9/01/2016

Europe Win Third Ryder Cup

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Europe added another layer of Ryder Cup dominance on Sunday behind Rory McIlroy big start, two big rallies and a rookie who hit the shot of his life to give this performance a finish it deserved.

Jamie Donaldson, unaware he already had done enough to retain the Ryder Cup, hit a 9-iron that settled 2 feet from the cup on the 15th hole. Keegan Bradley walked onto the green, saw Donaldson's ball next to the hole, removed his cap and conceded the birdie. And the celebration was on.

The result in the record book was Europe 16½, United States 11½. It's an old story for the Americans.

Europe won for third straight time, and now has won eight of the last 10.

"It came down to me to close it out, but it's all about the team," Donaldson said. "Everyone played their heart out to retain the Ryder Cup. And that's what it's all about."

McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose made sure the Americans would not get their redemption from the meltdown at Medinah two years ago as the first team to blow a four-point lead at home.

McIlroy was 6-under par on his first six holes and trounced Rickie Fowler to set the tone. The Americans put plenty of red on the board early, just not for long. McDowell was 3-down after five holes and Rose was four behind after six holes. McDowell rallied to beat Jordan Spieth, while Rose earned a halve against Hunter Mahan.

Martin Kaymer, who holed the winning point at Medinah, put Europe on the cusp of victory when he chipped in for eagle on the 16th to beat Bubba Watson. That set the stage for Donaldson.

"The shot of my life," he called it.

Europe captain Paul McGinley, who spoke all week about a template for success, stood by the 15th green with the rest of the players who had finished their matches. Donaldson was mobbed by his teammates, another happy occasion for Europe.

Asked for the highlight of the week, McGinley turned to Donaldson and said, "When you look at a face like that." He put both hands on Donaldson's face and hugged him.

The Americans still can't figure out this exhibition of team play.

They even brought back Tom Watson, at 65 the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history and the last American captain to win on European soil. Watson made a series of questionable moves during team play and the Americans didn't have much hope on Sunday.

Watson attributed the loss to foursomes -- Europe was unbeaten in both sessions and collected seven of the eight points -- though McGinley wrote that off as a fluke. Asked what he would tell his team in a final meeting, Watson said, "You played your best, but it wasn't enough. You've got to find out what it takes a little better."

Except for a victory at Valhalla behind captain Paul Azinger in 2008, the Americans haven't solved this Ryder Cup puzzle.

Phil Mickelson, on the bench for both sessions Saturday, finished off a 2-1 week by beating Stephen Gallacher. Asked about the future of the Ryder Cup, Mickelson went back to that last U.S. victory.

"We had a great formula in '08, and I don't know why we strayed from it," Mickelson said. "What Zinger did was really a good format. Maybe we should relive that."

Azinger has said that Watson never asked him about his "pod" system in which the U.S. team was broken into three groups of four players and stuck together the entire week.

No team embodies togetherness quite like Europe.

The Americans now have to wait two more years -- Hazeltine outside Minneapolis is the next Ryder Cup -- to figure that out.


Ireland's Strong Ryder Cup Record


Graeme McDowell knew it was a mistake as soon as he glanced up at the scoreboard.

That comfortable lead Europe had taken into the singles matches two years ago was gone, erased in a flurry of American birdies. Instead of coasting into the victory party as he'd expected as the 12th man out, the Ryder Cup - to say nothing of Europe's pride and honor - was in McDowell's hands.

"Those last seven holes, I've never been so nervous in my life," McDowell recalled Tuesday. "Coming down the stretch that day was some of the toughest golf I had ever played in my life, and some of the most nerve-racking golf. Myself and Hunter Mahan, someone was going to be the hero and someone was going to be the villain that day.

"Thankfully I was able to get the job done."

Of course he did. When the Ryder Cup is on the line, the Irish usually do.

McDowell delivered the winning point at Celtic Manor with a 15-foot birdie on the 16th hole, joining Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Philip Walton and Christy O'Connor Jr. as Irish heroes on one of the biggest stages in golf.

Don't be surprised if that Irish luck holds this week, too. Though European captain Jose Maria Olazabal refused to give any hints about his lineup, it's almost certain McDowell will be playing with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, his good friend and fellow Northern Irishman, when the Ryder Cup begins Friday at Medinah Country Club.

Paired together two years ago, the two were 1-1-1 in team matches.

"He's one of our main men," Olazabal said of McDowell. "He loves this competition, and I think it brings out the best in him. He's a very gutsy player. It doesn't matter if he's not striking the ball well, he will fight until the very end. He will fight for every shot, for every inch. And we saw that in the past."

