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The Stage is Set for a Terrific Sunday
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Updated: Sat 9/20/2008 5:58 pm
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USA - 9 Europe - 7
The day started with the Americans holding a 5 1/2 - 2 1/2 lead. A surprise to most given the American's struggle in the team formats in the Ryder Cup. It was the first time since 1981 that team USA had captured the first two sessions of team play.
Day Two provided the drama, excitement, tension all competitive golfers savor. It started early, as early as last night actually when Captain Nick Faldo announced he was sitting his most experienced players in Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. But it appears to have worked as the Europeans closed the gap after the morning session, picking up a point on the 3 point lead the Americans held after Friday's sessions.
 The gap was closed in large part because of a disaster back nine from the pairing of Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim. Mickelson and Kim maintained a four up lead thru six holes over an overmatched Oliver Wilson and Henrik Stenson. But in the end it was the European rookie Oliver Wilson who stole the show making a long birdie putt on the 17th hole to close out the American dream team, Mickelson and Kim. It's matches like this that change momentum and should the American's not regain the Ryder Cup this will be a point they look back on and wonder - what if.
In the afternoon Four-Ball it seemed as if every match was in question. Not until the duo of J.B. Holmes and Boo Weekly created some cushion for an eventual 2 and 1 victory over Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen, could you predict the outcome of any of the afternoon matches.
Match #2 in the afternoon looked like a lock for the European's on paper. Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey against a  struggling Ben Curtis and fellow Ryder Cup Rookie, Steve Stricker. But great putters are like great 3 point shooters, they neutralize perceived advantages or lack of physical talent. Paul Azinger selected Steve Stricker for one reason, he can flat out roll his rock and did he ever on Saturday afternoon at Valhalla. And for all the putts Stricker made, none was bigger than the one he made on the 18th green to get up and down for birdie to halve the hole and the match, earning the Americans a very important half point.
 The tandem of Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry fought hard, but didn't have enough to fend off the European team of Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell. Poulter looked like a man possessed and determined to prove Captain Faldo right for making him a Captain's selection. Through two days of the Ryder Cup, Ian Poulter is arguably the most valuable player of either team.
In Four Ball, its not uncommon to see a lot of birdies. In Match #4, the European's would have posted a stroke play score of 61 had Robert Karlsson's final putt fell. The American's countered with what would have been a stroke play score of 62. Wow! Fittingly, the match ended all square and the Americans will carry a 2 point margin into the singles matches on Sunday.
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