It’s a Moliwood masterclass
TOMMY FLEETWOOD and Francesco Molinari delivered a record-breaking masterclass in Ryder Cup golf yesterday to send Europe into today’s singles matches with a commanding 10-6 lead.
The ‘Moliwood’ pairing became the first European duo to win all four doubles contests in Ryder Cup history with two more crushing defeats of Tiger Woods and his playing partner. After silencing Woods with a stunning victory in the Friday fourballs they met America’s talisman in both yesterday’s sessions and beat him comfortably, securing the points with three holes to spare in the morning when he was partnered for a second time by Patrick Reed and four to spare when
Bryson DeChambeau then joined the 14-times major winner here at Le Golf National. ‘In the three matches we played they never missed a putt inside 10 to 12 feet,’ said Woods afterwards.
Europe started as they finished the previous day, victory in the opening three fourball matches extending their spell of dominance in this Ryder Cup to a record eight-straight wins before Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas snatched an important point for Jim Furyk’s team.
But it did not spark the Europe-style comeback we witnessed here in the foursomes on Friday, with Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson following Fleetwood and Molinari in winning their match to increase Europe’s lead to 10-4 before the Americans hit back by taking two points.
It leaves Europe in a strong position but with exactly the same advantage the Europeans contrived to surrender in Brookline in 1999 and the Americans then blew in Medinah six years ago.
Thomas Bjorn, who will send Rory McIlroy out first in today’s singles when the Ulsterman will face the in-form Justin Thomas, warned his players not to be complacent. ‘History will show me and everybody on the team that this is not over,’ said Bjorn. ‘At Brookline we lost. At Medinah we were a long way behind and we turned it around.’
On Molinari, he added: ‘I don’t know what planet he lives on but it’s not the one the rest of the players live on. He’s been phenomenal.’