Fourball loss caps tough day for Woods-Stricker
The United States earned a 5-3 advantage over Europe on Friday on Day 1 of the 39th Ryder Cup at raucous Medinah Country Club outside Chicago. It’s a promising start for the Americans, who have lost four of the last five meetings, and have trailed in 10 of the last 16 competitions after Friday play.
Tiger Woods, making his seventh appearance for the U.S., dropped a pair of tough-luck matches. Paired in the chilly morning foursomes (alternate shot) with Steve Stricker, the duo fell to Ian Poulter and Justin Rose of Europe, 2 and 1, as the U.S. and Europe split overall, 2-2.
In the warmer afternoon fourball (best-ball), Woods and Stricker lost to Nicolas Colsaerts and Lee Westwood of Europe, 1 down. Colsaerts, a 29-year-old Ryder Cup rookie from Belgium, put on an incredible putting display by holing eight birdies and an eagle, the majority from long range.
“Nicolas Colsaerts had probably one of the greatest putting rounds I’ve ever seen,” said Woods, who owns 74 PGA Tour titles and 14 major championships.
After struggling in the morning session, especially off the tee, Tiger regrouped in the afternoon and made seven birdies. He carded five on the back nine, including a huge five-footer at the par-5 14th hole to trim the European lead to 1 up.
Following another Colsaerts birdie at the par-4 15th, Woods missed a seven-foot birdie putt to halve the hole and the Europeans extended their lead to 2 up. But Tiger drained a slick 25-foot birdie putt at the par-4 16th to win the hole and pull the Yanks to only 1 down.
At the 185-yard, par-3 17th, Stricker’s tee shot found the water, but Woods hit a clutch 8-iron four-feet below the hole and seemed in great position to square the match. But once again, Colsaerts poured in a 25-foot birdie putt and Tiger was forced to sink his putt to extend the match, which he did.
Needing to win the 449-yard, par-4 18th hole to earn a half-point, Woods gave his team and country a great chance by knocking his second shot pin-high right, 12 feet from the cup. It all came down to him, and Tiger stroked his birdie putt perfectly, but the ball caught the left lip and refused to fall.
“They played great,” U.S. captain Davis Love III said of Woods and Stricker, who were 9-under par in a losing effort. “That’s (Colsaerts) unbelievable golf. That’s usually what it takes to beat Tiger Woods.”
On Saturday, two more sessions will be held. In the morning, four foursomes matches will be contested, followed by four fourball matches in the afternoon. Love has elected to rest Woods in the morning session, the first time in his Ryder Cup career he has not played in all five matches.
The Ryder Cup concludes on Sunday with 12 singles matches.
