U.S. leads, 9-7: Ghost of Choke Hill
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The envelopes please.That was the summons. It was an hour after the afternoon better-ball Saturday, the last day for team play. There would be nervous fingers opening those envelopes. Inside lay the final secret to this grinding, twisting Ryder Cup.
Inside the envelopes were the singles lineup from the team captains - Nick Faldo of the Europeans, Paul Azinger of the U.S. Each man had retreated to his own pitiless privacy to consider the 12 golfers he was responsible for, in a storied old golf match that many had turned into an international incident. It's been a spectacular, grudging slugfest.
In the two days of team play, nine of the 16 matches were settled. Team play has ended, with the U.S. leading, 9-7. The U.S., long the ruler of the Ryder Cup, has been getting thrashed in the last 11, winning only three, and tying one. This is the first time since 1995 that the U.S. led going into the final day. The battle to get there was a thriller, for some a nightmare.
It was this kind of afternoon. Jim Furyk made six birdies in the last 11 holes, and didn't win a hole. In fact, off that brilliant play, he didn't win a hole at all, not against two Europeans who were putting like men consumed -- who-he Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter, clearly Faldo's really stupid and undeserving pick, who went 3-1 in his four matches.
It was this kind of afternoon. Steve Stricker, probably weary from carrying Ben Curtis - who made one birdie in two days -- is proceeding to butcher the 18th. He hits his second over the green of the reachable par-5, up in the rough on the hillside. Then he flips a no-hope chip to a falling-away green, and it runs 15 feet past the pin. And then he sinks the putt coming back for a birdie to salvage a half for the U.S.
It was also this kind of morning, in alternate shot. Faldo, resting Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, sent out Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who's won some on the European Tour, and England's Oliver Wilson, who's done nothing. The innocents had to face Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim, the new, ferocious American duo. A BBC announcer rose to the occasion and nailed it with a cliché. “Lambs to the slaughter,” he said.
And so it was that Mickelson and Kim pummeled them for a 4-up lead through six holes. And Mickelson and Kim ended up being the slaughterees, instead, and Faldo was looking pretty nifty with a 2-1-1 morning.
“Crumbs,” said Faldo. “It was America's day Friday, it was our day today.”
Long ago, the singles were almost a formality. The U.S. would take the lead through the team matches, and then beat up on the undermanned British and Irish, and then Europeans. That was long ago.
Neither Azinger nor Faldo knew how the other lined up his team. They wouldn't know how well they guessed until the envelopes are opened. The strategy has varied over the years. If there is a general idea, it's to put a couple strong players out early, to get some points. But save some strength for later, in case the early players falter. And scatter out the supporting cast.
Singles used to be a strong suit with the Americans, but they've been a trap for over a decade. In the past six Ryder Cups, Europe has dominated four times. One of those times crowns Ryder Cup history.
It would seem the Americans are at least breathing a little easier, going into the Sunday singles leading by 9-7. But not if Azinger has held a little history class.
It was in 1995 at Oak Hill that the Americans were leading by the same score going into the singles, 9-7, and with what was considered a stronger team. But in the greatest collapse in Ryder Cup history, they blew the singles, 7 _-4 _, and lost.
There is only one veteran of the Battle of Choke Hill on this American team - Phil Mickelson. He made his Ryder Cup debut in that one, and he distinguished himself by beating Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson in the final singles match to get the U.S. a more respectable-looking defeat, 14 1/2-13 _.
Finally, the envelopes were opened.
Faldo is going for one quick knockout. He's put Sergio Garcia out first, drawing the American hope for this and future Ryder Cups, Anthony Kim, a rookie. But Faldo is also recognizing Garcia's glass chin. Garcia is dazzling in the team matches, but he's only gone 1-3 in singles.
Mickelson is fourth and seems to have a favorable draw, against Justin Rose. That's if Mickelson's hitting the fairways. If he isn't, he won't stand a chance against Ramblin' Rose.
On paper, there are two strategies.
Faldo has scattered his strength, and if anything has bottom-loaded his lineup, closing with Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter (the two golden putting touches), Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington.
Azinger seems to have reversed that, closing with Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker, Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell.
“This is just what I think is the best way to put our guys out there,” Azinger said.
The U.S. needs 5 _ points to win its first Ryder Cup since 1999, its fourth since 1991. It seems Azinger hopes to get them early.
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