SAINT-QUENTIN-en-YVELINES, France — As badly as Friday afternoon’s Ryder Cup session went for the U.S. team, Saturday morning was worse.
No, the European team didn’t shut the U.S. out as it did in the Friday afternoon foursomes (alternate shot). But after being whitewashed so dominantly and entering the trailing 5-3, the Americans desperately needed to create some early momentum to climb back into the match.
That never happened, with the Europeans winning three of the four Saturday morning fourball (best ball) matches to take a commanding 8-4 lead into the afternoon foursomes.
If the U.S. splits the afternoon session Saturday, it would go into Sunday’s singles down 10-6 needing to match the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history.
Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia got things started for Europe with a 2&1 win over Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau. Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton followed with a 3&2 win over Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler. Then came Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood defeating Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed, 4&3.
Suddenly it was 8-3 Europe after it had trailed the U.S. 3-0 about 24 hours earlier.
“Just a great morning,’’ Fleetwood said.
“We knew they were going to be upset and we tried to get ready for it,’’ Molinari said. “We were ready this morning. Any time we had to step it up, we did. We keep saying the same stuff, but there’s a lot of points to be won still.’’
Molinari, the reigning British Open champion, has teamed with Fleetwood to win three matches entering Saturday afternoon. All three wins have come against Woods.
The only morsel of positive mojo the U.S. was able to muster, did, however, copy what the Europeans did on Friday morning: winning the final match of the session to avoid being shut out.
Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth provided what the U.S. hoped would be a spark when they beat Ian Poulter and Jon Rahm 2&1 to cut the deficit to 8-4 entering Saturday’s afternoon foursomes session.
“We knew how big this point was,’’ Thomas said. “We’re not even halfway done with this tournament yet.’’
Said Spieth: “As a team, we need to gain momentum back. Getting closer than four points at the end of the day would be the goal. We know if it’s four [points] or less it’s been done before on Sunday.’’
Indeed, the 1999 U.S. team overcame a 10-6 deficit entering Sunday singles and won at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass., and the 2008 European team did the same thing at Medinah.
“There’s a lot of matches to be played,’’ Woods said. “There’s still 12 more points up for grabs [Sunday].’’
