9/27/2014

McGinley Team to Close Out Win

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Paul McGinley has called on his team to snuff out any potential USA comeback at the very start of the singles matches at Gleneagles on Sunday.

McGinley’s team holds a 10-6 lead heading into the final day of the event at Gleneagles and need just four points from the 12 contests to retain the trophy.

The scoreline puts Europe in a hugely commanding position but such a deficit has been overhauled twice in the last seven editions of the Ryder Cup.

The USA will need a fast start and have placed their top two performers – rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed – at the head of the order for Sunday.

"He's got two players up there who proved that they are ready for Ryder Cups. They have performed admirably this week, both of them,” McGinley said.

"As much as you have experience, it's very good, but form is just as good. Form is huge.

"He's got three young guys going out first three matches. He's going with guys who are out there to try and make a reputation for themselves, playing on away soil, coming back from a deficit of four points down would be a big motivating factor and I'm sure one Tom will be mentioning tonight.

"It's important that our guys are ready for that, prepared for it. If they win three of the first four points they have got momentum then coming down.
"They have some big players down the end as well. As I've said many times, this is a strong American team. They have got a great mixture in there of a lot of youthfulness and a bedrock of experience. These are not to be underestimated."

Graeme McDowell will face Spieth on Sunday while Henrik Stenson will be second out for Europe against Reed.

McGinley revealed he already knew two years ago that he wanted 2010 US Open champion McDowell to lead out the singles effort at Gleaneagles.

He added: "I didn't share it with anyone and I only shared it with Graeme this week.

"He wanted to play five matches and I told him I wanted him to play twice with Victor and be fresh to play No 1 on Sunday. (He has) a big heart, big player, loves the big occasion.

"And for me, you need a fighter, a real fighter in that first game. That sets the tone for the day.

“That's the guy that goes in with the hard tackle, the first hard tackle in a soccer match and imposes himself in the middle of midfield. Graeme is that kind of guy."


Clarke Supports Amigo Garcia

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Darren Clarke has jumped to the defence of Sergio Garcia after Sir Nick Faldo criticised the Spaniard for his efforts at the 2008 Ryder Cup.

Faldo, captain of the defeated European team six years ago at Valhalla, is commentating on the Golf Channel this week and described on Friday Garcia's performance had been "useless" and that he had a bad attitude.

The British six-times major winner later admitted his words had been harsh and was a throw-away comment but Clarke, along with European team-mates Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood, were quick to defend Garcia's reputation.

Clarke, who has appeared in seven Ryder Cups – five times as a player and twice as a vice-captain, is a co-commentator for Sky Sports at Gleneagles, said: "I think is was a very harsh comment from Nick Faldo.

"When you go into a team room as captain or player it would be very difficult to find a more passionate person than Sergio Garcia. Like Ian Poulter, he lives and breathes for the Ryder Cup. He's a very proud man.

"We all have off days in the Ryder Cup. That's what happens and nobody plays great all the time. Maybe he did have a bad day but it was a harsh comment."

Garcia, paired with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy in the fourballs and foursomes, surged back on Friday afternoon from a defeat by Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley by helping to secure the last two holes and halve their encounter with Jimmy Walker and Ricky Fowler.

The 34-year-old Spanish world No. 3 remarkably found the green from the rough on the 18th to finish off with a final birdie blitz to steer the Europeans to an overnight 5-3 lead on day one.

When asked about Faldo's words on Friday night, Garcia seemed a little stunned and said: "That's unfortunate. I guess he doesn't feel European. That's the only thing I can think of. There's a lot of things I could say about Nick Faldo, but I'm not going to put myself down to his level."

Westwood also responded to Faldo's comments by adding: "Let's take the euphoria we have from today and just crush it."

McDowell stated that Westwood and Garcia were dropped controversially for the first time in their Ryder Cup careers in the defeat at Valhalla in 2008.

The Northern Irishman said: "You've got one of the best Ryder Cup pairings of all time being sat down on a Saturday afternoon of a Ryder Cup that we go on to lose. I'd say Sergio was fairly useless that afternoon, yeah. Because he wasn't able to play. So – I agree!"