• Ryder Cup, Day One

USA hold the initiative but the weather is the real winner

ESPN staff
October 1, 2010
Lee Westwood looked in fabulous form early on for the European Team © PA Photos
Enlarge

Stay tuned to ESPN throughout the week for live coverage, news, views and reaction from the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor

Gallery

Europe will head into Saturday with much work to do in the fourballs, with USA having the better of a first day that was hugely overshadowed by a seven-hour rain delay at Celtic Manor.

After play was brought to an abrupt halt at 0943 due to dire weather conditions - the first suspension of play at a Ryder Cup since Valderrama, Spain in 1997 - the fourballs resumed at 5pm, with America ending the day 2-1 ahead, with one of the four matches all square.

USA appeared rattled before rain suspended play but they came out firing later to hold a slender advantage over their European counterparts, although heavy rain proved to be the real winner at a waterlogged Celtic Manor on day one of the 38th Ryder Cup.

The leading match of Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer against the United States duo of Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson - which currently sees Europe one up having played 12 holes - will recommence at 8am on Saturday.

After more than seven-and-a-half hours without any golf to savour, the loyal crowd were rewarded for their patience when the players resumed their matches late in the afternoon.

The long break appeared to galvanise the visitors, with Stewart Cink showing the way with some exquisite putting. The 2009 Open champion, and playing partner Matt Kuchar, were one down at the resumption of their match with the Northern Ireland duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, but Cink holed a huge birdie putt from off the green to cut the deficit, after McIlroy missed his chip for a half.

Cink sunk another incredible putt, this time from 20ft, to ensure the Americans turned the tables to lead the second match by one after seven holes. McIlroy missed a seven-footer as the light faded to bring Europe right back into the match but Cink, who had five birdies in the first 11 holes, can feel proud of his efforts after securing USA a two-hole lead.

Europe's best partnership was undoubtedly the combination of Westwood and US PGA champion Kaymer. Westwood, who has not played competitively for seven weeks because of a calf injury, looked in terrific form early on while Kaymer began to fire at the re-start. The German coolly drained par putts on nine and 11 to halve the holes, before his putt for the win at the 12th didn't come back as imagined, leaving the duo one-up overnight. Although the European pair are in the ascendency, they were at one stage three up before the relentless rain had its say. Mickelson was central to the fightback, showing his quality with three straight birdies to signal his intentions for the morning.

In the third match, a massive pressure putt from Ian Poulter pegged Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods back to all square at the death. Ross Fisher, playing with Poulter, will be hoping for a better day on Saturday after nerves seemed to get the better of the Englishman, especially when it came to his putting.

Ominously for Europe, Woods showed flashes of brilliance to suggest his best form is around the corner.

Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington have a battle on their hands after coming up against an inspired pairing in Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson - both of whom are making their Ryder Cup debuts. Donald had a nervy six-footer for the half on nine but declined to take it, leaving the Europeans one down.

The 38th edition of the biennial event got underway on time at 0745 despite the inclement weather conditions already starting to wreak havoc.

The European home support were not to be disheartened and were in full voice as nearly 2000 fans greeted Westwood and Kaymer - and their opponents Mickelson and Johnson - onto the first tee.

Johnson had the honour of opening proceedings but nerves appeared to get the better of him as the Ryder Cup rookie sliced his drive into the rough.

And the Americans soon found themselves behind, with Westwood draining a birdie at the second before producing a stunning bunker shot at the fourth to increase the advantage. McIlroy and McDowell began brightly, leading Cink and Kuchar by one through four.

Poulter and Fisher led Woods and Stricker after three holes before play was abandoned. The Europeans won the first hole only for Woods to draw USA level at the second. But a visibly fired up Poulter holed a 30ft monster putt at the next hole to regain the initiative for the team in blue.

Watson and Overton were two up after two holes in their match with Harrington and Donald before officials had no choice but to bring the players in with the course absolutely sodden.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices