Molinari, Garcia make history

SAINT-QUENTIN-ENYVELINES, France, Sept 30, (AFP): Europe’s finest golfers, sparked by a record-setting victory for Italy’s Francesco Molinari, recaptured the Ryder Cup on Sunday, denying a dramatic United States fightback to complete an emotional 17.5-10.5 upset victory.

Reigning British Open champion Molinari defeated five-time major winner Phil Mickelson 4 and 2 as Europe took an insurmountable edge over the favoured Americans in the biennial team showdown at Le Golf National. with joy after his winning four-foot birdie putt left Europe two wins from victory.

England’s Ian Poulter, Europe’s wildcard talisman, birdied the 18th hole to beat world number one Dustin Johnson 2-up and put Europe on the brink.

That set the stage for Molinari to clinch the win, making his 5-for-5 history after Mickelson found water at 16 and conceded, setting off a champagne-spraying celebration.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia, last year’s Masters champion, also made history, beating Rickie Fowler 2 and 1 to reach 25.5 career Ryder Cup points, breaking Nick Faldo’s old mark of 25. He credited team spirit with helping the feat.

Matches stood on a knife’s edge deep into the afternoon as tension built across the back nine.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy found the same bunker twice and water to lose the 18th hole and his match 1-up to US rookie Justin Thomas.

Third-ranked Brooks Koepka, this year’s US Open and PGA Championship winner, halved with England’s Paul Casey in a match neither led by more than 1-up.

Webb Simpson beat Justin Rose 3

Europe’s English golfer Tommy Fleetwood celebrates after Europe won the tournament on the third day of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at SaintQuentin-en-Yvelines, southwest of

Paris on Sept 30, 2018. (AFP)

and 2 and US rookie Tony Finau ripped Tommy Fleetwood 6 and 4, ending the Englishman’s bid to match Molinari’s 5-for-5 feat.

Europe’s Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia plays a shot out of a bunker during his singles match with US golfer Rickie Fowler on the third day of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, southwest

of Paris on Sept 30, 2018. (AFP)

MILAN, Sept 30, (AFP): Tensions flared on the touchline as Fiorentina claimed a controversial 2-0 win over Atalanta on Sunday to move up to fourth in Serie A.Elsewhere, Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek became the first Serie A debutant in 68 years to score eight goals in the opening six games when he hit a brace for Genoa in a 2-1 win over Frosinone.Bergamo-based Atalanta travelled to Fiorentina’s Artemio Franchi stadium desperate to end a five-game winless streak.But their hopes were compouned just after the hour when referee Paolo Valeri pointed immediately to the penalty spot, refusing to consult the video assistant referee (VAR) despite Federico Chiesa going down easily from Rafael Toloi’s challenge.Jordan Veretout stepped up to slot past Pierluigi Gollini after 63 minutes, and Fiorentina cemented the win when