DUNN
is a wonder he doesn’t get to keep him. No wonder Tiger was, er, fed up. “Everything feels pretty good – I’m just pretty p***ed off I’ve lost three matches and didn’t feel like I’ve played poorly,” Woods said.
Probably the greatest player of all time has now lost seven Ryder Cup pairs matches on the spin and his overall record with a partner reads nine wins, one half and 19 losses. In the third session, the fourballs, Tiger tried his luck again with Patrick Reed but was dispatched 4&3, a run of three Molinari birdies from the 11th putting the Americans to the sword. With Dechambeau, Woods returned for the fourth session and for more punishment. On the second green, Fleetwood was made to hole the shortest of putts for a half, a putt that would be routinely given. After the formality, Fleetwood’s caddie said to his man: “How far was that?! Two **** ing feet?” “I’ll be having to make those all afternoon,” smiled Tommy. Of course he would. You don’t give Fleetwood and Molinari anything. Their foursomes scorecard on the second day was a thing of beauty. It is hard to convey how tough that format has been on this glorious Le Golf National course but to play 14 holes and not drop a single shot is simply exceptional golf.
They were a combined 17 under par for their four matches.
Fleetwood is also the first rookie since America’s Larry Nelson, in 1979, to win his opening four matches at a single Cup.
“I feel emotional now and it’s only Saturday. To have our piece of history together is special,” said Fleetwood. Our piece of history. Our. Molinari was not going to dwell on their niches in history.
“We came here to do a job and it wasn’t to go in the record books or anything like that – it’s about the team,” he said. “It’s about getting to 14 and a half points but we are going to have to fight for those four and a half points we need.”
Heading to Paris, Molinari’s Ryder Cup pedigree was rough.
All he had to show for six matches was a couple of half-points.
In the six years since his last appearance, Molinari’s game has improved enormously but there is no doubting his Ryder Cup comfort level went sky-high when Thomas Bjorn put him with his great friend.
No wonder he stroked Fleetwood’s hair. Tommy’s worth it.
No wonder there was a peck on the cheek for Molinari.
In their current form and mood, Fleetwood and Molinari will tomorrow be two of the main men Bjorn will look towards.
He will just have to hope they can bear being apart.