RYDER CUP – FINAL DAY TIMELINE

Features

bruced
September 22, 2008

Phil Casey sums up the USA’s triumph on the final day of singles matches at Valhalla with the help of a timeline.

(all times local – add five hours for BST)
1203 – Amid an electric atmosphere, Sergio Garcia gets the singles under way with a thumping drive down the first as Europe attempt to repeat their comeback from 9-7 down at Oak Hill in 1995.
1404 – By the time Padraig Harrington tees off in the final match, the Americans are ahead in eight of the other 11.
1500 – Better news for Europe with suddenly both sides ahead in four matches each and the remaining four level, although Garcia is five down with five to play and heading for a heavy defeat.
1510 – Anthony Kim seals a 5&4 victory over Garcia and is so charged up he fails to realise the match is over and heads towards the 15th tee. The USA lead 10-7.
1555 – Robert Karlsson cruises to a 5&3 victory over Justin Leonard to get Europe’s first point of the day and reduce the gap to 10-8.
1604 – Hunter Mahan holes a massive putt for birdie on the 17th to go one up on Paul Casey in the crucial second match, evoking memories of Leonard’s putt on the 17th at Brookline in 1999.
1615 – Justin Rose birdies the 16th to seal a 3&2 victory over Phil Mickelson and make the score 10-9.
1622 – Casey birdies the 18th after Mahan drives into the water to claim half a point.
1625 – Kenny Perry completes a 3&2 victory over the dogged Henrik Stenson to put the home side two clear and within three points of victory.
1645 – Boo Weekley is eight under par in beating Oliver Wilson 4&2 to make the score 12 1/2 – 9 1/2.
1706 – JB Holmes produces a stunning birdie-birdie finish to beat Soren Hansen 2&1 and edge the United States nearer victory with Jim Furyk two up with two to play against Miguel Angel Jimenez in the match behind
1718 – Jimenez cannot find a birdie on the 17th and Furyk’s 2&1 victory seals America’s first Ryder Cup victory since 1999.
1735 – Ian Poulter completes his fourth victory from five matches, beating Steve Stricker 3&2, but a fine personal performance is already all in vain.
1738 – Graeme McDowell completes an impressive rookie display with victory over Stewart Cink to make the score 14 1/2 to 11 1/2.
1755 – Ben Curtis completes a surprise victory over Lee Westwood, who managed just two halved matches after being joint top points scorer for the previous two contests.
1800 – And Europe’s misery is complete when Padraig Harrington loses 2&1 to Chad Campbell, the double Open champion winning just half a point for the second straight Ryder Cup. The final score is USA 16 1/2 Europe 11 1/2.