this might come down to Tiger...

[kcchief19]

Tiger has got to get it in gear. If he could flip the lead on Molinari, it would deflate the Europeans. As it stands, US is probably going to need a draw from Woods, maybe a win.

[Jas_lov]

I like how Woods and Stricker haven't contributed anything all tournament and now it will likely come down to them. Kaymer hits it into the water so Stricker has a good chance here to tie it up.

[kcchief19]

Man, if Tiger had hit that putt at 12 and with Kaymer simultaneously putting it in the drink at 13, that could have completely changed this.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

I like how Woods and Stricker haven't contributed anything all tournament and now it will likely come down to them. Kaymer hits it into the water so Stricker has a good chance here to tie it up.

That's the Ryder Cup for you. If the U.S. wins because they 1-2 points out of Stricker and Woods, no one will remember Friday and Saturday.

If the U.S. loses and Woods and Stricker go 0-fer, this will hang around their necks forever. For Woods, it's a legacy killer.

[Thomkal]

Potentially big putt for Kuchar there given where Westwood was.

[kingfc22]

Two consecutive putts that miss short by the Europeans.

[kingfc22]

Furyk better not lose this match vs. Sergio.

Needs at least to split the point.

[Thomkal]

Furyk choking yet again in a pressure situation this year.

[kcchief19]

Yeah, Furyk-Sergio on the 18th right now is the Cup. Furyk wins 18, US all but clinches the cup. They draw 18, and the U.S. still has a dominant position.

Sergio wins 18, and the U.S. is in it deep. The would need a draw from one of the matches they are currently losing.

And Furyk finds a fairway bunker, Sergio is in the fairway. Come on, Sergio! You're supposed to choke!

[Thomkal]

US has reached the 18th hole 10 times and not won the hole in any of them. Geez.

[kingfc22]

Kaymer with a gift to the US.

[kingfc22]

This putt for Furyk is likely for the Cup.

[AlexB]

And Furyk adopts the position he should after losing that!

[kcchief19]

Duffner must halve or win 18, Stricker needs to get a draw. If that happens, it's all up to Tiger. Last line of defense -- this is why he and Love wanted him going off last.

[kcchief19]

Unless Hanson holes the bunker shot, you got to think Duffner hangs on, and it's all up to Stricker and Woods.

[kingfc22]

Can Tiger finally come up big on a Sunday?

[kingfc22]

Stricker's not even going to get it to Tiger unless Kaymer mishits this tee shot

[PilotMan]

Wow, this is nuts. It should never have come down to this.

[kcchief19]

Stricker, just find the freaking fairway!

[kcchief19]

10 feet closer to the pin at 17 and that was vintage Tiger. As it is, shot of the day.

[kingfc22]

Tiger needs to drain this putt and Stricker better hope Kaymer goes bunker to bunker

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Stricker, just find the freaking fairway!

You should have asked for a freaking approach shot as well.

[PilotMan]

You can't put the blame on these guys for this. The first 6 guys had just as good a chance to put this thing away.

[Jas_lov]

And Tiger very well could win his now. All Furyk had to do was make one putt. Stricker just had to halve. Those two Captain's picks lost it for the U.S. This will rank up there as one of the biggest choke jobs of all time. The 99 U.S. comeback was on U.S. soil, this was a European comeback on U.S. soil.

[kingfc22]

Brutal.

[AlexB]

What was that?

[AlexB]

To be fair that was an impressive return by Stricker

[kingfc22]

Need a Kaymer miss...

[PilotMan]

unfriggenreal

[kingfc22]

Unreal choke job by the US.

[kingfc22]

Up 10-6 heading into the Sunday and Europe wins it without needing to play all 12 matches.

[bhlloy]

Damn... that was incredible. I thought the US had it back for a second but Kaymer was absolute nails.

[Jas_lov]

Jim Furyk makes one putt and it's over. Can't even blame Mickelson because Rose hit two unbelievable shots on 17 and 18. Stricker failed, Tiger failed, Furyk failed. Brandt Snedeker had the biggest mismatch and he laid a big egg. One of the biggest choke jobs in sports history.

[kcchief19]

I'm quite surprised the Europeans/Molinari didn't conceded the match to Tiger and wanted to play it out. Guess this was indeed revenge for the celebration at Brookline ... although I guess the Europeans forgot the classy concession Payne Stewart made to Colin Montgomerie when the USA fans were riding Colin pretty badly.

[Thomkal]

Congrats to the Euros and their fans. They came through when most people thought it wasn't possible. Captain Love has a lot to answer for-Furyk and Stricker should never have been down that far in the order given how they played this week-especially Furyk. Keeping Woods/Stricker together after that first match was a mistake too.