by Ed Leahy
A short but sweet day of Ryder Cup golf as Europe bossed the Americans in Session Three. Read how the third day unfolded at Celtic Manor.
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EUROPE 9.5-6.5 USA
SESSION 3
FOURBALLS
Harrington/Fisher Won 2&1 v Furyk/D Johnson
Hanson/Jimenez Won 1Up v Watson/Overton
E Molinari/F Molinari Halved v Cink/Kuchar
Poulter/Kaymer Won 2&1 v Mickelson/Fowler (16)
FOURSOMES
Donald/Westwood Won 6&5 v Stricker/Woods
McDowell/McIlroy Won 3&1 v Z Johnson /Mahan
18.16 And the last word to a certain GMac from his Twitter.com page: Greatest session in Ryder Cup history!!!! What an effort from Team Europe. Team USA were hit by a Blue Euro Freight train today.
18.10 So another day at Celtic Manor comes to a close and while it was a short day in golfing terms, the quality was very evident as the European marched all over the American challenge picking up where they left off on Saturday. The third session finished 5.5 points to a meagre half point in favour of Monty's Europe. Sets it all up for a fascinating finish on the reserve day, Monday. And I'll be back in the morning for the start of the singles to take you right through to the deciding match in this year's Ryder Cup. Play is scheduled to start at 9.05am - weather permitting, of course.
17.58 So five wins from twelve games is still a big ask against a team of the quality of the Americans. Still, the Europeans will have to be confident with the way the likes of Westwood, Donald, Fisher, Poulter and Jimenez are playing, not forgetting the three Irish boys who are more than doing their fair share for the cause.
17.54 Monty is absolutely pumped after that last half point was decided. He places a huge infuence on Tiger getting beaten and was full of praise for the Hanson/Jimenez victory and the Molinari comeback. Monty is going to change his running order now for the Singles and just now needs five of his players to win to reclaim the Ryder Cup.
17.51 EUROPE 9.5-6.5 USA
17.50 Well Francesco has been having a nightmare from close in with his putting today so this has to be the nerviest three footer of his career. Even brother Edouardo is over for a peak. Francesco lines it up and .................yes, straight in the middle. What a half point for the Molinaris - delighted for them.
17.49 Kuchar misses and Cink cannot beat five so it's two Molinari putts for a halve.....Edouardo first from ten feet. Plenty of pace but just too much and flies above the hole. Next Francesco.......a three footer, simple, right??
17.48 Final match of the day is about to come to a conclusin and anything but an American point will surely knock the last bit of confidence out of Corey Pavin's side. They have been hammered today and this is their only shining light.
17.44 It's no clean sweep for Europe in Session Three but the next best thing. And unbelieveably the Molinari clan have a chance to win the last to take a superb half point. Edouardo is ten feet away from birdie and Francesco went even closer and has a three footer for birdie. Kuchar is about twenty feet away.
17.43 EUROPE 9-6 USA
17.41 Kaymer rolls his putt down to the hole happy to sacrifice the birdie for the guaranteed two putt. It's conceeded and that's another win for Europe.
17.40 Good effort by Mickelson but off line and rolls on past the hole. Two putts for the win now for Kaymer. Kuchar safely on the 18th and looking good for a halve. The Molinari brothers will need to get very close.
17.35 Kaymer's tee off on 17 just about secures the match and the point for Europe. Unless one of the Americans can get very close. No chance. Fowler finds sand and Lefty has gone left into the rough. A two putt for Kaymer or Poulter should secure he halve and the match. Kaymer and Poults both on the green and the German is only about 15 feet away from his first birdie of the day.
17.33 Jimenez's approach to 18 and Hanson's birdie effort were enough to put the pressure on the Americans to make birdie. Neither made their putts and Jimenez didn't even have to try. Projected score is now 9-7 going into the Single - can the Molinari boys sneak a halve on the final hole??
17.32 EUROPE 8-6 USA
17.30 Overton..................flies past and that's the match for Europe. Another great point for Monty's boys.
17.30 Bubba first.....close but just runs out of juice.
17.28 hanson almost sinks a 40 footer to allow Jimenez to go at the hole. The two Americans must putt first though. One of them have to finish and if they don't Jimenez won't even have to bother.
17.27 Francesco just misses a birdie putt that would have brough the game back to all square. Just falls off short of the hole but a good effort. One down with one to play. Kaymer makes a great halve on 16 to guarantee at least a half point there.
