The Ryder Cup: On a Magical Monty Monday

After Europe’s elite golfers sealed an emphatic win over the determined Americans. Was this the greatest Ryder Cup to date?

Golfs biggest event teed off with an opening ceremony as the teams and their captains were introduced to a riotous crowd at Celtic Manor in Newport. Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin took to the podium to give their final public inspiring words as anticipation grew as an inevitable climax began to take shape.

The Fourballs were announced and each Captain had their own surprise for the gripped audience. After naming strong pairings in Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher and third Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. 

For his final pairing Monty in a confident manor announced the fourth and final pairing would be three time major winner Padraig Harrington and England’s Luke Donald.

Somewhat fortuitously Pavin, ability-wise, matched up his big guns with those of the European team. He also shook up the proceedings by pairing Ryder Cup rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton together.

The ceremony came to a close and the Captain’s finished exchanging pleasantries. Now it was time to get down to business on Wales’ finest course.

As the clouds huddled together to put in their performance, heavy showers threatened Celtic Manor’s striking course. On the first day, over seven hours of playing time was lost and the events executives had to devise a new playing plan to the competition.

Session two consisted of 6 foursomes with session three levelling out the game play with two foursomes and four Fourball matches. This meant each captain would have to play every member of their talented squads. Many believe the format created was a success with no players having to wait in the wings for their chance.

As anticipated the competition was tight and at the close of play on Saturday morning, the American’s edged into the lead 2 ½ to Europe’s 1 ½. The shock of the day came when Watson and Overton defeated Harrington and Donald.

Dubbed Europe’s strongest pair, Westwood and U.S. Open Champion Kaymer came up with the goods defeating Masters Champion Phil Mickelson and big-hitter Dustin Johnson. The all English pairing of Poulter and Fisher failed to overcome the polished partnership of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.

Due to the delays the players were straight back out and competing in foursomes where the partnerships would truly show there true colours in the alternate shot form of the game.

Session two saw the Americans seize a two point advantage leading 6-4 after the six foursomes came to a thrilling end.

Montgomerie shuffled the pack to good effect as Harrington and Fisher took down big hitters Mickelson and D. Johnson. New pairing Poulter and Donald also came good as they took a valuable point off the on-fire Watson and Overton.

In a slightly ironic way it was the strong pairings from the Fourballs that couldn’t give Europe the advantage. McIlroy and McDowell were beaten comprehensively by Cink and Kuchar as they became U.S.A.’s most potent pair. 

Again Woods and Stricker provided a point with the fresh and eager Hunter Mahan helping his partner Zach Johnson as they fought back to take down Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.

With each team desperate to gain the upper hand going into the singles, the players got ready to go another 18 holes in a quick turnaround. The new format meant two more foursomes were to be played along with four Fourballs. This was to be the explosion of golfing excellence the Europeans had been waiting for.

Donald and Westwood set out first with the daunting task of taking out the brilliant Woods and Stricker in the foursomes. In the other foursomes Monty kept faith with the Northern Irish boys McIlroy and McDowell who ended up driving Europe into a commanding position against Z. Johnson and Mahan.

The light meant the matches would have to reach there climax on the Sunday morning. With three matches all but over, the scoreboard was covered in blue from top to bottom as the scales tipped back towards Europe.

History shows the Americans wouldn’t just lie down and take what was quickly becoming a thrashing. However they would have to wait until gone midday to mount their fight back as the clouds loomed over the helpless course and its crowd.

As the rain lashed down water began to settle and the signs weren’t looking great for everyone involved. The green keepers swept franticly to keep the rain from having its way and eventually their hard work was rewarded when the sun tried its hardest to break through the weighty grey clouds.

Despite the weather the atmosphere was still egging on their teams with the greatest noise similar to that of a football stadium on derby day.

The players re-entered the stage and play began. As expected the American players were quick out of the traps with Z. Johnson holing a monstrous putt to put pressure on the Europeans. Westwood and 

Donald dented America’s hopes as they demolished point scoring machines Woods and Stricker wrapping up the match 6 and 5.

In a similar fashion McIlroy and McDowell were proving why their Captain made the decision to keep them together winning 3 and 1 at the expense of Z. Johnson and Mahan.

Englishmen Fisher and Poulter lit up the skies with their individual performances alongside partners Harrington and Kaymer as they grabbed crucial wins from the clutches of the U.S.A.

Hot prospect Rickie Fowler justified his wildcard pick despite the loss with teammate Mickelson. The talented 21-year-old extinguished any doubts that he would not be strong enough to gain a point in the singles.

The Americans hopes of preventing a complete white wash in the six games were kept alive by Cink and Kucher as they looked to continue racking up the points. However coming down the last, ‘playing safe,’ proved costly as F.Molinari put a silver lining on a frustrating day holing out for birdie to half the match. At the end of play Europe had picked up five and a half points out of six to turn the tables and lead 9 ½ to 6 ½.

The delays meant a first in Ryder Cup history as the singles were to be played on Monday. The mood in the European camp was buoyant but once again the Americans were ready to prove they could turn the competition around.

Monty looked to round off the Ryder Cup as quickly as possible putting out Westwood, McIlroy, Donald, Kaymer and Poulter in the first five match-ups. A week before the event both Pavin and Montgomerie said winning the Ryder Cup would come to the last putt on Sunday. Although it was on a Monday they were spot on.

The U.S.A. fought back to level the match 13 ½ - 13 ½ the fight back was typified by Fowler who birdied the last four holes to prevent E.Molinari from a debut win, the matched was halved and the momentum had shifted.

Nevertheless Monty and his team of legendary vice-captains presumed the events and cleverly placed major champion McDowell at the end. With the strongest of nerves the Northern Irishmen kept cool and holed a 15-foot put to go two up with two to play on a shaky Mahan.

McDowell had the finish line in the form of a still flag as his only focus. One firm swing of the club and the trophy would be back in the hands of the Europeans. The crowd fell completely silent as he swung a smooth four iron landing the ball just off the edge of the green.

An unclean strike from Mahan landed him short and what followed showcased what nerves can go on the greatest stage. Knowing a birdie was his only realistic chance of taking the match down the last the American botched a lob wedge around eight yards ahead of him, still short of the green.

Although it was clear McDowell had the trophy all but in his hands. The U.S. Open Champion was left with a chip and a single putt to bring the Ryder Cup home. He dually obliged and left his chip four feet short. Mahan had a chance to pile even more pressure on with a 20-foot putt. But the American couldn’t produce with the putt missing half a foot to the right. Mahan conceded the hole, and the trophy.

The scenes were like no other as the team and crowd infiltrated the 17^th green to congratulate McDowell and each other on an exhilarating victory, perhaps the finest the Ryder Cup has ever seen.