THE USA HEAD into today’s foursomes without Tiger Woods, marking just the second time in seven Ryder Cups the 14-time major winner has had to sit down.
Woods, who locked up the No. 1 spot in US team qualifying, will sit with partner Steve Stricker as his struggles in Ryder Cup continued yesterday at the Medinah Country Club course.
“I think Tiger needs a rest,” said US team skipper Davis Love. “They told me they would do whatever I asked them to do and I can guarantee you, neither one of them are very happy about it.
“Not because they are sitting out but because they have to wait til tomorrow afternoon to come back. They didn’t play great this morning but they were in it for awhile.”
World No. 2 Woods and Stricker were the only US team to lose both their matches during yesterday’s opening day of the 39th Ryder Cup. Love decided to sit the 36-year-old Woods even though he rebounded in the afternoon fourball session with seven birdies in a losing cause to Nicolas Colsaerts and Lee Westwood.
“I didn’t play very good this morning at all,” Woods said. “I was hitting it awful and not doing anything well. But drove it great this afternoon and was in position.”
Woods sizzled with seven birdies but he had to take a back seat to Colsaerts brilliant performance which included eight birdies and an eagle.
“Nicolas probably had one of the greatest putting rounds I’ve ever seen,” Woods said. “We had a chance to all square on the last hole, and I missed it.”
Woods said he met with his hitting coach in between Friday’s sessions which helped him swing better in the afternoon.
“I made a few adjustments and I really hit it well this afternoon.”
The pairings for the Saturday morning foursomes at Medinah Country Club in the 39th Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe:-
Overnight score: United States 5 Europe 3; (Times are local which is GMT minus six)
- 0720 – Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson (USA) v Justin Rose/Ian Poulter (Europe)
- 0735 – Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) v Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (Europe)
- 0750 – Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) v Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia (Europe)