17.23 A great philosopher once wrote - 'that'll ding dang do for me' and Jimenez's third at the 18th was exactly what he was thinking of when he wrote it. A top quality shot leaving him about 12 feet for the match. And he'll probably have two for the win as both Bubba and Overton are twice the distance.
17.22 Kuchar looking good for a halve on 17. Overton on 18 - safely on the green but a long way off when a hole win is needed.
17.18 Getting very exciting on the 18th as all four have decided to lay up.
17.15 Poulter and Fowler in the bunker on 16. Kaymer's shot looks good but falls into the bunker as well. Mickelson finds the green on the far side but still a long way off. A halve will be a good score for the Europeans after those approach shots.
17.12 Cink hits a perfect iron on 17 and now the Molinaris ahve to get inside the two American balls that are already on. Francesco does just that but flings away the club in disgust still thinking of that putt on the last hole. Edouardo hits the green as well but a fair bit further away than the other three.
17.09 Remarkably Francesco Molinari had a six footer to halve but leaves it short. A shocking effort - how many times has he heard that about his short putting. Edouardo has a tougher chance but misses as well and it's back to 1Down for the brothers.
17.04 A poor enough effort from Jimenez and drops off line and short of the hole. They're all off down the 18th. The first match to reach the 18th hole. Poulter, meanwhile over on the 15th, has just sank his birdie to go 2Up with three to play.
17.01 Overton needs to attack the pin now from the rough. A good effort but goes six feet past. Francesco Molinari first to play out of the bunker on 16 - gets to within five feet. Bubba gets close on 17 as well but now Jimenez has a putt for the match.
16.59 Hanson from the 17th bunker....if he can get up and down it will give Jimenez a run at the hole. A perfect effort leaving just four feet to the hole. Another missed putt for Mickelson on 15.
16.55 On the 17th now and Jimenez smashes his tee shot straight at the pin. A great chance of a birdie. Hanson missed the green but so did Overton, while Bubba is in the bunker. This match may not need the final hole. Molinari very unlucky on 16. Drops into the bunker to join brother Ed. Kuchar and Cink with gettable putts so advantage USA in that game.
16.51 Jumenez sinks a great birdie on 16 and Overton cannot follow so Europe go back ahead in that match.
16.48 Molinari rolls up to tap in for birdie and Kuchar cannot chip in so it's back to all square in that match.
16.45 Fisher sinks his twenty footer to win the match. A great 2&1 victory for Harrington and Fisher to put Europe 7-6 ahead overall.
16.45 EUROPE 7-6 USA
16.45 FIIIIIIISSSSSHHHHEEEERRR
16.43 Furyk goes for broke but flies past. Down to Johnson now - needs to hole. But the Europeans are going first and if either putt drops, this match is over. Fisher up first....
16.41 Dutinn Johnson keeps the USA in with a shout getting closer than both Harrington and Fisher. Furyk could also chip in for two as he looks like he fancies it. A halve will do for the Eurpeans.
16.38 Mickelson's putt lips out to give Poulter and Kaymer the hole and they go 1Up with four to play. Kuchar's second on 15 is poor and Cink misses a birdie effort so a good chance for the Molinaris to get back to all square. Overton's approach to 16 is sublime. All to play for on that hole and in that game overall.
16.36 Fisher nails the green on the 17th and Harrington follows him in to within 15 feet. The Americans need to go right at the pin to have a chance. Over on 16, Jimenez is after playing a great approach to give him a chance to get back in front.
16.31 Harrington appears to be drawing a map for Fisher down to the hole. Taking almost as long as the USA pair. Eventually, Fisher lines it up and.......just breaks early and misses. Off to the 17th with a guaranteed half point in their pockets.
16.27 Fisher has played a lovely shot onto the 16th green. This could be another point for Europe. Furyk is lining up Johnson putt for him - Johnson has to putt this for a chance of winning the hole. Johnson taking forever and misses just offline. fisher now with a putt for the match.
16.24 Great halve for Eddie Molinari - did he once play for the Dream Team Harchester United? A pressure hole there considering brother Frankie was out of it from the tee. Hanson makes a great three to take a halve that must seem like a win.
