Americans still searching for groove

Longtime Maui resident Mark Rolfing, a TV golf analyst at the Ryder Cup, chronicles his observations of the tournament for The Advertiser.

By Mark Rolfing
Special to The Advertiser

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Ryder Cup Results At Sutton Coldfield, England Par-72, 7,118 yards, At The Belfry (Brabazon course) Europe 4 1/2, United States 3 1/2 Fourballs (better balls) Europe 3, United States 1 Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn, Europe, def. Tiger Woods and Paul Azinger, United States, 1 up. Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, Europe, def. David Duval and Davis Love III, United States, 4 and 3. Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer, Europe, def. Jim Furyk and Scott Hoch, United States, 4 and 3. Phil Mickelson and David Toms, United States, def. Padraig Harrington and Niclas Fasth, Europe, 1 up. Foursomes (alternate shots) United States 2 1/2, Europe 1 1/2 Hal Sutton and Scott Verplank, United States, def. Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn, Europe, 2 and 1. Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, Europe, def. Tiger Woods and Mark Calcavecchia, United States, 2 and 1. Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer, Europe, halved with Phil Mickelson and David Toms, United States. Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk, United States, def. Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, Ireland, 3 and 2.

The Europeans played with more intensity, I thought. They certainly holed a lot more putts, which was the biggest difference, and they just seemed to partner better than the Americans.

In the morning I followed the American team of David Duval and Davis Love III, and I thought they played very uninspired golf. They were just 1-under par in the best-ball format, which is not very good.

Lee Westwood, who was the surprise of the day, won both points and both matches for the Europeans. He was paired with Sergio Garcia, who is still undefeated in his Ryder Cup career.

This has become Sergio's team, I think. He's a lot like Seve Ballesteros was 15 years ago. Not only is he a great player but he's inspirational and brings out the best in his partners.

He did it three years ago in Boston with Jesper Parnevik, and he did it yesterday with Westwood.

Parnevik has not played yet, which shows how out of form he is. He didn't play yesterday and is not in today's lineup.

The morning foursome today is the most important session for the Europeans. The first match out has two Ryder Cup rookies, Phillip Price and Pierre Fulke — neither has hit a shot in a Ryder Cup.

They're facing Phil Mickelson and David Toms, a match in which I don't give the Europeans much chance of winning, which means if the Europeans are to retain their lead, they would have to win two of the three matches in the morning.

The final match of the morning is very intriguing. Love and Tiger Woods against Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke.

I believe that match will set the tone for the rest of the Ryder Cup. If the Europeans could manage to beat Woods again, as they did yesterday, it would be a huge lift going into the afternoon matches.

Most people seem to be surprised at how well the Europeans are playing. I'm not. There's a big home-course advantage and they seem to partner better than the Americans.

But I do not believe they can win the Ryder Cup unless they're ahead after today's matches.

Everybody was concerned about what the atmosphere would be like. It was pretty low key early in the week, but at 8 a.m. yesterday, when the first ball was struck, it became the Ryder Cup again.