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Five key moments in the 2018 Ryder Cup
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France, Oct 1, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Europe regained
the Ryder Cup by rounding off a dominant performance on Sunday to beat the
United States 17.5 to 10.5 at Le Golf National.
Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five key moments from the 42nd edition of
the Ryder Cup:
Finau’s 16th tee shot on first day
Tony Finau/Brooks Koepka (USA) bt Justin Rose/Jon Rahm (Europe) 1-up
— Thomas Bjorn’s hosts started strongly in the opening fourballs on
Friday, but Koepka and Finau flipped around the first match as the US claimed
an early 3-1 lead.
The turning point was when rookie Finau’s tee shot on the par-three 16th
hit a railway sleeper separating the green from the water, spun into the air
and settled three feet from the hole.
He made the putt to level the match, and the Americans went on to win it on
18 as Rose found the water.
“It’s the best break I’ve gotten when it meant something. I think that one
will be replayed for a long time to come,” said Finau.
‘Moliwood’ surge
Francesco Molinari/Tommy Fleetwood (Europe) bt Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas
(USA) 5 and 4
— Molinari and Fleetwood got their record-breaking partnership under way
with a 3 and 1 fourballs win over the misfiring Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed,
but it was their crushing victory against Spieth and Thomas which really sent
shockwaves through the visiting camp.
It was the only match Thomas and Spieth lost as a pairing, and proved
crucial as Europe secured the first foursomes whitewash in their history.
Garcia’s monster putt
Sergio Garcia/Rory McIlroy (Europe) bt Tony Finau/Brooks Koepka (USA) 2 and
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— Europe got off to a flying start in Saturday’s morning fourballs as
McIlroy and Garcia stormed clear of Koepka and Finau.
The Americans launched a thrilling fightback, though, by winning three
consecutive holes as they threatened to become the first duo to ever win
after being 4-down with five to play.
But after McIlroy had taken the pressure off by draining a long par effort,
Garcia curled home a perfect 25-footer for birdie, with victory secured when
Koepka missed his birdie try. The point sent Europe on their way to a 3-1
session win and a commanding 8-4 lead.
McIlroy downed by Thomas
Justin Thomas (USA) bt Rory McIlroy (NIR) 1-up
— The Americans surged back at the Europeans on a gripping final
afternoon, and Thomas led the way with victory on the 18th.
Thomas snatched the win on the final hole of his opening match with
McIlroy, as the four-time major champion smashed his drive to a plugged lie
in a bunker, left his second shot in the sand, before sending his make-or-
break third into the water.
“It was a heavyweight pillow fight, if you will,” admitted Thomas of a
match that, although exciting, failed to see either player find their very
best.
Rahm heroics
Jon Rahm (Europe) bt Tiger Woods (USA) 2 and 1
— With the tide seemingly turning towards the visitors as they cut the
Europeans’ lead to one point, Woods hit back against Rahm to level their
match with six holes to play.
The Spanish rookie recovered to move 2-up, only to show his nerves with a
missed short putt on 16 to see his lead halved with two holes remaining.
But the 23-year-old Rahm — the youngest player at the 2018 event —
crushed a massive drive down the 17th fairway, spun a wedge to five feet, and
holed out for a vital win that put Europe to within two points of the trophy.
“About as hard as I can hit a drive,” said Rahm. “I don’t know how far it
went, but it was hard. To have 117 metres to that pin, it’s just ridiculous.”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1025 hrs