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| Rookie Sergio Garcia played with the poise of a veteran, winning both of his matches. |
The Americans need help and they need it fast. After a 6-2 dusting in foursomes and fourball, Ben Crenshaw's team desperately needs something good to happen or the Concorde might be taking the Cup back to Europe on Sunday morning.
At least they'll get a super-saver with a Saturday-night stay.
"It's just one day, but it certainly was disappointing," said Justin Leonard, who teamed with Davis Love III for the U.S.' only afternoon points, halving against Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie. "I think we felt like we played decent golf, but it needs to get better. It has to get better."
Several things stood out after Friday:
Crenshaw held a team meeting Friday night. The mood was positive, although there was a hint of frustration. Mickelson was particularly disappointed after missing birdie putts of 4 feet and 6 feet on two of the final three holes in fourball, putts that would have given the U.S. at least half-a-point and maybe a full one.
"They weren't aggressive strokes, they were pretty tentative," said Mickelson, who asked Crenshaw to sit him Saturday morning so he could work on his putting. "I eased into both of them. I needed to make those putts on 16 and 18, and I just didn't."
There are two huge keys for the U.S. on Saturday.
"They play well in that format," Love said. "For some reason, they raise the level of play for this event. Our teams seem to come in and not play to their capabilities. This is the first day. We have a great morning and it's right back where we want it."
It would also be nice if Duval played a little better than the invitee in the local member-guest. He struggled off the tee in both matches, which clearly had an effect on the rest of his game. He will sit out Saturday morning, giving him some time to figure out what has gone wrong.
"I may (help)," Crenshaw said. "I may go out, occasionally, in a few instances and get up there a little closer (to offer help). If somebody calls me in to look at it, I'll do that. I had one of them work today, with Davis right on the last hole. He looked at me at the back of the green and I looked at him. And I said, 'Coast that baby out there about this far left of the hole and let it ride' and it went right in the hole."
As for the Europeans, who like always have a big lead after Day One, why change anything? Captain Mark James is clearly thinking the same thing, sending the same group out in foursomes Saturday that gave him 2½ points Friday morning. Which means we might not be seeing rookies Andrew Coltart, Jean Van de Velde or Jarmo Sandelin anytime soon. None of the three played Friday, so why screw up chemistry?
"You can get the breaks on one day, win and lead 6-2," James said. "But it's a very volatile type of golf, match play. And I certainly wouldn't dream of suggesting that we were the superior side or anything. I think maybe we just had a few breaks and played extremely well ...
"The players will play with anyone. It's an easy team to pair. They all get on very well They're all laid back, good, fun people. And none of their countries are at war with each other, which is a big help."
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