Newsday (N.Y.): Ryder Cup: Rain delay suits U.S. on Day 1
By Art Spander
Special to Newsday
NEWPORT, Wales -- Day 1 of the 38th Ryder Cup had more than a worrisome resemblance to the week of the 2009 U.S. Open. It was Bethpage Redux, with comic relief, if you take into account the American team's outerwear as well as its inner strength.
The opening round, four matches of fourball, or better-ball, never finished Friday. For a while it seemed it barely started, as a forecast deluge and un-forecast flooding caused a 7-hour, 18-minute suspension of play and then caused a unique revision of the event's format.
After play resumed around 5 p.m. British summer time and then lasted until the last light just before 7, the American team led in two matches, trailed in one and was tied in the fourth.
Considering the European squad was ahead in three of the four matches when the decision to halt play at Celtic Manor was made around 9:45 a.m., the U.S. had to be pleased.
Stewart Cink-Matt Kuchar of the U.S. led Rory McIlroy-Graeme McDowell, 2 up through 11 holes; Bubba Watson-Jeff Overton, the American rookies, were ahead of Luke Donald-Padraig Harrington, 1 up through 8; Ian Poulter's 25-foot birdie putt at 10 enabled him and Ross Fisher to even their match with Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods through 10 holes; and Euros Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer were 1 up over Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson after 12.
Westwood-Kaymer, playing the opening match, bolted to a huge lead (3 up after six holes). But the U.S. roared back with birdies on the two par 3s. Johnson's putt from about 6 feet won the seventh hole and Mickelson's 8-footer from pin high won the 10th to leave the American duo just 1 down.
The Ryder Cup normally entails five sessions: two fourball and two foursomes (or alternate-shot matches) the first two days worth a total of 16 points, then 12 singles matches (one point each) on Sunday for a match total of 28 points.
Now, squeezing this competition into four sessions, officials will send out six foursomes today after the finish of the four four-balls still on course. A third session will include two foursomes and four fourballs. Finally, the 12 singles on Sunday.
"I think it works out very well,'' said Euro captain Colin Montgomerie.
What didn't work were the Sun Mountain rain suits used by the Americans. Looking very much like college basketball warmups, with names on the back, the suits got soaked. During the delay, U.S. officials went to the merchandise tent and, at about $350 each, bought 24 rain suits from ProQuip, the firm that makes the European team's suits.
Whether the American side will need the new gear is problematical. Another storm could hit Sunday, and maybe force the Ryder Cup to a Monday finish for the first time in history.
"If we lose another hour of play,'' Montgomerie said, "well, that's it. We are through to Monday.''
Monty believes his team has an advantage in foursomes, where two men play one ball. American captain Corey Pavin saw the revision another way, that he didn't have to sit four players, because every member of each team will be in action without a break.
About the rain suits? "They didn't perform the way they were supposed to perform,'' Pavin said.
On a long, trying and soggy day, that couldn't be said of his players.
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/ryder-cup-rain-delay-suits-u-s-on-day-1-1.2329791
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.
Special to Newsday
NEWPORT, Wales -- Day 1 of the 38th Ryder Cup had more than a worrisome resemblance to the week of the 2009 U.S. Open. It was Bethpage Redux, with comic relief, if you take into account the American team's outerwear as well as its inner strength.
The opening round, four matches of fourball, or better-ball, never finished Friday. For a while it seemed it barely started, as a forecast deluge and un-forecast flooding caused a 7-hour, 18-minute suspension of play and then caused a unique revision of the event's format.
After play resumed around 5 p.m. British summer time and then lasted until the last light just before 7, the American team led in two matches, trailed in one and was tied in the fourth.
Considering the European squad was ahead in three of the four matches when the decision to halt play at Celtic Manor was made around 9:45 a.m., the U.S. had to be pleased.
Stewart Cink-Matt Kuchar of the U.S. led Rory McIlroy-Graeme McDowell, 2 up through 11 holes; Bubba Watson-Jeff Overton, the American rookies, were ahead of Luke Donald-Padraig Harrington, 1 up through 8; Ian Poulter's 25-foot birdie putt at 10 enabled him and Ross Fisher to even their match with Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods through 10 holes; and Euros Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer were 1 up over Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson after 12.
Westwood-Kaymer, playing the opening match, bolted to a huge lead (3 up after six holes). But the U.S. roared back with birdies on the two par 3s. Johnson's putt from about 6 feet won the seventh hole and Mickelson's 8-footer from pin high won the 10th to leave the American duo just 1 down.
The Ryder Cup normally entails five sessions: two fourball and two foursomes (or alternate-shot matches) the first two days worth a total of 16 points, then 12 singles matches (one point each) on Sunday for a match total of 28 points.
Now, squeezing this competition into four sessions, officials will send out six foursomes today after the finish of the four four-balls still on course. A third session will include two foursomes and four fourballs. Finally, the 12 singles on Sunday.
"I think it works out very well,'' said Euro captain Colin Montgomerie.
What didn't work were the Sun Mountain rain suits used by the Americans. Looking very much like college basketball warmups, with names on the back, the suits got soaked. During the delay, U.S. officials went to the merchandise tent and, at about $350 each, bought 24 rain suits from ProQuip, the firm that makes the European team's suits.
Whether the American side will need the new gear is problematical. Another storm could hit Sunday, and maybe force the Ryder Cup to a Monday finish for the first time in history.
"If we lose another hour of play,'' Montgomerie said, "well, that's it. We are through to Monday.''
Monty believes his team has an advantage in foursomes, where two men play one ball. American captain Corey Pavin saw the revision another way, that he didn't have to sit four players, because every member of each team will be in action without a break.
About the rain suits? "They didn't perform the way they were supposed to perform,'' Pavin said.
On a long, trying and soggy day, that couldn't be said of his players.
- - - - - -
http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/ryder-cup-rain-delay-suits-u-s-on-day-1-1.2329791
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.