The European team, with a valuable contribution from Spaniards Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, has achieved the victory (17.5-10.5) at the Ryder Cup 2018 after containing the thrust of the powerful North American team in the decisive batch of individual matches. Golf National de Paris erupted with joy at the end of a memorable session.
With the yellow ribbon in memory of the longed Celia Barquín, ‘blumera’ in his day like him, Jon Rahm signed one of those moments that will be remembered for years. He beat Tiger Woods on the 17th hole, a man with 14 majors and who came to the tournament with an aura of rebirth. His effusive celebration speaks clearly of his liberation for the point obtained.
The Basque solved a tense duel that he managed 2up to 8, but that Tiger was able to balance halfway through the match. Holes 13 and 14, both for the Spaniard, were key in the development of this fantastic battle.
Sergio Garcia, who has completed an impressive Ryder Cup, also added. His contribution in the two previous days has been crowned by his victory over Rickie Fowler, no less (2/1). With that victory, the golfer from Borriol has already scored 25.5 points in his love affair with this tournament. No one has scored more than him.
In addition, for Europe, Henrik Stenson against Bubba Watson (5/4), Alex Noren against Bryson Dechambeau (1up), Francesco Molinari against Phil Mickelson (4/3), Thorbjorn Olesen against Jordan Spieth (5/4) and Ian Poulter against Dustin Johnson (2up) added points; for the American team, Justin Thomas against Rory McIlroy (1up), Web Simpson against Justin Rose (3/2), Tony Finau against Tommy Fleetwood (6/4) and Patrick Reed against Tyrell Hatton (3/2). Paul Casey and Brooks Koepka shared half a point.
Second day: Sergio scores again on a great day of golf
The European team faced this Sunday the twelve singles in a frank situation to regain the Ryder Cup. It does so with a provisional 10-6 on the scoreboard that is an invitation to optimism for the thousands of people who will attend the Golf National de Paris.
Saturday left a new European gale, this time in the morning fourballs, which ended with a 3-1 partial. Sergio Garcia scored a point with Rory McIlroy against Tony Finay and Brooks Koepka, while the victory escaped in the final holes to Jon Rahm, who formed an explosive pair with Ian Poulter. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth had to give their best to win on the 17th hole.
In the afternoon, Jim Furyk’s team was able to stop the bleeding with a share of points in the foursomes that opens the door to American hope. Sergio Garcia, this time with Alex Noren, lost to Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson (3/2). Rahm rested on this occasion.
Day one: foursomes to remember launch Europe
The first day of competition left an exciting outlook for the weekend, as the European team, which had lost badly in the morning fourballs (1-3), came back in the foursomes (4-0) to take a provisional 5-3 lead at the Golf National de Paris.
The atmosphere of the Parisian course carried the European pairs on their wings in the afternoon in Paris. So much so that the results were totally uncontested, starting with the 5/4 with which Sergio Garcia, unpublished in the morning, and Alex Noren beat Phil Mickelson and Bryson Dechambeau. No match reached the 17th hole on a historic afternoon, as Europe had never won all four foursomes.
Earlier, the fourballs saw the debut of Jon Rahm, who formed a competitive pairing with Justin Rose. They lost to Tony Finay and Brooks Koepka in the 18th after a vibrant alternation on the scoreboard. Only Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari managed to score for Europe (3/1).
Two ships, face to face
The captain of the European team, Thomas Björn, has faced the supposedly favored American team with a compact and talented team, made up of Francesco Molinari, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen -who entered the draw directly-, Sergio García, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson.
Facing them, Jim Furyk has counted on a powerful squad that includes 11 of the top 17 in the World Ranking at the start of the tournament. The team includes Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson -all of them directly qualified-, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau and Tiger Woods.
RESULTS
First day
Europe, 5 – United States, 3
Second day
Europe, 5 – United States, 3
Third day
Europe, 7.5 – United States, 4.5
TOTAL
Europe, 17.5 – United States, 10.5
Leave a Reply