In the first match of day two of the 2014 Ryder Cup tournament at Gleneagles in Scotland, it was Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose, taking care of business for Team Europe yet again, extending Europe’s lead to 6-3 after defeating Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar 3 and 2.
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The U.S. pairing looked good early, leading 2-up through six holes, but from there it was all Europe. Stenson and Rose won holes 7,8, 12, 13 and 16 to close out the Americans in the first match of the day for the second straight day. This was the European pair’s third win of the Ryder Cup in three matches.
In Friday’s opening morning session, Stenson and Rose defeated Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson in fourball play 5 and 4, and then in the afternoon alternate shot they defeated Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson 2 and 1, giving Team Europe two key points.
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.
Bubba Watson struggled again for the Americans. He ranked as the top player for the U.S. coming in, but has struggled in both matches he’s played in and his status for the afternoon is questionable. He did go 3-under par in Saturday morning’s session compared to his 1-over par on Friday.
Kuchar and Watson both find themselves 0-2 for the Americans in the Ryder Cup so far, it’ll be interesting to see if U.S. Captain Tom Watson plays either of them Saturday afternoon.
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