Ryder Cup: Americans win third match of day, closing gap

By Cameron La Fontaine | Sep 27, 2014

Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports /

Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan both lost in their pairings in Friday’s afternoon session of the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland, but they were paired together Saturday morning and dominated for Team U.S.A. defeating Lee Westwood and Jaimie Donaldson 4 and 3, closing the gap for the Americans who now trail just 5-6 to the Europeans.

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The Americans didn’t let the European pairing win any holes in this match as they dominated right out the gate. Mahan birdied hole one to give the U.S. a 1-up lead, Furyk birdied hole three to give the U.S. the 2-up lead, then Mahan birdied hole seven and eagled hole 14 to give the Americans the 4-up advantage and 4 and 3 win over Team Europe.

This is Jim Furyk’s ninth Ryder Cup appearance and he has struggled in the Ryder Cup in his career, but was finally able to get his win column in the double digits Saturday, extending to a 10-18-4 all-time record.

Hunter Mahan is in his third appearance and is now 4-3-2 all-time in the Ryder Cup.

Westwood, 41, is in his ninth Ryder Cup appearance, the veteran for Team Europe and with the loss, his all-time Ryder Cup record sits at an impressive 19-14-6. This is Donaldson’s first Ryder Cup appearance. The pair was able to get a key win for the European side Friday afternoon in a 1-up victory over Matt Kuchar and Jim Furyk.

Furyk was able to get his revenge Saturday morning, thanks to Hunter Mahan’s great play as well as Furyk’s the Americans find themselves just one point down with one match still on the course for the morning session. Furyk and Mahan earned themselves a spot in an alternate shot match Saturday afternoon.

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