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Americans fail to cut into lead

Thursday, Oct. 14
Look ahead: Singles to decide the Cup

By Bob Harig
ESPN Golf Online

BROOKLINE, Mass. -- With a long day complete and another one ahead, Tiger Woods and Steve Pate were anxious to leave The Country Club on Saturday evening, hoping for a quick exit.

 Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods and the Americans need a big change of fortunes on Sunday.

When transportation arrived to whisk them away to their hotel, who pops out of the clubhouse, bounds down the steps and hops into the vehicle? Colin Montgomerie.

Figures.

That's sort of how things have gone for the Americans, who have seemingly been on the verge of taking off, only to have the Europeans steal their ride.

Will it be the same on Sunday?

With 12 singles matches remaining, the U.S. team needs 8½ points. That means eight victories and a halve. Or seven victories and three halves. Or six victories and five halves. Or five victories and seven halves. Nothing less.

Here is a look at each singles match:

10:38 a.m. ET -- Lee Westwood vs. Tom Lehman: Lehman has yet to lose a singles match in two previous Ryder Cups, and the idea is for the Americans to get off to a fast start.

10:50 a.m. ET -- Darren Clarke vs. Hal Sutton: Sutton has been a star for the Americans, the player with the most points (2½ in four matches). But Clarke will be no pushover. He and Lee Westwood were a solid European team both Friday and Saturday.

11:02 a.m. ET -- Jarmo Sandelin vs. Phil Mickelson: Sandelin has yet to play, and is being sacrificed to what was expected to be the heart of the U.S. lineup. Mickelson will be expected to keep the momentum going. He is 2-0 in singles. These two exchanged angry words at the World Cup two years ago.

11:14 a.m. ET -- Jean Van de Velde vs. Davis Love III: Van de Velde will be making the first appearance ever for a Frenchman in the Ryder Cup, but he has nothing to lose. All the pressure is on Love, who has been a part of three halved matches after going 0-4 two years ago at Valderrama.

11:26 a.m. ET -- Andrew Coltart vs. Tiger Woods: Another player making his first appearance, Coltart -- a wild-card sleection by European captain Mark James -- goes up against the world's best, although Woods has not shown it in the Ryder Cup.

11:38 a.m. ET -- Jesper Parnevik vs. David Duval: Parnevik has been the star of the European team, while Duval has played indifferently. A victory by Duval could be the spark the U.S. team needs at this point in the day.

11:50 a.m. ET -- Padraig Harrington vs. Mark O'Meara: Harrington has played in just two matches, winning a half-point with Miguel Angel Jimenez. O'Meara has played in one, winning nothing. It's time for last year's two-time major championship winner to step up.

12:02 p.m. ET -- Miguel Angel Jimenez vs. Steve Pate: Jimenez has been the surprise of the European team, a 35-year-old rookie who has earned two points. Pate played well in two matches with Woods on Saturday.

12:14 p.m. ET -- Jose Maria Olazabal vs. Justin Leonard: Both players are struggling, and this one is for survival. Leonard, however, is still without a victory in seven Ryder Cup matches.

12:26 p.m. ET -- Colin Montgomerie vs. Payne Stewart: If the Ryder Cup is still alive at this point, Stewart has a chance to make good on his long-time goal of bringing back the Cup. No victory would be bigger than knocking off Europe's No. 1.

12:38 p.m. ET -- Sergio Garcia vs. Jim Furyk: Two years ago, Furyk defeated Nick Faldo in singles. Now he's got the player who knows no fear.

12:50 p.m. ET --- Paul Lawrie vs. Jeff Maggert: What a position to be in, especially if the Ryder Cup comes down to the end. Both have fared well this week. Maggert is tough in match play, winning the World Championship event in February. Lawrie won a playoff for the British Open title in July.

Bob Harig, who covers golf for the St. Petersburg Times, writes a column every Tuesday for ESPN Golf Online.


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