With the rock-star pairing of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley adding their names to the Ryder Cup record books, the United States pushed its Ryder Cup lead to 8-4 by taking three of Saturday morning’s four matches.
Mickelson and Bradley notched another six birdies as they hammered a pair of former world No.1s in a 7&6 romp over Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, matching the record for biggest blowout in a tandem match.
“They did nothing wrong,” said Donald, who came to Medinah Country Club unbeaten in Ryder Cup foursomes but is 0-2 in the format this week. “We just kept pushing and trying as hard as we could, but they kept coming up with great shots.”
The American’s other two wins were more of the nail-biter variety.
Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner saw their lead sliced to just 1-up when Sergio Garcia chipped in at Medinah’s 16th hole, but won at No.17 after Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts dunked his tee shot into the water.
Likewise, Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker battled to put away world No.1 Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. The Northern Ireland duo didn’t make a birdie for their first 14 holes, but found themselves just 1-down after McIlroy drained an 8-foot birdie at No.16.
But McIlroy missed a 10-foot birdie chance at No.17 to square the match, then couldn’t convert a birdie try from the back fringe at the 18th.
Europe’s only point came from English duo Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, who prevailed 1-up in their bring-the-noise match against Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.
“We rallied really well,” said Poulter, who motioned on the first tee for the crowd to whoop it up as he swung – the same tactic Watson used to begin yesterday’s afternoon session.
“It was a bit of a dodgy match at times, but that’s foursomes,” he continued. “You’ve just got to get it done.”
The Americans need 6 1/2 more points in the final two sessions to reclaim the diminutive gold trophy. Europe needs 10 points to keep possession.
At least no European will have to face Mickelson/Bradley in this afternoon’s four-balls segment. Sticking to his guns to make sure everyone’s rested for singles, U.S. captain Davis Love III sat the duo despite their 3-0 record.
“[Mickelson] was asking for his break,” Love said. “After all that great golf, he knew he needed a rest.”
The afternoon, though, will feature the return of Tiger Woods from his morning benching. Teamed once again with Steve Stricker, they go off in the third match against Garcia and Donald.
The Americans seek to take a U.S. lead into the final day for just the third time since the 1981 edition – just the second competition after the Cup was opened up to continental Europe.
Mickelson/Bradley became the third duo in Ryder Cup annals to notch a 7&6 victory. Tom Kite and Hale Irwin did it first at the 1979 edition, later matched by Paul Azinger and Mark O’Meara at 1991’s “War by the Shore.”
Once again, it was Mickelson who drove home the final nail – after a poor tee shot forced Bradley to punch out from the trees, the Hall of Famer launched a wedge that went to the back of the green, then trickled back to within a foot.
When Donald couldn’t convert a 5-foot par save, Mickelson/Bradley had their third romp in as many matches. In 44 Ryder Cup holes this weekend, they’ve recorded 21 birdies.
“We’ve had so much fun; the crowd brought so much energy,” said Mickelson, who notched three wins at a Ryder Cup for the first time since his 1995 debut. “We just love it.”
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