What was that about the importance of the four-ball matches?
Most people would think that, if you pair together Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods – unquestionably two of the best golfers in the world – that they’d win their four-ball match. Sadly for the US Ryder Cup team, nothing could be further from the truth. Woods and Mickelson lost their four-ball match two and one to Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington, capping off a morning of four-ball losses and a European lead, 3½ to ½.
That leaves the afternoon matches: Phil and Tiger against Clarke and Westwood; Kenny Perry and Stewart Cink against Garcia and Luke Donald; DiMarco and Haas against Jimenez and Levet; Davis Love and Fred Funk against Monty and Padraig. Looking at the afternoon matches, I’ve got to give the advantage to the European teams. Monty and Harrington made nice work of the top two golfers in the States, so their afternoon match should be even easier. Likewise, after their morning loss, I’m not sure if Tiger and Phil can muster a second match win over Clarke and Westwood.
With Jimenez‘s hot streak of late and Thomas Levet’s steady game, I give the afternoon nod to them over Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas, though Jay has also been playing some strong golf recently. And, as for Sergio and Luke against Kenny Perry and Stewart Cink? Call it a push in my mind…
That said, it’s possible that Europe could end Friday’s four-ball and foursome matches up 6 to 2 or worse, nearly halfway to the cup. Unless the US Team can rally and win big Saturday afternoon and Sunday, this Ryder Cup may be a good deal toward being decided.