Due to all the rain that fell on Friday morning, forcing play to be halted yesterday afternoon with only partial completion of the opening fourballs, Ryder Cup officials have agreed upon the following format.
(official release)
In view of the adverse weather conditions today, and the 7 hours and 18 minutes of playing time lost, a new playing schedule has been agreed for the second and third sessions.
The 2nd session will comprise six foursome matches
The opening fourball session will resume at 8am.
The 2nd session foursomes Tee Times are then as follows
Tee Times: 10.45, 10.57, 11.09, 11.21, 11.33, 11.45
The 3rd session will comprise 2 foursome and 4 fourball matches.
This will be followed by the 12 single matches.
This means there will still be a total of 28 points available, of which 8 will be decided by foursomes and 8 by fourballs, and it has hoped that play will be completed by Sunday afternoon as scheduled.
If necessary, play will continue into Monday.
So with play just wrapping up now with Poulter and Fisher 1down to Tiger and Stricker playing the 18th and the matches poised at 1 1/2 to 1 1/2, they will start the 2nd session at 545am or 1045 in Wales. They are taking almost 6 hours to play so if they finish at 445pm , they will be able to get a few holes of the 3rd session in before dark which falls around 645pm local time
That leaves some foursomes then fourballs then singles on Sunday !!!
Here are the results from this morning. US leads 2 1/2 to 1 1/2
L. Westwood / M. Kaymer Wins 3 & 2
P. Mickelson / D. Johnson
R. McIlroy / G. McDowell Halved
S. Cink / M. Kuchar
I. Poulter / R. Fisher Wins 2Up
S. Stricker / T. Woods
L. Donald / P. Harrington Wins 3 & 2
B. Watson / J. Overton
Foursome matches ( alternate shot)
M. Jimenez / P. Hanson 10:45 AM
T. Woods / S. Stricker
Analysis Normally this would be a no brainer for the US, but although they won on the 18th earlier, neither Tiger or Steve are playing particularly well, and Jimenez thrives in these situations so I expect this to be close.
Pick USA 2 &1
E. Molinari / F. Molinari 10:57 AM
Z. Johnson / H. Mahan
Analysis The Molinari's are the World pairs champions and have had a magical season. Mahan coached by our own Sean Foley and Johnson are real solid pros so it will be a good match
Pick Europe 1up
L. Westwood / M. Kaymer 11:09 AM
J. Furyk / R. Fowler
Analysis...Monty keeps this team together and Westwood has shown no signs of rust. I love the 2 old pros paired with the young guns in Kaymer and Fowler... Westwood number 3 in the world, Furyk just won it all, what a great matchup..
Pick... Half
P. Harrington / R. Fisher 11:21 AM
P. Mickelson / D. Johnson
Analysis none of these 4 were sparkling earlier this morning in fourballs, so Monty has moved Paddy away from Luke Donald to Fisher. USA will definitely have the advantage of the tee. Paddy and Phil really have to elevate their games and sometimes only having to play half the shots helps..
Pick ..USA 3&2
I. Poulter / L. Donald 11:33 AM
B. Watson / J. Overton
Analysis well Overton and Watson are playing with "house money" after knocking off Donald and Harrington earlier today, so why not again !! Poulter and Donald however are a strong pair and both carried their teams this morning..
Pick Europe 3&2
G. McDowell / R. McIlroy 11:45 AM
S. Cink / M. Kuchar
Analysis they halved their match this morning but the Euro's had all the momentum storming back fron 2 down after 12 with Rory's monster birdie on the par 3 17th and Graeme had a 15 footer to win the match on the 18th..
Pick Europe 2&1
It's 6am and there has been a switch. Mahan and Z Johnson have been sent out first against the Molinari's, the first ever all Italian pairing to wild applause. This to give Woods and Stricker a chance to get something to eat and change as they just came off the 18th.
The sun is shining and there is a breeze. The course is playing long because it is so wet and the rough is now impossible. They are playing lift clean and place.
We are getting the Johnny Miller feed today and tomorrow folks, so get ready for his American bias, I will warn you right now. It's natural, but he does talk about guys like the Molinari's, Fishers and Hanson's of this Euro team like they were some kind of star struck nobodies and I find that a wee bit nauseating.
Never mind that, yesterday Curtis Strange and Azinger on with Tirico kept referring to anyone other than Americans on the PGA tour as " foreigners". I thought we got beyond that kind of Yankee navel gazing back in the 60's when Player won the Masters..
Jose Maria Olazabal has been added as a vice captain and seeing Sergio whipping up the crowds in his role as vice captain, it strikes me that the best pairing the Euros may have aren't playing !!
The foursomes are now well underway .I will pick this up later this morning with the results and analysis of today's play.
Bryan Angus
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