By the time Tiger Woods finally scored a point – a half-point, that is – for the United States in the Ryder Cup Sunday, it was over. Europe had executed a record-tying comeback from six points down on the final day at Medinah Country Club to retain the coveted cup. More accurately could be that America choked. Big time.
The odds were not impossible — the U.S. overcame the exact 10-4 deficit in 1997 — but it surely looked improbable that the United States would crumble like crushed crackers in the singles as it did. It started with Luke Donald beating Bubba Watson to open the day and ended with Martin Kaymer’s six-foot par putt to beat pointless-for-the-week Steve Stricker on the 18th hole to give Europe the required 14 points it needed to win.
The Euros erupted in emotion when Kaymer’s putt fell through. Back in the 18th fairway with a 1-shot lead, Woods stared ahead blankly, his eyes looking watery. He and Francesco Molinari played out their match, but Woods’ heart was not into it. He bogeyed the hole from the middle of the fairway.
Europe’s captain Jose Maria Olazabal wept and looked up to heavens, no doubt pay homage to the late Seve Ballesteros, his countryman who died this year from brain cancer.
The American’s hopes seemed to die quickly. One-by-one, they fell apart. After Watson went Brandt Snedeker, who at one point led Paul Lawrie by 3 points but lost 5-3. Rory McIlroy showed up just in time for his tee time via a police escort, did not hit a practice shot and still beat Keegan Bradley, 2 and 1.
Webb Simpson was no match for the hottest player for the week, Ian Poulter. Phil Mickelson lost to Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia beat Jim Furyk, and Lee Westwood handled Mat Kuchar. Embarrassing.
Only Dustin Johnson, who defeated Graeme McDowell, and Ryder Cup rookie Justin Dufner, who took care of Peter Hanson, earned points for the U.S., other than Woods’ half-point.