Not just from McDowell, either.

Back in 2006, it was Clarke who carried the Europeans. Playing just six weeks after his wife, Heather, died of breast cancer, Clarke gave the Europeans an emotional charge the Americans never came close to answering. He won all three of his matches, and the Europeans routed the U.S. 18 1/2-9 1/2 for their third straight victory.

Four years before that, McGinley made a spectacular save on 18 to snatch a halve from Furyk and take the cup from the Americans. After McGinley had pulled even with a 12-footer on 17, Furyk was only 3 feet away from a certain par - after a beautiful bunker shot. McGinley, meanwhile, missed the green - badly. But he made a gorgeous pitch to about 8 feet, and sank the putt for the halve.

Back in 1995, the little-known Walton had lost what would be his only other Ryder Cup match, in Saturday morning foursomes. He would go 3-up on Jay Haas with three holes left in singles, only to lose 16 and 17. But Haas was in trouble off the 18th tee, and Walton two-putted for a bogey and the point Europe needed to win the cup, kickstarting its current dominance. The Europeans have won six of the last eight Ryder Cups.

And in 1989, O'Connor - a captain's pick - upset Fred Couples by making two birdies on the last three holes. One of the most celebrated shots in Irish golf was O'Connor hitting 2-iron from 229 yards to about 4 feet for birdie. It shook Couples so badly that he missed the green with a 9-iron, and it was key to Europe retaining the cup.

"The Ryder Cup's become such a big deal, I think people love it as a spectacle," McDowell said. "The aftermath (in 2010) and the 17th green when everyone swamped that green, it was something like I've never seen in golf before, and cool to be part of."

McDowell was hardly an unknown at Celtic Manor. He'd been unflappable in winning the U.S. Open just three months earlier, barely blinking as he withstood charges by Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els at Pebble Beach. He wasn't a Ryder Cup rookie, either, going 2-1-1 at Valhalla.

But it was his performance in Wales that transformed the 33-year-old - on and off the course.

"Winning the U.S. Open, there was sort of an aftermath of congratulations from everyone. I think that lasted a few weeks," McDowell said. "But the Ryder Cup was something a bit different because that was enjoyed by European fans, the European Tour, anyone that calls themselves European. I think I certainly got recognized more for that putt at the Ryder Cup than I did for my U.S. Open. There's no doubt about that, certainly in Europe."

McDowell hasn't won a tournament since 2010 but he's never far from the conversation, either. 

He's made all but four cuts in 22 starts on the PGA and European tours this year, and has five top-five finishes. He settled for second at the U.S. Open after missing a 25-footer to force a playoff, and was fifth at the British after blowing up with a final-round 75.

If Olazabal sends him out last again in singles, McDowell will be ready to deliver again.

"Where will I play on Sunday? Who knows?" he said. "Part of me would love that opportunity again - part of me would love it, part of me would hate it. I'll take whatever comes."


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Club History - Royal Dublin


Founded in 1885, The Royal Dublin Golf Club is Ireland's second oldest golf club.


Designed originally by the legendary Harry Colt, the links was extended for the modern era in recent years under the guidance of renowned golf architect, Martin Hawtree.

Christy O'Connor and Royal Dublin
Irish people have a special place in their heart for sporting heroes. Christy O'Connor is one such hero. He blazed a trail through the world of professional golf in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. The first golfer ever to win a five figure sum in Europe, Christy represented Great Britain and Ireland on ten consecutive occasions in the Ryder Cup and played for Ireland in a remarkable 15 World Cups, famously winning in 1958.

Christy O'Connor joined Royal Dublin in 1959 as club professional, and his association with the club continues to this day. In 1988, the members expressed the esteem in which they hold this great golfer by conferring Honorary Life Membership on Christy. Nearly forty years on, Christy's eagle-birdie-eagle finish to win the Carroll's International at Royal Dublin in 1966 still ranks as the finest finish to any Irish professional golf tournament and is a special memory.

Rising Star
t is only a few years since Niall helped the Boys team at Royal Dublin to win the Fred Daly Trophy. Niall has since gone on to greater things and is the current holder of the Brabazon Trophy.

The highlight of his career to-date was in September 2009 when he was the sole Irish representative on the British & Irish Walker Cup team who played against the United States in Merion Golf Club. Niall played in all of the rounds and finished with the best individual score of any of the British & Irish players. He then went to the European Tour Qualifying School and successfully won his card on the European Challenge Tour for 2010.

