golf
Ryder Cup: Europe extends lead against desolate US team
The Spaniard Jon Rahm (l) and Tyrrell Hatton from England cheer. photo
© Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
Europe’s top golfers continue to play like crazy at the 44th Ryder Cup. The defending champions from the USA look ailing. The captain tries to explain the dismal performance.
Europe’s top golfers won three of the four morning duels. The Americans, who were favored in advance, were only able to win one game in the twelve matches played so far at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. In the afternoon there are four team duels on the program again.
Record victory for Scandinavian duo
Donald nominated the same four duos for the Saturday morning duels that defeated the US teams 4-0 on Friday morning. The Scandinavians Viktor Hovland (Norway) and Ludvig Aberg (Sweden) celebrated a record victory in the foursomes format against world number one Scottie Scheffler and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka. With a lead of nine points, the match was decided early for the Europeans after just eleven holes played. The only win for the US team was achieved by the duo Max Homa/Brian Harman against Shane Lowry (Ireland) and Sepp Straka (Austria).
US captain Zach Johnson indicated in the press conference after the first day that the US team was struggling with health problems. “There’s a little bit of passing around, caddies, players,” Johnson said. “I’m grateful we have a team doctor.”
The European team wants to regain the title from the Americans in Rome. Two years ago, the US team defeated the Europeans in Whistling Straits in the US state of Wisconsin with a record victory of 19:9 points. However, the US team’s success on European soil dates back 30 years.