FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Team Europe already had demolished and disheartened the Americans in another Ryder Cup romp on Saturday, and it wasn’t finished.
Team Europe already had demolished and disheartened the Americans in another Ryder Cup romp on Saturday, and it wasn’t finished.
The final match of a long, loud and obnoxious day at Bethpage Black was all square when Matt Fitzpatrick blasted out of a fairway bunker and heard European cheers when his ball spun back to 2 feet away. Next to play was Tyrrell Hatton, whose shot into the 18th hole spun back and nicked his teammate’s ball.
It summed up how the exquisite golf of Europe, which took on every challenge — starting with a gallery so hostile extra security was required — and wound up in the Ryder Cup record book for the largest lead in the modern format: Europe 11 1/2, United States 4 1/2.
“I didn’t really imagine this,” European captain Luke Donald said.
Europe needs only to win three of the 12 singles matches Sunday to take that precious gold trophy back home across the Atlantic Ocean. Donald has turned to 45-year-old Justin Rose to lead off against Cameron Young, followed by Tommy Fleetwood, who can become the first European to go 5-0 on the road.
The main attraction is Rory McIlroy against Scottie Scheffler, the game’s top two players who have three majors and 10 victories this year among them.
The real attraction is Europe. The louder and more vulgar it got, the better they played.
“Things got tougher out there, and it fired them up even more,” Donald said. “They were able to get better through those difficult moments out there. That is what makes me most proud as a captain, just their ability to take the punches and come back even stronger.”
McIlroy caught the brunt of verbal abuse and at one point turned to the spectators and said, “Shut the (expletive) up.” And then he stuffed his shot to 5 feet for birdie that closed out the foursomes match on the 16th hole for another blue point.
There was nothing the not-so-mighty U.