16.22 Bubba for eagle. Can't believe he left that short - a very poor effort considering his partner was in for three.
16.20 Overton misses eagle chance but Bubba can still get there. Edouardo gets close with a bunker shot and a good putt will be a great halve.
16.17 Back on 15, Jimenez pops it on but still a lot to do to make birdie. Hanson has a trickier shot - needs to get very close to have any chance. A great shot from inside the water hazzard but one good putt and it's the hole for the USA. Kuchar misses a long effort for birdie on 14.
16.15 Fowler in the water off the tee on 14. Mickelson needs a good drive. Just....gets across the water. Not a nice lie in the rough there. Chance for Poulter and Kaymer to get back in front.
16.12 The American charge is well and truly on as Overton and Watson nail the green on the short par four 15th. Hanson finds rough and Jimenez off the green as well. Big chance for the USA to go up in this match.
16.07 Hanson misses a monster putt for a halve and it's another confidence booster for the USA. All square there with four to play. And Fowler and Mickelson are back all square with Poulter and Kaymer. Fisher gives Europe hope by making a tricky six footer for a halve on 15. Projected scores now at 8-8.
16.05 Dustin Johnson has a huge putt to win the 15th. Can't see him make this, in fact a two putt would be very good from here. Great effort - just off line but will make the two putt easily.
16.03 Francesco Molinari just found the water on the 14th. Starting to fall apart for the Italians.
16.00 Harrington first to go with his chip from the rough on the 15th. A decent lie but standing on a slippy slope. But this is Harrington's territory around the green and drops it to within ten feet. Furyk almost chips in so the best Europe can hope for here is a halve.
15.57 Europeans in trouble on the 14th. Lots of work to do just to make par. Could be all square after this with four to go.
15.53 Rain starting to fall again at Celtic Manor. Harrington finds the crowd to the right as well. Poor European efforts all round. Furyk finds rough but Johnson gets it on the front edge. Great chance here for the Americans to get one back after losing the 14th.
15.50 A great chance for Cink to win the 13th to put American ahead in the match but just comes up a bit shy. Kuchar next up and gets all the way up, stops on the lip and falls over. That's the first bit of red on the board in a long time. Big shout of fore from Fisher on the 15th tee. Straight into the crowd. Over to you Mr Harrington.
15.48 A terrible putt for Dustin Johnson on the 14th. Poulter misses a birdie chance and Fowler has a chance to square the match. Just a bit short of pace and Europe maintain their lead.
15.42 So that's two down and four to go. The four matches on the course are all pretty tight with 1Up in three and all square in the Molinairs v Kuchar/Cink match.
15.40 Hanson and Jimenez both have great chances of birdie but neither can take advantage. Stay one up after 13.
15.38 McIlroy: Great but more important for the team etc etc. GMac: 'Running on adrenalin - crowd are driving us on. Team want to win this very very badly. This session is enormous for us.'
15.37 That's two from two for Europe. Four points still to play for. Can Europe secure three of those or even four? Up in three and all square in the other. Now for the interview with the Irish boys.
15.34 EUROPE 6-6 USA Back on the 17th and Johnson's chip trundles past. McIlroy has a chance to win it here. Two putts for the match and another point for Europe. McIlroy buries it to take the hole and the match and put another point on the board. It's 6-6 now.
15.31 Rikki Fowler chips in for eagle to get back to within one hole. A great bunker shot that rolled down and in. The Americans are not going down without a fight.
15.28 All the focus is on the GMac/McIlroy match as they prepare to tee off on the par three 17th. Harrington's group, meanwhile, have just shared the 13th so it's still Europe ahead in all but one matches. Mahan hits an absolute peach and it almost runs down to the hole, but watch it roll and off it goes out the back - very unlucky there. GMac with the hybrid and he nails it. Rolls a bit past but much better shape than the Americans. The lads think they have this in the bag. Get down in two here and it's all over. GMac giving out high fives to the crowd as he makes his way down to the green. Can the Americans stun the crowd by chipping in??
15.23 The measuring string is out on the 16th and McIlroy is just a few inches closer so Johnson has to putt first. Very tense here and Johnson really has to sink this. McIlroy must be loving this as he knows a missed putt is likely to travel way past so he should have no pressure on the chip....unless of course Johnson drops it. Which he does. Over to you Rory. Chip in and it's all over, otherwise they're going down the 17th. And to the 17th they go as McIlroy's effort was decent but just trickles past. A bit of pressure now on the Irish boys to finish this match off.
