McIlroy bogeyed the 12th, and Reed parred to go 1-up.
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The 46-year-old, who held the position of effectively being the unofficial sixth vice-captain, was the most critical of the system which he believed had been the cause of so many failures for the United States team. Holmes made only three birdies.
“The pressure started when some dumb ass opened his mouth two years ago in the media centre”, said the left-hander, who on the eve of competition gave each member of the team military-style dog-tags, one which had Hazeltine 2016 on it and the other which simply said “The Beginning”.
As for the singles session, it was a longshot for the Europeans after they messed up Saturday afternoon’s four-ball matches and fell three points behind. Rose had a six-match unbeaten streak coming into the week.
“The guy needs to know how good he is”, Snedeker said.
For all the scolding the spectators deservedly took for rude behaviour in the team matches, they adopted a more even-handed tone Sunday – partly, no doubt, because there were 12 games to watch, and the 50,000-plus fans were not packed around just four holes. The two went toe-to-toe on the front nine like it was a heavyweight boxing match.
America was ready to take back the cup. “We had a lot of fun together as a team, and we played some great golf and we are really excited to have won”.
After a rousing finish in which the Spaniard closed with four birdies in a row and Mickelson birdied four of the last five holes, they appropriately ended up all square. It was because Mickelson had enough of the high-handed way Tom Watson went about captaining the team in the lopsided win by the Europeans. Mickelson drained a long birdie putt on 18, jumping up in celebration to cap a day in which he had 10 birdies. Mickelson made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole, and Garcia matched him again from 8 feet to halve the match.
Clutch play was the order of the day though, and they both crushed tee shots down the middle. Lee Westwood, Europe, 1 up. “Phil just made (putts) from everywhere and played well”.
Vote up for the rookies who looked the most impressive, and vote down for those who may have struggled in the pressure cauldron that is the Ryder Cup.
Love’s captain’s picks went 7-6 while Clarke’s went 5-7, Belgian Thomas Pieters a record 4-1 but Westwood and Martin Kaymer each 0-3 until Kaymer’s singles win after the Cup was lost Six Europe rookies were 7-9 overall while two USA newcomers went 5-2.
It is a partnership that McIlroy wants to take into the next Ryder Cup in two years in France and beyond. He didn’t make another birdie until the 16th hole.
But when Brandt Snedeker completed a 3&1 victory over Andy Sullivan, the home side needed just half a point from the remaining matches to seal victory.
Dustin Johnson, United States, def. Chris Wood, Europe, 1 up.
With this year’s win, the U.S. brings a halt to Europe’s three-Cup streak, including its wins in Celtic Manor in 2010, Medinah in 2012 and Gleneagles in 2014, and it will next defend its newly-recovered title in Paris in 2018. If you have any tips, you can always tweet them @ProGolfNow or find us on Facebook.
Brooks Koepka, United States, def. Danny Willett, Europe, 5 and 4. This was as much Mickelson’s team, because it was Mickelson who risked his public image at Gleneagles by calling out Watson, a revered figure in golf, even though his message was aimed at the PGA of America.
Reed also appeared to wag his finger in McIlroy’s direction as the four-time major victor walked away, the world number three responding on the next by putting a finger to his lips to silence the fans after matching Reed’s birdie.
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Mickelson and Matt Kuchar downed Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Germany’s Martin Kaymer 2 and 1.
