No one but the most ardent and intoxicated US fan ever imagined a clean sweep of all four foursomes matches.
Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed led from the start and bettered the powerhouse Euro team of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson 3 & 2.
Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler battled back from 2 down deficits, twice, to pull out a 1 up win over Rory McIlroy and Andy Sullivan.
Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson blitzed Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia with wins on five straight holes to close them out 4 & 2.
And Dustin Johnson who played a perfect round, paired with Matt Kuchar dominated an over-matched Lee Westwood and Thomas Pieters 5 & 4.
Both captains gambled in my eyes with Davis Love playing Mickeslson in alternate shot. It’s a testament to Fowler’s toughness as he was hitting shots from rough and bunkers and more rough. Golf Channel announcer Jerry Foltz gave Phil a backhanded compliment when he said that…”all things considered, this is one of the best lies Phil has left Rickie with” on the sixteenth hole. He was fifteen yards off the fairway on a sidehill lie.
Euro captain Darren Clarke wasn’t so lucky with his gamble. Lee Westwood was supposed to shepherd his rookie partner around the course but when you can’t chip or putt and make a four footer that’s an impossible task. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway with the way DJ and Kuch were playing but Clarke needs some points from his pal Westy at least to justify his pick.
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