Ryder Cup 2014: Americans take one point lead after morning session

By Cameron La Fontaine | Sep 26, 2014

Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports /

Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley were the final pairing for the U.S.A. in the Friday morning session of the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. They had their hands full taking on the world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and world No. 3 Sergio Garcia for Team Europe. Mickelson and Bradley were able to come back late on the back nine to win the match 1-up.

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The 1-up win gave the Americans an early 2.5-1.5 lead over Europe, who got a win from Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson in the first match over Americans Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.

It was a very back and forth match as Europe was able to take the 1-up lead on the fourth hole after a Sergio Garcia birdie. The Americans were then able to take the lead after winning the seventh, ninth and 10th holes. This made the U.S. 2-up. Then, Garcia nabbed another birdie on the 11th to make the U.S. just one up and then McIlroy made it all-square with a birdie on 13 and then gave the Europeans a 1-up lead after another birdie on 15.

The match went all-square yet again when Keegan Bradley was able to hit three perfect shots to eagle the par-5 15th hole. It was Phil Mickelson who was able to birdie the 18th hole to give the Americans an exciting win, their second of the day, giving the U.S. a 1-point lead in the Ryder Cup.

McIlroy and Garcia were favored, holding two of the three top spots in golf. Mickelson and Bradley, a captain’s pick, have not won in 2014, but when put together they were able to play well and hold off Team Europe. Mickelson and Bradley also played together in 2012 where they went 3-0 in matches together. Now, they’re 4-0 all together. Mickelson’s all-time Ryder Cup record improves to 15-18-6 as he is in his 10th appearance, the most veteran Ryder Cup player in the tournament by far.

The United States leads the all-time Ryder Cup series 25-12-2, but Europe has won five of the past six Ryder Cups and seven of the past nine. The Americans last one at Valhalla in Kentucky in 2008. The U.S. is winless on European soil since 1993 at The Belfry in England, when Tom Watson was last the captain of the team. Europe needs 14 of 28 points to retain the cup. The United States needs 14.5 to win the cup.

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