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Unassailable is a non-existent word in the Ryder Cup lexicon. There is no such thing. Nor is there ever a real lead. That only comes at the end when all the matches are played, the fans gone home and the Samuel Ryder trophy is in the hands of the winning captain. Or indeed the photographs taken and printed. As two years ago at Medinah can attest. As are those memories of the Saturday night at The Country Club in Brookline, Boston, where Mark James probably thought US Captain Ben Crenshaw was a little over tense when he claimed at the press conference before the singles on Sunday – when Europe led 10-6.
“I'm going to leave y'all with one thought. I'm a big believer in fate. I have a good feeling about this."
In fairness, Ryder Cup history at that time suggested it was an insurmountable advantage for Europe and no one really believed the U.S. could overcome that deficit. However on Sunday the European collapse was palpable all over the course as the US team sprang into action. All coming to an end for Europe on the 17th green that earned the event the reputation as the Battle of Brookline. So for Tom Watson the USA team room at Gleneagles on Saturday night must have drawn on that Crenshaw moment as the running order for the singles were discussed.
With no Tiger Woods this time to terrify the Europeans. Or Dustin Johnson to add to their batting order. Or indeed the inform duo of Bill Horschel and Chris Kirk to add to the attack, the legendary US captain might feel deflated facing his of mere looking mortals. All of whom were outplayed at Gleneagles on Saturday foursome session. With a number of players forgetting their game at home or in the locker room. Albeit in the morning four ball their performances would have met with Watson’s approval.
A bit like there is little Gentle about Ben Crenshaw. One imagines that there is nothing soft about Tom Watson either. A player who ranks amongst the best ever in the history of the game with 8 major titles. All won against tough opposition. Five of which are Open championships with most on in Scotland, a place he considers almost as a second home
As Medinah proved, this match is not over until it’s over. As did Constantino Rocca when he proved that Woods was a mere mortal in 1997 when he won the game 4&2 at Valderrama. In 2002 Rookie Philip Price made world number two at the time, Phil Mickelson, look less than ordinary in his 3&2 point win at The Belfry in 2002.
The history of the Ryder Cup is littered with those legendary stories. All part of the search for winning algorithms that might guarantee a winning formula for any incoming captain. Or a magic powder that can forecast the match outcomes.
The truth being that this biannual event for the Samuel Ryder trophy is a marketing dream, TV broadcasters treasure with unpredictability its core. Sunday at Gleneagles will be no different with the Sunday pairings proving that once gain.
The fact that Tea Europe won the early session once again, as they have in four of the last seven event. But it's no guarantee either pf overall victory. As singles is the more American game given that fourball and foursomes are largely unknown formats for the US players. And something they only play in their career if on Ryder Cup teams.
The Sunday format is what they are accustomed to week in and week out. Traditionally the day they overran either GB&I or European teams over the years. That simple gloves off golf over eighteen holes with the last man standing the winner is what they learn from their College days. Traditionally European teams have wilted in the singles and always needed a large lead after the Friday and Saturday sessions to limit the full impact of possible Sunday hammerings.
These days it’s a bit different as Europeans and Americans play each other every week on the PGA Tour and some of that mystique has gone. With two Europeans in the top three of the world golf rankings the fear has switched the other way perhaps.
As Webb Simpson might feel wishing he avoided European talisman Ian Poulter following a non-descript two days.
But so is the nature of the draw.
With Seve Ballesteros in 1997 even reversing the traditional format of the opening session from fourball to foursomes to seek an advantage. A tactic to baffle Tom Kite's American team as much as possible in his quest to retain the Ryder Cup on his home soil in Valderrama. Sending out some of his big guns early to stave off any US attack; hiding rookie Lee Westwood in the mix who was drawn with Jeff Maggert. But with Jose Maria, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie left to sweep the points at the end of the day – if any momentum was gained in the early pairings.
As it turned out Monty decided the last game and Europe retained the trophy. A decision that cost Tom Lehman at the K Club when his big guns were at the rear and Darren Clarke resolved the match on the sixteenth. For a number of matches Woods has had no bearing or influence on the match. As also happened at The Belfry in 2002.
This time Watson has to take the fight early to have any chance. He also must rely on those in form and is looking to Jordan Speith, Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan in the search for red on the scoreboard. It may be a tough ask but Graeme McDowell needs his A Game to hold Speith this time around. But in the Ryder Cup he has previous and this should be achievable.
Henrik Stenson is slightly injured. However he is the Iceman and a year ago swept the FedEx Cup. The last thing he needed though was a meeting with Patrick Reed.
With Rory McIlroy drawn with Fowler there will be personal battle to settle some scores and eighteen holes may not be enough to find a winner.
In the middle order Mickelson will play only his third match and drawn against rookie Stephen Gallacher. Who if not quite Andrew Coltart at Brookline, who saw no action until the singles, it will be similar feeling for the Scot given his few positive memories as a result of Friday. But like Philip Price in 2002 Gallacher can upset the world rankings at Gleneagles. So he is more likely to win given his competitive spirit and home support. And also, Lefty may not be at his most unbeatable this week.
Whether Martin Kaymer can hold off Bubba Watson will be an interesting battle as both are winners this season on the PGA Tour this season. Although it has to be said the German's win at the US Open at Pinehurst is the more impressive. But as Bubba has proved at Augusta, he is a match for anyone on any given day. With a range of shots that defy logic many times. Thriving on the noisy cauldron of the Ryder Cup.
Matt Kuchar and Thomas Bjorn is a hard call, with the Dane hopefully holding Friday's form through Sunday afternoon. With the paring following them also a mixed bag as Furyk's Ryder Cup record poor by his high PGA Tour stats. And Sergio Garcia a bit up and down this week.
Keegan Bradley will fall to Jamie Donaldson. Who might have been the leading rookie this week if it were not for the masterly show from Frenchman Victor Dubuisson. Seems unlikely that the Welshman - who has added to his Irish Open win in 2012 at Royal Port rush on the European tour. An under par and over hyped Bradley proved in Medinah that the Ryder Cup may not be his forte.
Unless fatigue catches up with Lee Westwood, he will get within one point of Faldo’s Ryder Cup record of 24 points with a win over Jimmy Walker. Although that might be a close fight unless the momentum has swung to blue on the board and the result is almost decided. Playing towards the end of the order means that news trickles down quickly by radio about matches up ahead. So some games can just get played for the record books. But based on the first two days Walker will not concede easily.
As for the last pairing. Well, the 2007 Master Champion Zach Johnson would not appear to have a hope against the Rookie Dubuisson. A cross between D’Artagnan and Asterix with the look of a winner all week.
If the US even scrape the 7 and a half points, it won’t be enough at 13 ½ points and Europe will retain the trophy.
Captain McGinley will then retain his unbeaten record in the Ryder cup both as player and Vice-Captain. On the other hand Tom Watson will only collect his second defeat in 16 encounters. The worry is that losing is not something in the Watson vocabulary so Europe need to be somewhat fearful.
But an unassailable lead does not exist in the Ryder Cup.
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