By now it's clear that the opening day of the Ryder Cup brought more than a deluge, seven-hour delay and organizational scramble to the proceedings at Celtic Manor. It also allowed a reeling United States team back into the game, evidenced by their one-point lead after the opening four-ball matches finally wound down on Saturday morning — which they later built into a 6-4 lead going into the compacted schedule's third session.
It's also blindingly clear that as darkness fell over Wales on Saturday night, America most certainly avoided a wipeout in the second wave of four-ball matches, not to mention the first two alternate shot matches. Now staring at an across-the-board deficit in the matches currently underway through four to nine holes — including the potential shellacking of the heretofore unbeatable Tiger Woods-Steve Stricker team — the Yanks got a reprieve courtesy of Mother Nature, and the autumn calendar. As the Euros steamrolled through every match with buried pitch shots and slam-dunked putts (how about Luke Donald's iron play, mate?), only the inexorable hand of time seemed to stand in the way of a clean sweep and a commanding 10-6 lead going into tomorrow's singles matches.
Hurry sundown, indeed.
Even Tiger and the Strick have to feel they're still in their foursomes match with Donald and Lee Westwood. Four down with nine to play is not insurmountable if Tiger can figure out his putting alignment and start hitting crisper irons, and if Stricker finds his green form again. Beyond them, every match is very much up for grabs. Except, perhaps, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler's two-down deficit after four holes to Ian Poulter (shown above with American Bubba Watson in the background) and Martin Kaymer. Phil's well on his way to becoming one of the least productive Ryder Cuppers ever, with a short putting stroke that looks downright horrible and a persistent head-shaking attitude that tells me he'd rather be back home in sunny San Diego County than out there in the Welsh elements.
Then there are the Molinari brothers, who could do for Italian Ryder Cup golf what Sergio and Seve did for the Spaniards — make it an intrinsic part of the Euro competitive makeup for years to come. Those boys can play, and they're fiery in all the right ways. They obviously love it out there, and I think they'll win their current match before being split up for singles.
This is getting tasty, and could turn out to be one of the all-time great Ryder Cup finishes if the rain holds.
Hurry sunrise, indeed.
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