Ryder Cup Diary

Paddy Power drew fire from organisers with the errection of a massive “HOLLYWOOD” style sign in a field overlooking the event.
Celtic Manor owner described Paddy Power as scum following the “guerrilla marketing” stunt outside the boundaries of Celtic Manor as the Ryder Cup got underway on Monday. Following the court case Paddy Power has been given 3 days to disassemble the sign at Celtic Manor and leave the Ryder Cup to carry on un-Paddied!

An interesting video roundup of the Ryder Cup highs and lows from Celtic Manor…

The lineup for the singles matches in the morning have Lee Westwood and Steve Stricker leading out…

Lee Westwood V Steve Stricker
Rory McIlroy V Stewart Cink
Luke Donald V Jim Furyk.
Martin Kaymer V Dustin Johnson
Ian Poulter V Matt Kuchar
Ross Fisher V Jeff Overton
Miguel Angel Jiménez V Bubba Watson
Francesco Molinari V Tiger Woods
Edoardo Molinari V Rickie Fowler
Peter Hanson V Phil Mickelson
Padraig Harrington V Zach Johnson, a
Graeme McDowell V Hunter Mahan

Europe Lead 9 1/2 to 6 1/2 after the 3rd session which Europe won 5 1/2 to 1/2

Foursomes

L. Donald / L. Westwood V S. Stricker / T. Woods Europe Wins 6 & 5
G. McDowell / R. McIlroy V Z. Johnson / H. Mahan Europe Wins 3 & 1

Fourballs

P. Harrington / R. Fisher V J. Furyk / D. Johnson Europe Wins 2 & 1
P. Hanson / M. Jimenez V B. Watson / J. Overton Europe Wins 2Up
E. Molinari / F. Molinari V S. Cink / M. Kuchar Halved
I. Poulter / M. Kaymer V P. Mickelson / R. Fowler Europe Wins 2 & 1

Due the the extensive rain stoppages to play and the torrential rain last night that left the course heavily waterlogged, the singles matches will now be rescheduled for Monday morning. This is the first time in 83 years that Ryder Cup matches will finish on a Monday.

Singles matches will take place Monday morning, beginning at 9:05am local time (4:05am U.S. ET).

Access to tomorrows matches will be restricted to those with a season pass for all days or Sunday passes. This has caused some upset amongst the fans who endured 7 hours of rain on Friday to see only a very limited amount of Ryder Cup action…

US Lead by 6 to Europes 4 after this session which ended with the US getting 3 1/2 to Europes 2 1/2

M. Jimenez / P. Hanson V  T. Woods / S. Stricker US Wins 4 & 3
E. Molinari / F. Molinari V Z. Johnson / H. Mahan US Wins 2 Up
L. Westwood / M. Kaymer V J. Furyk / R. Fowler Halved
P. Harrington / R. Fisher V P. Mickelson / D. Johnson Wins 3 & 2
I. Poulter / L. Donald V B. Watson / J. Overton Wins 2 & 1
G. McDowell / R. McIlroy V S. Cink / M. Kuchar Wins 1Up

US Lead by 2 1/2 to Europes 1 1/2

L. Westwood / M. Kaymer Wins V P. Mickelson / D. Johnson –  Europe Wins 3 & 2 P.
R. McIlroy / G. McDowell V S. Cink / M. Kuchar –  Halved
I. Poulter / R. Fisher Wins  V S. Stricker / T. Woods US Wins 2Up
L. Donald / P. Harrington  V B. Watson / J. Overton US Wins 3 & 2

Well it’s raining in Wales and the Ryder Cup is in disarray! The play has been called off for the day now and officials are trying to figure out how to re-jig the rest of the match so that play can finish by Sunday evening.

The US team are in the lead on the course but its too early to say anyingthing much yet…

The US team’s wet weather gear failed to perform, which must be an embarressment to sponsor Sun Mountain. The team abandoned the Sun Mountain waterproofs in favour of replacement jackets and pants from the on-course merchandising shop…

The practice days are over and the game is on. Pairings for this morning four balls (US names first, Europe second):

MATCH 1
Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson v Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer

MATCH 2
Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar v Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell

MATCH 3
Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods v Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher

MATCH 4
Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton v Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington

Europes wildcards will be surprised to be playing two rookies – but the question is who is going to surprise whom?