Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 28 September 2018
Ryder Cup ready to start with pressure on for everyone

By DOUG FERGUSON shot before a grandstand
AP Golf Writer that looks like it belongs at
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVE- a football stadium, 72 feet
LINES, France (AP) — Jim high with a capacity of
Furyk has spent four days 6,928, unheard of for a golf
watching his team play tournament.
loose and confident, two That starts with Rahm, the
key ingredients he hopes latest Spaniard who brings
will allow the Americans to a big game and big emo-
end 25 years without win- tion to an event that means
ning the Ryder Cup away so much to all of Europe.
from home. He will be with Rose, who
He can only hope that's has played effectively with
what he sees when the Henrik Stenson the last two
shots at Le Golf National re- Ryder Cups.
ally count. Both captains delivered the
"What would make me ner- same message: Their teams
vous?" Furyk said on the eve are so strong that they had
of the matches. "If I showed loads of options and tough
up in the morning and guys choices on whom to sit. An-
had a look on their face other session of foursomes
that made me nervous. I Tiger Woods of the US places the cover of a water sprinkler as he jokes with Patrick Reeds, center, follow Friday afternoon,
don't usually see that with and Jordan Spieth, right, during a practice round of the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Saint- and neither was willing to
this group." Quentin-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, France, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018. guarantee that everyone
Flags were raised, anthems Associated Press will have played by the
were played and the par- end of the day.
tisan cheers began late He also broke up the Jor- ing to be able to look at have some fun and try to Bjorn said he would ac-
Thursday afternoon to sig- dan Spieth-Patrick Reed him on the first tee and kind play some good golf and cept a split of the morning
nal the end of a hype and partnership that had de- of remember where we've do it the right way. And any matches considering he
anticipation of a Ryder Cup livered five points in seven come from, and we're both time you get to tee it up has four rookies playing,
featuring two of the stron- matches over the last two here." with Big Cat, it's always fun." though he hopes for more.
gest teams the U.S. and Ryder Cups. Reed gets his hero — Tiger They play against British "You'd like to be ahead af-
Europe have presented at Instead, Spieth gets to play Woods — in the anchor Open champion Frances- ter any session, but when
the same time. with one of his best friends, match. co Molinari and Tommy I look at these matches,
Now it's time to play. Justin Thomas, a relation- "We both feel like we're Fleetwood. they could be as tight as
"I believe in this team, one ship that took root in France playing well, and we want Missing from the American anything, all four of them,
through 12," European more than a decade ago to go out there and repre- lineup is Phil Mickelson, and it's impossible for me
captain Thomas Bjorn said. when both wore American sent our country the best," who will sit out the open- to predict what's going to
Furyk chose to send off Ry- colors in the Evian Junior said Reed, who in two Ry- ing session for the first time happen," Bjorn said.
der Cup rookie Tony Finau Masters. der Cups has been called since his Ryder Cup debut "What would surprise me?"
and three-time major "Very familiar with each "Captain America" be- in 1995. he added. "I think I learned
champion Brooks Koepka other's games — have cause of his fist-pumping, Bjorn has five Ryder Cup to not expect anything but
in the opening fourballs been for, shoot, over 10 ear-cupping, finger-shush- rookies on his side, and surprises in this. It would sur-
match Friday against Justin years now," Spieth said. "So ing bravado. "The best way four of them will be walk- prise me if it's quiet on the
Rose and rookie Jon Rahm. it's going to be really excit- to do that is go out and ing to that first tee to hit a first tee."q

RYDER CUP '18: Facts and figures for the 42nd matches

S A I N T - Q U E N T I N - E N - Hazeltine for their biggest Finau, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Friday pairings (fourballs):
YVELINES, France (AP) — Ryder Cup rout since 1981. Johnson, Brooks Koepka, 2:20 a.m., Brooks Koepka-
Facts and figures for the For the first time since 1975, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Tony Finau (US) vs. Justin
42nd Ryder Cup, which every American player Reed, Webb Simpson, Rose-Jon Rahm (Europe);
starts Friday at Le Golf contributed a point. Patrick Jordan Spieth, Justin 2:25 a.m., Dustin Johnson-
National. Reed led the Americans Thomas, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler (US) vs. Rory
Format: Four matches of with a 3-1-1 record, Tiger Woods. McIlroy-Thorbjorn Olesen
fourballs (better ball) and including a leadoff singles Key statistic: The Americans (Europe); 2:40 a.m., Jordan
foursomes (alternate shot) victory over Rory McIlroy. have not won the Ryder Spieth-Justin Thomas
on Friday and Saturday, 12 Captains: Jim Furyk (United Cup away from home (US) vs. Paul Casey-Tyrrell
singles matches on Sunday. States), Thomas Bjorn since 1993. Hatton (Europe); 2:55
Points: The United States (Europe). Noteworthy: Phil Mickelson a.m. — Patrick Reed-Tiger
needs 14 points to retain European roster: Paul sets a Ryder Cup record Woods (US) vs. Franceso
the cup. Europe needs 14½ Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, by competing for the Molinari-Tommy Fleetwood
points to win the cup. The Ryder cup trophy is on Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell 12th time. He has had 55 (Europe).
Series: United States leads displayed during a press con- Hatton, Rory McIlroy, teammates and 15 partners Television (all times EDT):
26-13-2. ference ahead of the 2018 Ry- Francesco Molinari, Alex in his Ryder Cup career. Friday, 2 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Last time: In the first Ryder der Cup at the Golf National Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Quoteworthy: "Allez le (Golf Channel); Saturday,
Cup since U.S. players had in Guyancourt, outside Paris, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm, bleu!" — European captain 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. (Golf
a stronger voice in the France, Monday, Sept. 24, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson. Thomas Bjorn to end the Channel), 3 a.m. to 1 p.m.
structure of its team, the 2018. U.S. roster: Bryson opening ceremony. It (NBC); Sunday, 6 a.m. to 1
American won 17-11 at Associated Press DeChambeau, Tony translates to "Go Blue!" p.m. (NBC).q