15.21 Overton with a chance to get back all square on the twelfth. Great putt but just off line and slides past. Europe stay one up.
15.19 Mahan finds the green to put pressure on GMac. And it pays off as McDowell just misses at the front. Should still get up and down so the Americans will have to hole the 25 footer to stay in the match.
15.13 Fisher hits the green on the par three 13th. Still a long way off but the Americans are no better. harrington next up - turns away not liking it and rightly so as he finds bunker. Fisher best placed of the four but no one looking good on that hole. Edouardo, thankfully, had that seven footer to halve and pops it in the middle. McIlroy smashes a great tee shot down the 16th - the Irish boys must be able to smell the point now.
15.11 Kuchar and Cink are leading the American charge and Kuchar has plaued a great third shot to within four feet. Edouardo almost matches him and gets to within 7 or 8 feet. Two nervy putts coming up there.
15.10 GMAAAAAC. What a putt to halve the hole and now cannot lose this match. Another similar result on the 16th and it's another point for Europe.
15.06 Very tense around the 15th green as the chip shots are vital. Best one is likely to win the hole. Zach Johnson up first. Great effort, the ball pops out and rolls to within two feet. McIlroy must get close now... Pops up but he travels 15 feet past. Tough putt for GMac to halve the hole. Back on the 12th green, Fisher misses a chance and the Europeans stay 1Up.
15.04 Dustin Johnson has a long birdie effort. Fisher is playing this hole on his own as Harrington hit the water and has his ball in his pocket already. Fisher also has a birdie effort. Johnson travels past leaving Fisher with a chance to win the hole.
14.59 GMac to drive on the short par four 15th. He drove it easily on Saturday so can he pop it on the green once more? Looks good but actually drops off the green and is lucky to hold up in the rough. Mahan's drive stop in the rough on the right side of the green so a chance missed there by the Americans. Kaymer hits a great tee shot on ten so a great chance to get the hole back they just lost. Hanson misses a great chance on 11 to win the hole but stay one ahead.
14.57 The clean sweep is in doubt as Cink and Kuchar pull one back on the tenth to bring the match all square.
14.54 Johnson misses to leave Rory with a great chance to win the hole and put the match almost out of reach for the Americans. McIlroy lips out when it looked good all the way. A good chance missed but it wasn't a bad effort and Mahan still has a bit of work left for a halve.
14.52 Poulter lips out to leave Mickelson a chance on the ninth. Lefty takes his chance to pull one back as Kaymer leaves his short. That was a bit of a giveaway as Kaymer had seen the line but didn't hit it.
14.49 Mahan, with about 60 yards more to travel than GMac, hits a great shot to the middle of the green. Now can the Portrush man get it at the pin? Yes he can. GMac has left McIlroy with about 15 feet while Johnson is looking at a 30-footer but also has to go up a level as well.
14.46 Harrington finds the water on 12 - over to you Mr Fisher for this hole. Furyk looks to be grumbling about something - this is obviously a match that the USA are hoping to swing.
14.44 Fisher chips to within gimme range on 11. McIlroy nails his drive on 14 and Mahan follows him down but lands in tricky rough. McDowell will have the much easier approach shot. Harrington and Fisher had to settle for a half on 11 as Furyk also birdied.
14.41 Cink putts to halve the hole as the Molinaris stay ahead. McIlroy is actually in the bunker and plays a great shot from a very tricky lie. As a result, the hole is halved.
14.36 Francesco leaves his uphill putt short. Another tame effort to be fair. Jimenez and Hanson half the tenth to stay 1Up.
14.34 McDowell's tee off on the 13th goes way off and into the deep rough leaving McIlroy with a tricky chip shot. Mahan, however, follows GMac and lands in the bunker close by.
14.32 Francesco Molinari gives himself another chance on the ninth as he lands it to within ten feet. Maybe he'll prefer that ten footer than the 3-4 footers that he hates. It's just not happening for Mickelson who missed a great chance on eight to pull one back - ball drifts below the hole.
14.29 Johnson first to putt and I can't believe he left it short considering they have three shots to catch up. That leaves McIlroy with a great chance to put this match out of touch at four up with six to play. Nah, just the wrong line as the ball never came down to the hole so it leaves the Irish pair with a few more holes to get through before the point is secured.