He has now joined the professional ranks and recently made his debut on the tour in South Africa.

The Royal Dublin Golf Club was instituted at a meeting held at No. 19 Grafton Street in May 1885. The formation of Ireland's second oldest golf club was pioneered by a Scottish banker - John Lumsden. Originally called Dublin Golf Club, (it received its Royal designation in 1891 - when there were 250 members paying £2 annual subscription - the entrance fee was 8 guineas), it was located near the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park. After a year the Club moved to Sutton and finally in 1889 moved to its present home here on the Bull Island, (the name is derived from the locality, Clontarf, which in Gaelic is Cluain Tairbh meaning the Bull's Meadow).

Captain William Bligh of 'Mutiny on the Bounty' fame was, in the early 1800s, one of those invited to solve the long standing problems of providing shipping with a safe, straight and deep approach into Dublin. As a result, it was decided to build a sea wall three kilometres out from the shore. The resulting sand bank, Bull Island, still continues to grow. The timber bridge was built in the autumn of 1819 and the Great North Wall, more popularly known as the Bull Wall, was completed by 1823.

Royal Dublin owns the entire links which covers some 65 hectares. The Bull Island is a bird sanctuary and a special amenity area with major scientific importance because of its variety of plant and wildlife (particularly hares).

Bunker at 1st hole, c. 1895

During the First World War, the course was taken over by the military and used as a rifle and artillery range. After the War, the clubhouse was in a very dilapidated condition and the course devastated. With £10,000 compensation, the clubhouse was re-constructed and the links re-designed by H.S. (Harry) Colt, the world famous golf course architect from Sunningdale, in 1920.

On the night of August 2nd 1943 the Clubhouse was totally destroyed by fire. Because of delays in finalising development plans for the entire island, it was not until ten years later that the new Clubhouse opened (2nd October 1954).

The 3rd hole, "The Alps", c. 1895

Major extensions were carried out in 1962, 1983, 1993 and 2007. The most recent programme involved extensive redesign and upgrading of the interior of the Clubhouse. This work included a complete refurbishment of the Locker Room, widening of the hall and the installation of a lift to the upper floor. The downstairs grill bar was moved to The Moran Room upstairs and now boasts a fantastic view of the course. Meanwhile the bars (O'Connor and Lumsden Rooms) were reconfigured to provide the requisite formal or relaxed environments for members and visitors to enjoy a post-round drink.

The 6th hole, c. 1895

This work ensured that the Clubhouse was brought up to the standard of the professionals shop and administration wing which were totally re-built in 2000.

Taking the work on the Clubhouse together with the redesign and upgrading of the links, the Club's facilities are now modern, luxurious and set the standard expected of Ireland's great clubs.

The 18th hole, c. 1895

In the history of the Club, it is likely that the period 2000 - 2007 will be seen as a watershed, a time when the Club's members took the steps necessary to restore the links to greatness and to modernise the Clubhouse to complement the course.





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Rookies Will Shape Clarke Wildcards

Europe’s team to defend the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine in September will contain at least five rookies after the nine automatic qualifiers were decided with a week to spare.

Thomas Pieters needed to defend his Czech Masters title and Shane Lowry required a top-four finish in the Wyndham Championship to keep their hopes alive heading into the final qualifying event in Denmark.

However, Pieters lost out by a single shot to the American Paul Peterson on Sunday and Lowry was certain to finish down the field in North Carolina after a closing 67.

And that means Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick are guaranteed to be on the plane to Minnesota in search of an unprecedented fourth successive win in the biennial event.

Willett, Wood, Cabrera-Bello, Sullivan and Fitzpatrick are the rookies, although Willett won the Masters in April and Wood claimed the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May.

Europe’s captain, Darren Clarke, will name his three wild cards on 30 August, with Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer strong favourites to be selected as Clarke has stressed he would favour experience for a contest on US soil.

Scotland’s Russell Knox and Pieters are understood to be the leading contenders for the final place.

Fitzpatrick has been in the qualifying places ever since winning his maiden European Tour title in the British Masters last October, the 21-year-old then claiming the Nordea Masters in June before a worrying dip in form. “It’s very exciting now,” he said after finishing fifth in Prague. “We can look forward to it and get my game in shape.

“I’ve probably been in the team for the longest period of time. It [the qualifying period] started a few weeks before I won at the British Masters and jumped into the team and I’ve managed to stay there since then. It’s been absolutely phenomenal and I’m just delighted to be in the team. It’s a great opportunity, I’ve got my first one coming up and hopefully I can just keep pushing on my game and getting better.”