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Ryder Cup: How the Sunday singles played out

Ryder Cup: How the Sunday singles played out

The story of the final day at Gleneagles
 

1) McDowell beat Spieth 2&1

A game of two halves. After nine holes Spieth was three holes ahead before McDowell closed out the previously unbeaten rookie at the  17th.
The Northern Irishman was out of sorts early on, dropping three shots in the first five holes, and then had to birdie the 8th and 9th to stay three down.
But then the tables turned as McDowell won the next four, three of them with pars, and then added birdies at 14 and 15 to move two up. Two up with two to play McDowell then got up and down from sand to finish with three perfect points.

Europe lead 12-6

2) Stenson lost to Reed One Hole

Patrick Reed closed out a magnificent, battling debut with another full point when Henrik Stenson missed a three-footer at the last in a cracking match.
The Swede led early on but Reed then notched it up a level with a two at the 6th and then a par-saving putt at the next where he left the green, mocking the crowds, with his hand to his ear.
Five of the next six holes went one way or the other, Stenson got back to level with a par at the 15th but an eighth birdie by the young American edged him home. A huge positive in a week of few of them for the victors.

Europe lead 12-7

3) McIlroy beat Fowler 5&4

The heaviest defeat of the day as McIlroy continued his edge over Fowler. The match was basically over after the four-time Major champion covered the first six holes in six under to race five holes clear.
McIlroy showed signs of his best form in Saturday’s foursomes and he saved his very best until the singles. His opening drive was enormous, his approach to the par-5 2nd finished 15 feet away as he opened up 3-3-3-3-3-2.
Fowler pulled one back at the 7th but McIlroy was eight under when they shook hands at the 14th. Bizarrely Fowler is yet to win a Ryder Cup match.

Europe lead 11-6

4) Rose v Mahan Halved

Justin Rose emerged unbeaten from five matches as he battled back from four down after seven as Hunter Mahan made a mess of the last.
The American was brilliant over the early exchanges, his putting particularly impressive, but Rose then did as he had done on Saturday morning, going on a ridiculous birdie blitz.
Five on the trot from the 7th made it all square and a magnificent birdie, from almost in a bush at the 13th, levelled it again after a rare miss at the previous hole.
Mahan two-putted the 14th to edge ahead once more and, just when he needed a rock-solid short game, hit a thin chip at the last while Rose produced a nerveless birdie.     

Europe lead 13.5-9.5

5) Gallacher lost to Mickelson 3&1
Stephen Gallacher finished his week pointless but with much credit in a narrow defeat to Mickelson.
The Scot didn’t drop a shot until making a mess of the penultimate hole with Mickelson adding six birdies after spending Saturday twiddling his thumbs.
Gallacher levelled the match with back-to-back birdies at 9 and 10 but a brilliant approach to the 15th and birdie at the next saw the left-hander move two clear and finish the week with two points from three.

Europe lead 12-8

6) Kaymer beat Watson 4&2

Much like McIlroy the match was won in the first six holes as Kaymer won four on the trot from the 3rd.
Both birdied the 1st but Watson failed to add any more until the 13th and that was only for a half after a brilliant recovery from Rose’s bush.
The match ended in spectacular style when the US Open champion hit a chip-and-run that ran into the hole for an eagle at the 16th.
Europe lead 13-9

"Donaldson had the chance to win it at the 14th but his eight-footer slid by but he didn’t have to wait too long for the party to begin"
7) Bjorn lost to Kuchar 4&3
Matt Kuchar posted his first win with five birdies against a non-firing Thomas Bjorn.
The Dane was level after four holes but was then never in the match with the American’s highlight coming at the 8th when he spun his approach into the hole.
A second two at the 10th meant he was four ahead and that was pretty much that.

Europe lead 12-9

8) Garcia beat Furyk One Hole
The third time these two have met on Ryder Cup Sunday and a second win for the Spaniard.
This was the best golf that Garcia produced and, despite being one down with four to play, he emerged with a point at the last.
His putting was more assured, never more so than when he holed from across the green at the 11th, and he then birdied 15, eagled 16 after a brilliant iron in, and both players two-putted for birdie at the 18th. Garcia played the last five holes in five under. 
Europe lead 15.5-9.5

9) Poulter v Simpson Halved

Webb Simpson did what nobody else has managed as he held Ian Poulter to a half.
Only six holes were halved as Poulter moved two clear with three straight birdies but a second two at the 10th reduced the deficit to one. Simpson chipped in for a half at 13 and led going up the 18th when Poulter bogeyed.
But the Postman kept his singles record intact with a closing birdie.

Europe lead 16-10

10) Donaldson beat Bradley 5&3

Given the comfortable nature of Jamie Donaldson’s victory he had the chance to deliver the winning blow – and he pulled it off in sensational style.
Four up with four to play he played the wedge of his life to 18 inches to begin the celebrations.
Bradley only won one hole but that was followed by a Donaldson birdie at the 9th and he then added two more at 12 and 13. He had the chance to win it at the 14th but his eight-footer slid by but he didn’t have to wait too long for the party to begin.
Europe win the Ryder Cup (14.5-9.5)

11) Westwood lost to Walker 3&2

Jimmy Walker finally got his first win after he and Westwood put on a brilliant scoring display under the radar.
The pair had five birdies in the first three holes and a seventh American birdie have him a three-hole advantage. Westwood pulled that back to two but, on the day, Walker was too good for him.

Europe lead 16-11

12) Dubuisson v Johnson Halved

We had to wait a while to see anything of this pair but what the scorecard tells us is that they both parred the first 10 holes.
Johnson put an end to that with a three at the 11th before the Gallic wonder rolled one in across the 12th green. A miraculous up-and-down at the 16th put him one clear and he had a chance at the 17th to wrap it up but the putt stopped on the lip.
Johnson then slotted in an 18-footer for a third half on the day.
Europe win the Ryder Cup 16.5-11.5

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