14.27 Jimenez finds the bunker at 10, but Hanson is safely on the green which probably explains why Jimenez went straight at the pin, which is in a very tricky position.
14.25 McDowell has about 150 to the flag after McIlroy's big drive. Lands it on the dancefloor and about the same length as their opponents. This hole is down to the putting and McIlroy looks to have found his form.
14.24 Jimenez has a chance to go 2Up on nine but just off line. Stays 1Up at the turn.
14.22 McIlroy hits a nice drive on the 12th - straight down the middle. Looking nice and reelaxed today, McIlroy.
14.20 FIRST POINT OF THE DAY Europe close the gap to one point on the scoreboard as Wetwood sinks a ten footer to finish off Woods and Stricker with five holes to play. A huge win for the Europeans against the American's top two.
14.17 Francesco Molinari's short putt nightmare continues as he misses an easy chance for a hole. I wonder if it was for a half would he have made it? Probably not... Poulter, however, makes no mistake for his two on the seventh.
14.13 Poulter is bang in form and hits to within a few feet on the eighth. Another chance to move further ahead. GMac gets it close leaving Zach Johnson a tough effort to stay in the hole. Back on the eighth Kuchar misses a short putt leaving the Molinaris a chance to go another ahead. Johnson misses leaving McIlroy with a short putt for the hole. Get in. Rors scores. That's three up for the Irish boys.
14.11 Kuchar's second from the rough on the eighth drops to within five feet of the hole. Francesco Molinari steps up and drops it even closer to the hole. Once again, anything you can do....
14.08 McIlroy lays up on the 11th and 'good shot' was the call from partner McDowell who is very happy with the shot he is left with. Westwood in the bunker at 13 but doesn't look even the slightest bit worried as he has bunker king Donal alongside him. The Europeans must be loving this watching Tiger and Stricker under so much pressure. Woods responds with a beauty to the middle of the green. Tiger's not done yet.
14.05 More good news for the USA team as Stricker holes a great putt at 12, Fowler sinks a 25-footer to get a shot back at the sixth and Furyk birdies the ninth. However, Donal steps up and eases his effort home to stay 6Up. And now Harrington has a chance to cancel Furyk's birdie...Go Paddy. Get in. Great putt. The Americans must be wondering what they have to do to get back in this.
14.02 These foursome games really fly along and we only seem to get to see the games as they reach the gree. McIlroy just taps in for a half after a very well controlled chip shot by GMac from the edge of the 10th. First glimpse of Harrington as he hits a nice approach shot at the ninth.
13.57 Jeff Overton is after holing his second shot at the eighth. That gets Bubba and himself back to 1Down going over to the ninth. If they Americans were a bit lax yesterday, well today is a different story. Overton celebrates like he has just won the Superbowl and Bubba joins in for a hard-hitting high five. U.S.A U.S.A...
13.53 McIlroy and McDowell lost the eighth, which was the hole that they had started yesterday. McIlroy had a great chance to win the ninth but the Irish pair had to settle for a half. So going into the turn, it's two up. All to play for thr
13.50 Europe went five up on the first hole of the day in the Woods/Stricker v Westwood/Donald. And now Stricker missed a short putt leaving Woods to tap in. This leaves Donald a short putt for the hole and surely the match. Easy for Donald as they push six up with seven to play. An easy day in the field for Westwood and Donald by the looks of things.
13.48 Tiger's lob wedge approach to the 11th gets close. Westwood gets even closer. Great response from the Europeans.
13.45 Mahan hits a nice wedge into the green but should really be getting closer the pin from 80 yards. Poulter starts with a birdie on the fifth to go three up. A great start for the Gooner.
13.40 All the players are back in their finishing positions and it's game on once again. Right then, let's hope Europe can pick up where they left off on Saturday evening. The Americans are sure to come out with all guns blazing and are bound to be taking some risks.
13.10 Eventually, it's looks like we'll be seeing some action in twenty minutes. With the singles moved to Monday, the players will know that it will be an easy day physically with less than a round of golf to play. So it will be all down to mental strength as Europe look to complete a clean sweep of Session Three.
Monty believes that anything more than 8-8 at the end of the session will be a bonus. I'm with Monty on this. I think the Europeans will be level or maybe half a point ahead going into Monday's Singles. Either way, we've a short but exciting afternoon of Ryder Cup golf in store.
