U.S. Idle
It was a day ofshowers interrupted by sunny spells, but for the Americans it was nonstopgloom. Lehman's boys grimly soldiered on--the "let's-just-have-fun"campaign was history--but by day's end, for the first time since the Ryder Cupbecame a Europe-versus-America affair, the Euros had won all four pairedsessions. "Ten to six is an awful long way to come back from," frettedJim Furyk. His teammates saw a ray of hope only in a precedent: They hadovercome the exact same deficit at Brookline.
Slipping Away
The Americans' only chance? Rally like it's 1999
says."
• Miller, againoff the air, after Cink and Henry missed consecutive birdie putts on the finalhole of their four-ball match: "Should have let J.J. putt first, I swearit. Too much pressure for him."
ROOKIE WATCH
LET'S PUT to restthe notion that first-timers are a weak link. Johnson's six-birdie performancein the four-balls was impressive, and Henry carried Cink down the stretch. ThenTaylor, who rode the bench for three sessions, helped Campbell wheedle a halveagainst Montgomerie and Westwood. "I don't know that I've ever been moreproud of a person in my whole life than I was of Vaughn Taylor," saidLehman. "He was simply remarkable."
"OVERHEARD"
"All of asudden things got quiet."
--COMMENTATOR DANHICKS, ON LEARNING THAT HIS NBC CREW'S
OFF-THE-AIRSNIPING WAS BEING FED TO THE U.S. LOCKER ROOM
"I don't knowhow you can ever sit
down the bestplayer in the world."
--LEHMAN, ONSPECULATION THAT HE MIGHT BENCH WOODS
"We've neverwon every session
in the history ofthe Ryder Cup,
I don't believe,and this is
our goldenopportunity to do it.
--MONTGOMERIEABOUT THE TEAM'S GOAL FOR SUNDAY
"More lipthan Mick Jagger!"
--BROADCASTERCRAIG ALLEN,
WATCHING ACRUCIAL CAMPBELL PUTT TOPPLE IN
Shot of theDay
Casey ended hisfoursomes match by knocking a four-iron shot in the hole on the par-3 14th. Itwas only the fifth ace in Ryder Cup history. (Casey's opponent, Cink, was alsocredited with a hole in one when the Euros conceded his tee shot.)
GOATS &HEROES
GOATS
Padraig Harrington, for disappointing the Irish fans by losing twice, withStenson and McGinley.
Technician, whoallowed audio of NBC's analysts--who were trashing the U.S. players duringcommercials--to feed into the team locker room.
Phil Mickelson,the world No. 2 lost two (with DiMarco and Toms) making one birdie infour-ball.
HEROES
Darren Clarke, who chipped in for birdie on 16 to defeat Woods and Furyk infour-ball then fired up a victory cigar while watching in the afternoon.
Sergio García,for winning and winning and winning. At day's end he was unbeaten in fourmatches.
José MaríaOlaàbal, who equalled Woosnam's career Ryder Cup record of 101/2 points won infour-ball matches.
TIGER TRACKER
What kind of cat was he today?
PUSSYCAT
ALLEY CAT
MAN-EATER
ALLEY CAT
In the morning four-ball, when he probably played as poorly as he's ever playedin public, his expressions alternated between dismay, exasperation andstoicism. At the end of the match, he gallantly hugged the victorious Clarke.Never a quitter, Tiger showed some fire--and even smiled!--in his afternoonfoursomes victory with Furyk.
KEY STAT
1 1/2
Points won in the partnered matches by DiMarco,Mickelson and Toms--stars of the last Presidents Cup.
PHOTO
ROBERT BECK (WOODS)
HAVING FUN? Woods was unable to spur a Day Two charge.
FOUR PHOTOS
SIMON BRUTY (LEHMAN); PAT DOYLE/CORBIS (PUSSYCAT); CORBIS (ALLEY CAT); DORLING KINDERSLEY/GETTY IMAGES (TIGER)
PHOTO
FRED VUICH (JOHNSON)
BRIGHT SPOT Johnson (above) and fellow rookies Taylor and Henry came up big on Saturday.
FIVE PHOTOS
HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES (CASEY); BOB MARTIN (MONTGOMERIE, GARCIA); ROBERT BECK (HARRINGTON, MICKELSON)