Ryder Cup 2014: USA ties Europe, 1-1, after second match
Tom Watson made a very bold move when he paired two of the United States’ Ryder Cup rookies together in the first set of matches for the Friday morning four-ball session of the 2014 Ryder Cup. However, it worked.
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21-year-old Jordan Spieth and 24-year-old Patrick Reed took down Europe’s Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher, finishing five-up with four to play to give the United States their first point.
After two matches, the score is tied, 1-1.
Spieth has been impressive the last two years on tour. He only has one PGA Tour win, the 2013 John Deere Classic, but his impressive play has landed him the 13th overall slot in the world golf ranking making him one of the youngest, best golfers in the world. Watson clearly has a lot of trust in Spieth to get the job done in Europe, because that’s what he did Friday morning along with Reed.
Reed, also a young gun for the Americans, had two wins in the 2014 PGA Tour season winning the Humana Challenge and the WGC-Cadillac Invitational. Reed now has three all-time PGA Tour wins after he won the Wyndham Championship in 2013, ironically beating Jordan Spieth in a playoff.
The Americans defeated a European team of Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher.
Both players were captain’s picks for European captain Paul McGinley and both failed to perform in their opening match. Poulter was the hero that led the comeback win for Team Europe in the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club in Illinois. He’s been one of Europe’s best Ryder Cup players with an overall record of 12-4 after the loss Friday morning.
Gallacher, 39, is playing in his first Ryder Cup after he’s performed well on the European Tour the last two years.
Two dominant 5 and 4 victories opened up the Ryder Cup after Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson were dominated by Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson and the U.S. rookies who were able to get the job done against Poulter and rookie Gallacher.
There are two matches left in the morning session. Four more alternate shot matches will begin after the conclusion of the morning session.
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