Oct. 2, 2010
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Newport, Wales – Georgia Tech graduates Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar joined forces for the second time in the 2010 Ryder Cup Matches Saturday, winning a point for the United States with a 2-up victory over Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy in the foursomes (alternate shot) session.
Down one hole with three to play, Tech won the next two holes, with Cink knocked his approach shot to 10 feet at 16 and Kuchar making the putt to square the match. At 17, Kuchar played a safe shot to the center of the green while McDowell landed his tee shot five feet from the pin. But Cink rolled in the long putt for a USA birdie, and McIlroy lipped out his short putt, giving the United States a one-hole advantage heading to 18.
When McIlroy’s approach to the green spun back into the front bunker, Cink and Kuchar only needed to two-putt to secure the match for the USA.
The Tech duo halved a fourball match with McDowell and McIlroy in the rain-delayed first session Friday, and U.S. captain Corey Pavin kept the pairing intact for the third session, a combination of fourball and foursomes matches, Saturday afternoon. Cink and Kuchar will play a fourball match against the Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.
The victory by Cink and Kuchar Saturday in foursomes gave the United States a 6-4 lead over Europe heading into the third session Saturday at the Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.
Friday’s rain caused a stoppage in play of more than seven hours, prompting Ryder Cup officials to alter the schedule. The second session will comprised six foursome matches on Saturday. The third session includes two foursome and four fourball matches, also on Saturday. Twelve singles matches will be played Sunday.
This means there will still be a total of 28 points available, of which eight will be decided by foursomes and 8eight by fourballs, and it was hoped that play will be completed by Sunday afternoon as scheduled. If necessary, play will continue into Monday.
NBC has live television coverage on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Cink’s career record in 16 Ryder Cup matches is now 5-7-5, including a 1-0-4 mark in fourball matches. The 1995 Tech graduate is 3-4-1 in foursomes matches, 1-3-0 in singles for a total of six points won.
The United States needs 14 points to retain the Cup it won in 2008; Europe needs 14½ points to win the Cup.
Kuchar, a Ryder Cup rookie, is the PGA’s leading money-winner in 2010 ($4,881,227).
Cink, making his fifth Ryder Cup appearance, has won more than $1.5 million in 2010. Among the 12 players on the ’10 Ryder Cup team, only Phil Mickelson (8), Jim Furyk (7) and Tiger Woods (6) have made more appearances.
Session 1 Fourball Results, Friday (USA 2 ½ – Europe 1 ½
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer (Europe) d. Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson (USA), 3 & 2
Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar (USA) vs. Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe), halved
Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) d. Ian Poulter,/Ross Fisher (Europe), 2 up
Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton (USA) d. Luke Donald/Padraig Harrington (Europe) 3 & 2
Session 2 Foursomes (alternate shot), Saturday (USA 6, Europe 4)
Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (USA) d. Miguel Angel Jimenez/Peter Hanson, 4 & 3 (Europe) Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan (USA) d. Edoardo Molinari/Francesco Molinari, 2 up (Europe) Jim Furyk/Rickie Fowler (USA) vs. Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer, halved (Europe) Padraig Harrington/Ross Fisher (Europe) d. Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson (USA), 3 & 2 Ian Poulter/Luke Donald (Europe) d. Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton (USA), 2 & 1 Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar (USA) d. Graeme McDowell/Rory McIlroy (Europe), 2 up
Session 3, Saturday
Foursomes (alternate shot)
Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) vs. Luke Donald/Lee Westwood
Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan (USA) vs. Graeme Mcdowell/Rory McIlroy
Fourballs
Jim Furyk/Dustin Johnson (USA) vs. Padraig Harrington/Ross Fisher
Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton (USA) vs. Peter Hanson/Miguel Angel Jimenez
Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar (USA) vs. Edoardo Molinari/Francesco Molinari
Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler (USA) vs. Ian Poulter/Martin Kaymer
