The television viewer numbers for the 2006 Ryder Cup are now available for the US, UK and Irish markets. The Sunday Times reports that the total number for these 3 major markets was just over 6 million viewers (the peak numbers were 4.6M in the US, 1.1M in the UK and 600 in Ireland). The US numbers are down 20-30% on previously figures, which may in part be related to the timezone differences. (more…)
So the 36th Ryder Cup Matches have been completed and Europe have romped home to a record 3rd in a row victory, where does that leave us? Well for some of us it’s onward to Valhalla and the 37th Ryder Cup but in the meantime where does this crushing defeat leave the US team and the future of the competition? (more…)
Team Europe 18.5 – Team USA 9.5
Congratulations to the European team on an emphatic victory.
Singles results:
Colin Montgomerie Won 1 Up v David Toms
Sergio Garcia v Stewart Cink Won 4&3
Paul Casey Won 2&1 v Jim FurykRobert
Karlsson v Tiger Woods Won 3&2
(more…)
All the strategising is complete and the two captains have laid out their team line-ups for the final day. Monty leads the charge for the Europeans as he has done so impressively and successfully in the past. Europe need just four and a half points to win. Based on the evidence of the first two days, anything less than a final total of 16 points would be a surprise.
First match tees-off at 11.15am.
Just as in Brookline in 1999, Europe take a 10-6 lead into the final day of the Ryder Cup. The memories of Justin Leonard’s epic comeback on that Sunday afternoon still linger sufficiently with the European team to prevent any complacency from developing in their thoughts and behaviour. Paranoia aside, the European team has performed consistently better than the US over the first two days and only a remarkable change of form can deny them a third successive Ryder Cup victory. (more…)
With the morning fourballs reaching an exciting conclusion, the pairings for the afternoon foursomes have been announced.
Garcia/Donald v Mickelson/Toms
Monty/Westwood v Campbell/Taylor
Casey/Howell v Cink/Johnson
Harrington/McGinley v Furyk/Woods
USA will be facing a deficit of anywhere between two and four points going into the foursomes and will need the big guns to deliver. Once again, the outstanding JJ Henry is omitted.
Technorati tags ryder cup, golf
With the score standing at Europe 5 USA 3, the action begins all over again on Saturday morning at 8am with these pairings:
8.00: Cink/Henry v Casey/Karlsson
8.15: Mickelson/DiMarco v Garcia/Olazabal
8.30: Woods/Furyk v Clarke/Westwood
8.45: Verplank/Johnson v Stenson/Harrington
Often, the foursome format can be a greater differentiator than the fourball given the absence of a second chance to cover for a mistake but this afternoon saw an amazingly tight contest with all four games ending on the 18th green. Only the wonderful Sergio Garcia and his partner Luke Donald ended victorious over the mis-firing Tiger Woods & Jim Furyk. Sergio was certainly the player of the day, his golf was consistently outstanding and exuded confidence from start to finish. He was even lucky enough to survive a thinned wedge on the last once Furyk had hit his approach into the water.
Europe lead by 2.5 points to 1.5 points after today’s fourball matches. In many respects, the matches turned out as expected but I think the Europeans should feel a little frustrated not to have been further ahead given the relatively poor play of Woods & Mickelson.
The pairings of Casey & Karlsson and Garcia & Olazabal both completed the holes they played in 8 under par for the better ball score but yet this delivered just 1.5 points. This was primarily due to the fightback led by JJ Henry in the second match who emphatically won the best US rookie accolade with Brett Wetterich really struggling to make an impact. Afterwards, Robert Karlsson felt that a halved match was a fair result but I’m sure Woosie will see that as a half point dropped.
It may be over five hours since the first ball was hit at the Ryder Cup this morning but all four matches are still in progress. The top match is on the 18th with Tiger & Furyk 1-up. Matches 2 & 4 are all square, with everything to play for but it looks like a certain point for the Europeans with the Spanish pair 3-up with just three holes to play.
The pairings for this afternoon’s foursomes have been announced. Ian Woosnam has elected play all twelve of his team on the opening day and the Europeans will lead off with an Irish pairing of McGinley & Harrington. Henrik Stenson and David Howell should both be rearing to go and will be expected to win. Tom Lehman has put his two heavyweight combinations out on the last two matches and it promises to be an exciting afternoon (and evening, at the current rate of progress!).
Afternoon Foursomes
Harrington/McGinley v Campbell/Johnson
Howell/Stenson v Cink/Toms
Westwood/Montgomerie v Mickelson/DiMarco
Donald/Garcia v Woods/Furyk
Technorati tags ryder cup, golf
Ryder Cup News, Views, Opinions and History.
Everything you need to know about the Ryder Cup past, present and future. Brought to you by
Aonach
