Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan lost with a bit of an unexpected ending in the second match to conclude in Friday’s afternoon session of the 2014 Ryder Cup. Down one hole on the 17th to Europe’s Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan had a birdie putt to win the hole that he blew by the hole. Zach Johnson then needed to make a long par to halve the hole and continue the match, but he missed and Team Europe gained another point.
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With the win Europe takes it’s first lead since the first match up the day, won by Stenson and Rose, to take a 3.5-2.5 advantage. Two afternoon session alternate shot matches remain on the course, Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley vs. Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson as well as Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker vs. Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.
This is Stenson’s third appearance in the Ryder Cup for Team Europe and he improved to a 3-3-2 record. The 38-year-old Swede has not won a tournament in 2014, but after a hot streak in 2013, is ranked fifth in the world rankings.
Rose is also playing in his third Ryder Cup for Team Europe and the 34-year-old Englishman has been dominant for Europe extending his Ryder Cup record to 7-3 this morning. Rose has three victories this year and two of those came on the PGA Tour. He won the U.S. Open in 2013, helping him to his current sixth overall position in the golf world rankings.
This is Zach Johnson’s fourth Ryder Cup appearance and he is now 6-5-1 all-time. Hunter Mahan is in his third appearance and is now 3-3-2 all-time in the Ryder Cup.
With the 2 and 1 win for Stenson and Rose, it’s their second of the day as a pairing. McGinley will definitely look to pair Stenson and Rose as Team Europe’s dominant group after Rory and Sergio’s Friday struggles.
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