Ryder Cup Tuesday brought the first full day of serious practice and 14 media centre interviews that threw up the usual questions about Europe's "template", targeting "big dogs", Rickie Fowler's haircut and exactly how shy/odd is Victor Dubuisson.
A brutal Blue Monster took a chunk out of the best players in the world but Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy showed they have the right stuff as they survived the carnage to keep their hopes very much alive in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral.
Graeme McDowell insists he has “plenty left in the tank” for what he expects will be a tough Ryder Cup rematch with Celtic Manor victim Hunter Mahan despite being forced to come back from the dead for the second day in a row in the WGC-Accenture Match Play at Dove Mountain.
Justin Rose poses with the U.S. Open trophy after the final round at the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Sunday, June 16, 2013. (Copyright USGA/Joel Kowsky) Justin Rose put on a display of sheer class as a golfer and a sportsman to consign his early career struggles to history and capture his first major championship with a two-stroke US Open victory over eternal bridesmaid Phil Mickelson and Australian’s Jason Day at a punishing Merion last night.
Phil Mickelson plays his tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round at the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Saturday, June 15, 2013. (Copyright USGA/Joel Kowsky) Phil Mickelson is on track to end a lifetime of heartbreak in the US Open after a battling 70 gave a one stroke lead heading into the final round on his 43rd birthday.
Matt Kuchar with the WGC-Accenture Match Play trophy. Picture: Fran Caffrey / www.golffile.ieMatt Kuchar survived a dramatic back nine fightback by Hunter Mahan to beat his former Ryder Cup team mate 2 and 1 and claim the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at a bitterly cold Dove Mountain last night.
Lee Westwood shakes hands with Rory McIlroy on the 17th following his 3 and 1 defeat. Picture by Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieRory McIlroy confessed that his massive desire to beat Lee Westwood ultimately cost him the WGC-Accenture Match Play and the chance to become Ireland’s first world No 1 last night.
“See you tomorrow.” Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood cross paths outside the media centre at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club near Tucson. What Graeme McDowell once described as a relationship of “jokes with jabs” will get deadly serious later today when Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood square off in the semi-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.
