Ryder Cup : Final wrap.
With a Thursday - Sunday night shift behind me, I was reflecting this morning on what a wash out this year's Ryder Cup was for me along with millions of European fans around the world, not to mention the players themselves.
Your 43rd #RyderCup
Due to work I only got to see the Thursday singles, and despite a spirited opening match from Sergio and Jon Rahm, it was clear things were not right when Rory and Poulter lost the first 5 holes outright to the brilliant/deadly pairing of Patrick Cantley and Xander Schauffele, who will be a staple for their USA team for years.
The putts weren't falling, Lee Westwood/ Matt Fitzpatrick had half a dozen putts at least, to win holes against Koepka and Berger, that just didn't fall as did Paul Casey/ Victor Hovland in their loss to Johnson/ Morikawa.
The trend continued in the afternoon 4balls and down 6-2 Thursday night, the writing was on the wall.
Sunday's singles were over before they started, the jubilant Americans had it all going their way to the obnoxious delight of some of their rudely behaved fans, they won 8 out of 12 points and the 19-9 drubbing was mercifully over.
Rory's confidence took an ass kicking, Europe's main man only managed a point and you all saw his tearful, heartbroken greenside interview after winning his singles 3&2 over Schauffele.
It may seem a small thing but on their very first hole in Thursday's foursomes after Poulter silenced the crowd with a rocket of a drive right down the middle of the fairway, Rory had 97 yards to the pin and pulled the wedge left and short, in fact missed the green, 25 feet away, while Schauffele knocked his hole high to 6 feet and Cantley converted. You could see Rory shake his head, off to another of those negative starts that have resulted in poor rounds throughout his storied career.
In the end none of the numbers are good for Europe, and naturally are great for a formidable young American squad, but in my opinion Europe's performance to a man wasn't as bad as the final score, the biggest drubbing since the Seve era began in 1979.
The team that makes the most putts wins all these International matches, Europe didn't and the Americans did, and deserve their plaudits for a famous victory.
The bitter tears of sorrow fell, but the putts didn't would be my way of summing it all up, and as Shane Lowry said after losing 4&2 to US Player of the Year, Patrick Cantley " I know it doesn't look good, and we're surely taking a load of stick back home about pairings and all, but I'm not giving up and this has been the best year of my life, I'm loving every minute of it"
Imagine how good he and all the young guns will feel when they regroup and show up again in Rome two years from now.
Click on my blue scoring link below for all a complete review of all the matches.
Bryan Angus
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