Golf on Sling: U.S. Takes 5-3 Lead into Day 2 of the 2016 Ryder Cup
The United States vs. Europe in The Ryder Cup
Coverage begins at 9am ET on NBC
Team America got off to a roaring start at the 2016 Ryder Cup, sweeping the morning foursome play, but the Europeans were nearly as dominant in the afternoon four-ball. When Day 1 of the Cup at Hazeltine was in the books, the U.S. led 5-3.
In the first foursome of the day, Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar jumped out to an early lead by taking the first two holes and never looked back, ultimately needing just 14 holes to defeat Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters 5 & 4. Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson then won holes 12 through 16 to wipe out a Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer’s 1 up lead, to win 4 & 2. Phil Mickelson and Rickie Rickie Fowler went the distance to beat Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan 1 up, climbing out of a 2-hole hole by winning 15, 16 and 17, to finish 1 up. In the final foursome of the morning, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed were 3 up after 7, and lost just one hole for the round for a 3 & 2 victory, and a 4-0 U.S. lead.
The Europeans wasted no time cutting into the Americans’ lead once four-ball started, with Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters’ 3 & 2 win over Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar, but it wasn’t easy. Four up after 7, the Europeans let the Yanks get back to within 2 by losing the 15th, but sealed the deal by winning on 16. Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka struck back for the Americans, defeating Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett 5 & 4, by losing just once, on the 9th. Europe’s Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello beat J.B. Holmes and Ryan Moore on 1, 5, 6 and 9, maintaining a 4 up advantage before making things interesting by losing on 14 and 15, but held on for a 3 & 2 final. In the day’s final match, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed found themselves 1 up through 3, but got smoked the rest of the way, losing 6 of the next 11 holes ot Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, en route to a 5 & 4 win for Europe.
Here are the Saturday morning foursomes:
7:35am: Phil Mickelson & Rickie Fowler vs. Rory McIlroy & Thomas Peters
7:50am: Brandt Snedeker & Brooks Koepka vs. Henrik Stenson & Matt Fitzpatrick
8:05am: Jimmy Walker & Zach Johnson vs. Justin Rose & Chris Wood
8:20am: Patrick Reed & Jordan Spieth vs. Sergio Garcia & Rafa Cabrera Bello
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