Ryder Cup: Unbeaten Europe roar back in foursomes

Donaldson/Westwood beat Furyk/Kuchar One Hole

Debutant Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood gave Europe a needed boost with a win on the 18th.

The pair were round in a very impressive four under with Donaldson barely missing a shot and Westwood rolling in the putts. The tide began to turn when Westwood, playing in his ninth Ryder Cup, rolled in a birdie putt at the 6th and, when he knocked in a 20-footer at the 11th, they were two up.

Donaldson then holed one of a similar length three holes later, which was matched by the Americans, and the visitors took it down to the last with a birdie at the par-5 16th.

With a chance of a pitch and a putt Kuchar made a mess of the approach and Donaldson had his first point. For Westwood it was an eighth foursomes victory.

Rose/Stenson beat Mahan/Johnson 2&1

There was the odd raised eyebrow when Rose and Stenson were pitted together – they closed out the day with two points.

They were round in five under after another rock-solid effort where Rose’s putting was once again brilliant. The Englishman started at the 1st with a 20-footer but they were pegged back to level after Europe took three putts from close range.

But Rose sunk a 30-foot effort at the 11th and rescued his partner from 12 feet at the next after the Swede either misread or horribly mishit the first putt.

One down with two to play Johnson then nearly holed his tee short, only for Mahan to send the resulting 15-footer well past as it turned into a bogey and exchange of handshakes.

"Garcia was able to fashion a brilliant 5-wood aboard the final green and two putts were enough for a half and crushing psychological blow" McIlroy/Garcia v Walker/Fowler All Square
Much was expected of the World Nos 1 and 3 and, in the last three holes, they delivered.

An untidy front nine, the lowlight a very quick hook by Garcia off the 5th tee, saw Europe stay level through the occasional piece of brilliance but, with three to play, the missed fairways meant they were two down.

It looked to be all over when Fowler produced a miraculous fairway wood recovery from rough at the 16th but a neat chip by McIlroy kept things going and the Open and PGA champion then drained the longest putt of the day, from 35 feet, to see the quartet head to the 18th.

There, Garcia was able to fashion a brilliant 5-wood aboard the final green – after some tree assistance on McIlroy’s drive – and two putts were enough for a half and crushing psychological blow.

McDowell/Dubuisson beat Mickelson/Bradley 3&2
McDowell heralded his new partner as the ‘next superstar in Europe’ as the hosts dished out a first defeat for Mickelson and Bradley.

Mickelson repeatedly lipped out in the early exchanges but he was far from his best and McDowell and Dubuisson pounced by not dropping a shot.

Three putts at the 8th provided some respite and a birdie at the next meant they would turn just one down but three European pars were enough to take it to three up.

McDowell finished things off in style with a curling 20-footer as Paul McGinley’s side moved into a 5-3 lead.

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