Woods whipped as Europe reel in US
Tiger Woods has suffered the heaviest match play defeat in his professional career at the rain-delayed Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
Tiger Woods suffered the heaviest matchplay defeat of his professional career as Europe launched their Ryder Cup fightback at Celtic Manor to take the match total to 6-all.
Woods and his United States playing partner Steve Stricker were hammered 6&5 by Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.
The European pair’s crushing foursomes victory cut America’s overall lead to 6-5 on another rain-shortened day and not too long afterwards, US Open champions Graeme MCDowell and fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy squared the match at 6 matches each when they won the second foursomes of the day, beating Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan 3&1
Woods, who turned professional in 1996, suffered a 5&4 loss to Stuart Appleby and Vijay Singh during the 2007 Presidents Cup, but Westwood and Donald guaranteed a new low for him.
Miserable weather meant Westwood and Donald had to wait 15 minutes short of six hours to resume their match on the 10th tee, yet they wasted little time in finishing off Woods and Stricker, sparked by an opening Westwood birdie.
Westwood ended a one-sided contest with another putt on the 13th, making it six wins from seven Ryder Cup contests for him against Woods.
Donald, meanwhile, maintained his 100% Ryder Cup foursomes record in his sixth match.
“When you are playing Tiger you seem to up your game a little bit,” said Westwood, who could replace Woods at the head of golf’s global rankings next weekend, a position the American has held for more than five years.
“He has got a big reputation. It seems like you go out with nothing to lose.
“We played great. Monty (Colin Montgomerie) wanted us to go out and make a strong start and get some momentum going, to get the crowd cheering.”
Donald added: “We thought they would come out strong, and we needed to come out stronger.
“Westy’s putt on 10 was magnificent, It was amazing to see that go in.”
US captain Corey Pavin, after seeing Woods and Stricker outclassed, could only concede: “It happens to the best of them.”
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