Bjorn warns that history shows a Europe win is far from done and dusted
Thomas Bjorn has plenty of warnings from Ryder Cup history to know that Europe are far from victorious yet.
He and his team enjoyed another fantastic day around Le Golf National as they opened up a 10-6 lead to take into today’s singles.
The Europeans won the fourballs 3-1 and then shared the four afternoon foursomes to keep that four-point advantage.
But Bjorn was at Medinah as a vice-captain in 2012, for the most remarkable comeback as Europe fought back from just that scoreline to produce the miracle win.
In a remarkably eerie coincidence, at one point yesterday the scoreline was 10-4 in the Europeans’ favour just as it had been for the Americans six years ago.
But Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, then Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas at least gave their team a semblance of hope going into the singles.
Bjorn knows the individual battles are very different from the pairings of the first two days and wants his players to not lose focus. “You keep reminding yourself that we had a big lead at Valderrama,” he recalls. “We won, but only just.
“At Brookline, we had a big lead and lost. At Medinah, we were way behind, but we turned it around.
“History shows me and everybody on this team that this is not over. You go full bore into the singles.
“Get out there and do all the right things as this is not over until you’ve got the points on the board.”
The backline of the Europeans’ dominance over the first two days has been the brilliance of Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood. They have become the first European duo ever to win all four matches in foursomes and fourballs at a single Ryder Cup.
It is a feat that was beyond even the legendary Spanish duo of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal. And the partnership, and especially the quality of their golf, has surpassed even Bjorn’s expectations.
“What can you say? It’s a remarkable performance,” he said.
“That pairing came out of long conversations with the two of them, and a relationship they built with each other over a long time. “They wanted to do this and when they said they were keen on the pairing, I looked at facts and figures.
“There was never any red flags, so I thought we’ll give it a go. But from there, what they have done is remarkable.
“They are two quality golfers and it is fun to watch.
“But they have had two very long days and now they have to refocus themselves as they are out there on their own now.
“I don’t know what planet Francesco lives on, but it’s not the one the rest of the players live on. He has been phenomenal. But now he needs to get out there and try to win his singles point.”
On three of the four victories for ‘Moliwood’, Tiger Woods has been on the receiving end.
Twice it was with Patrick Reed in the fourballs, and then when he was switched to partner Bryson Dechambeau in yesterday’s foursomes.
Whether Tiger could have done anything to stop this special pair is debatable, but he has not looked the same player who won The Tour Championship last Sunday.
US captain Jim Furyk was forced to concede that the emotions of securing his first win for five years had taken it out of his side’s most high-profile player.
“Early in the week, Tiger looked a little tired,” he said. “That is expected coming off a big win.
“You have to think what he has put emotionally into his comeback this season. He has played a lot more golf than he is used to doing.
“Physically Tiger is pretty fit, but that takes a mental toll. The idea to rest him on Friday afternoon was a good one.
“It allowed him to get some energy back. We came out today and decided to play him for 36.
“It didn’t work out but he might be emotionally a little tired. But you find a way in a Ryder Cup to gain some energy and adrenaline.
“I know he is going to be fit and ready to go in the singles.” Furyk was a player at Medinah when the US lost that 10-6 lead and he needs a similar miracle if they are to secure their first win on European soil for 25 years.
“We’ve been outplayed,” he added. “But we have to go out there, start hot and put pressure on them.
“We have to be the better team. There are no other bones about it.”