Monday October 1st 2012 I awoke around 8.30 still enthused by the spectacular win by the European Team in the Ryder Cup in Chicago before a vociferous and unsporting American crowd, who booed and uttered other taunt at the visitor this win was even that more stupendous. The visitors had been inspired throughout by their Spanish Captain Jose (Ollie) Maria Olazabal who had been a great friend of his Spanish team made Seve Ballesteros who died from cancer and Ollie in turn inspired the rest of the team so that against all odds I reckon the Americans caved because for once they knew that God was not on their side. Between them the two Spanish players have won 12 Ryder cup points out of 15 matches played but only lost two as the other two games were halved. The next European pairing to do well was Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnan with 6 points.
There was sympathy for the USA team who must have believed that after taking at 10 4 lead as the second progressed and that even with the final match win to the Europeans on Saturday the 10 6 lead was more than sufficient to take the tie by 14 and half point. The visitors needed 14 point to draw the match and retain the cup as the holders of the trophy. While the game was played in the USA on a ground which was prepared to suit the American team with razor sharp greens all but three of the European Team play on the USA circuit so have some familiarity with the conditions including crowd behaviour.
The USA had been in the ascendancy from the start and a mentioned were leading 10 4 when in foursomes on the Saturday before Europe gained the next through Garcia and Donald before Ian Poulter with Rory McIlroy gained the last, as Poulter birdied the last five holes to reverse the lead of their opponents. While in 1999 also in thee USA the home side had reversed a European score of 10 6 to gain the Cup this was an exceptionally well balanced USA team desperate to win after losing the previous competitions, My understanding is that the order of play was agreed between the players rather than laid down by the captain with the call to go out fighting and try and claw back the lead in the early games. Luke Donald beat Bubba Watson 2 and 1 to take the match 10 to 7 Ian Poulter the hero of bat Webb Simpson by 2 to take the tie 10 8 Saturday evening beat Rory McIlory beat Keegan Bradley 2 and 1 to move 10 10.9 while Justin Rose beat Phil Mickleson on the last hole having come from behind 10 10 and then magically the older Phil Lawrie of Scotland 5 and 3 so that Europe went ahead 11.10 Zach Johnson of the USA then levelled 11 11 when he beat Nicholas Colesearts while his brother Zach Johnson also won beating Graham McDowell 2 and 11 12 11 to the USA. Sergio Garcia of Spain then beat Jim Furyk at the last hole 12 12 with four matches to go. Jason Dufner beat Europe’s Peter Hanson by 2 holes 13.12 but Lee Westwood was strong taking his game 3 and 2 against Matt Kutchar 13.13. It was the German Martin Kaymer who beat Steve Stricker who had holed a magnificent long putt on the 18th to require Martin to hole another medium size putt to ensure the trophy stayed this side of the Atlantic. With ecstasy and disbelief rebounding around the greens and club house it was left to Tiger Woods to take the final tie hole or share the hole as he was 1 up. He failed to make a very short putt so his game was a half and Europe won the event 14 and half to 13 and half points. Wondrous, amazing the words failed as emotion gripped everyone who had played or managed the team, was present there, in the studio or at home watching as the midnight hour approached Europe has retained the cup since losing in 1999 with the 2001 competition cancelled because of 9/11 and Europe then won in 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10 and now in 2012. I watched the BBC highlights between 8 and 9 pm and they were just as good as those of Sky.
