Henrik Stenson pulled Johnson from the gallery and Justin Rose laid a $100 bill right next to the ball, daring Johnson to make it.
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Few have more riding on this weekend than Mickelson, who raised eyebrows with a pointed critique of captain Tom Watson’s strategy after the Americans were rolled by Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland two years ago.
As a reminder, the foursomes matches involve four players competing in teams of two, with the two-golfer teams using the same ball and alternating shots until each hole is finished. “They are nearly like waiting for Christmas”, Clarke said. “That was never, never in doubt”.
The European rearguard was a result of a disastrous opening foursomes session for Clarke’s team as the U.S. stormed out of the blocks and delivered a 4-0 sweep of their visiting opponents.
“Danny will play tomorrow afternoon and he may well play four times, and his last match could be – will be Sunday singles. They are nearly like waiting for Christmas”, Clarke said of the rookies.
Branded Chamblee, Golf Channel’s talking head and all-knowing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson genius, went after Phil again on Wednesday night on Live from the Ryder Cup.
“Certainly I felt more pressure heading into today’s matches”, said Mickelson, a veteran of 11 Ryder Cups who came in for criticism at Gleneagles two years ago after openly questioning the approach of United States of America captain Tom Watson.
“Danny’s playing fine. I have no worries about Danny whatsoever, mentally or otherwise”, said Clarke, who denied he had had a last-minute change of heart over the Yorkshireman.
“Phil always has a plan; that’s where he likes”.
“I’m not trying to knock anybody here, because I actually loved how decisive Captain Sutton was”, said Mickelson.
Reed was thrilled to be in the first match out, saying: “I’m pumped”.
However, as far as why the pairings and partnerships were created, Love would only say that they matched up well.
“We just felt like that first tee atmosphere just fit him and Jordan to get it kicked off”.
Meanwhile Sergio Garcia bemoaned his and Martin Kaymer’s inability to capitalise on opportunities, in the wake of their defeat. McIlroy and Pieters never trailed against Johnson and Kuchar, handing them their first loss in four Ryder Cup matches. It will be the fifth straight Ryder Cup that Westwood has played with a rookie. “Those little things allowed us to play some of our best golf”. “But they have played a lot of golf together before, and they know who they want to play with and who they are comfortable with”.
“In golf, it’s one sport – and maybe being a defensive back in the National Football League – you need to have a short memory”, Johnson said Thursday.
US Open champ Dustin Johnson bounced back from missing out on a $10 million FedEx Cup jackpot at the Tour Championship as he and Matt Kuchar thrashed English Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood and Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters 5 & 4.
PGA of America officials heard him loud and clear, and the Ryder Cup Task Force was formed, giving Mickelson and Woods, among others, heavy influence on future teams.
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U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III and European supremo Darren Clarke showed off their skills as master motivators and polished spin doctors after Friday’s see-saw opening day of action at Hazeltine. None of that matters to Love. We’re looking forward to this week and these matches and this first session we have coming up tomorrow morning.
