Europe have won four times in the US, starting with America's first home defeat in 60 years in 1987. As well as the Miracle of Medinah, there was also the almighty thrashing handed out to the Americans in 2004. But of all the triumphs in America, the 1995 win at Oak Hill Country Club remains a personal favourite.
The shock win thirty years ago may not have been quite as stunning as the comeback in 2012. But going into the event in 1995, things were far from rosy in the European garden. A reluctant captain, complaints regarding selection, a key injury, and players out of form did little to encourage European fans that the cup could be won outright for the first time in eight years.
Narrow defeats in 1991 and 1993, and the heavy criticism that came after the latter, had hurt captain Bernard Gallacher. Resigning after the defeat at the Belfry, it took a letter from Bernhard Langer, a conversation with Seve Ballesteros, and a public plea from Nick Faldo to change Gallacher's mind. "I've been swayed, but for all the right reasons. The bottom line is that I feel we can win at Oak Hill."
Gallacher had felt impelled to defend himself after the 1993 loss. Before the 1995 event he faced further condemnation for his part in the selection process for the team that involved Gallacher only having two captain's picks. With Faldo guaranteed a place in the team, Gallacher was left with the unenviable task of omitting two from Jose-Maria Olazabal, Ian Woosnam and Jesper Parnevik.
"He's stuck, isn't he?" Woosnam complained. "But he'll get no sympathy from me. He wanted this system and we could end up without all our best players in the team." Former skipper Tony Jacklin was just as scathing. "It's absolutely the most ridiculous decision that I've ever come across. They have shot themselves straight in the foot before the thing starts."
"Everyone has known since 1993 exactly how to get into the team," Gallacher responded angrily, before selecting Faldo and Olazabal. Yet two weeks later, Woosnam was back in the team when Olazabal was forced to withdraw due to a persistent foot injury. Woosnam had won 4½ points at the previous Ryder Cup, and had been runner-up at Oak Hill in the 1989 US Open. But losing Olazabal was a significant blow.
There appeared to be one possible chink in the US armour. A team containing five rookies - Tom Lehman, Phil Mickelson, Jeff Maggert, Loren Roberts and Brad Faxon - was a concern, leading captain Lanny Wadkins to select the experienced duo of Fred Couples and Curtis Strange. There would be no place for Open winner John Daly, the East Course at Oak Hill not expected to suit his style of play.
Many questioned the inclusion of Strange, and in particular the wisdom of leaving out Players Championship winner Lee Janzen. Come Sunday night, this decision would come back to haunt Wadkins in a big way. But come the close of days one and two, the chances of America losing at home seemed slim.
The dramatic weekend would see a first for television coverage in the UK. Sky Sports would show the event live, with the excellent duo of Ewen Murray and Bruce Critchley providing commentary. Wall-to-wall coverage for those who had access to satellite television. It was a whole new ball game.
America may have been favourites with the bookies - 1/2 to win as opposed to 15/8 for Europe - but picking a winner divided opinion. "My heart says Europe will win but my brain says there's no way they can," Johnny Miller stated. "I don't want to say that Europe will win because it doesn't make any sense, but something inside me says they will."
The Observer's Derek Lawrenson was just as unsure. "If one were being cold-hearted and analytical, one would have to back the Americans. But heck, what is the Ryder Cup if it is not about heart; and mine yearns for something of a last hurrah from Europe's great names and that Gallacher finally ends up a winner in his eleventh match as either player or captain."
News that Ballesteros would be sitting out the morning foursomes made headlines, yet in truth there was simply no way Gallacher could play the Spaniard in the alternate shot format due to his poor form. The responsibility of the nerve-wracking first tee shot would fall on Colin Montgomerie's shoulders, but his usually solid partnership with Faldo failed to fire.
Four down after five holes, the duo managed to drag themselves back into their match against Tom Lehman and the tough Corey Pavin. But two poor shots from Faldo on the 18th let the Americans in. Howard Clark and Mark James played poorly in a 4 & 3 defeat to Jeff Maggert and Davis Love III, but the unexpected partnership of Sam Torrance and Constantino Rocca put Europe's first point on the board.
All eyes turned to the final foursomes match. Bernhard Langer and rookie Per Ulrik-Johansson were coasting at three up with six to play. Yet in damp conditions, Ben Crenshaw and Strange fought back, leaving Langer with a six-foot putt on the last to win the match. Fortunately for Europe, there would be no repeat of Kiawah in 1991; Langer's crucial putt pulled Europe level.
That was pretty much as good as it got for Gallacher on day one. Europe's skipper later admitted a huge error on his behalf when he sent the bedraggled Langer and Johansson back out to play in the fourballs shortly after their win. Faldo and Montgomerie would lose again in a second session to forget for Europe.
An unexpected bonus came via the odd couple of Ballesteros and David Gilford. The Englishman had endured a nightmare debut in 1991, but flourished under the guidance of Europe's talisman. "He is great to play with," Gilford admitted. "He wants to win so much it's infectious." Ballesteros was all over the place, but still he managed to halve the 9th and win the 10th. Birdies from Gilford on 13 and 15 sealed the win.
Trailing 5-3 overnight, Europe needed a big response in the morning foursomes, and duly delivered. Faldo and Montgomerie earned their first win, Langer teamed up with Gilford to beat Lehman and Pavin, with Torrance and Rocca crushing Love III and Maggert 6 and 5. "He's the rock of Italy," Torrance said of his partner. Rocca's hole in one at the 6th was part of a dream morning for Europe.
The only defeat came when Woosnam and rookie partner Philip Walton lost to Loren Roberts and Peter Jacobsen on the final green. But with the overall score at 6-6, European fans were delighted to be back in the contest. Sadly, spirits were not quite so high after a thrilling final fourball match.
With Europe trailing 8-7, the last match took on extra importance. All square playing the last, Faldo safely found the putting surface. Pavin was just off the green but when Roberts secured a par, the alarm bells started ringing. Inevitably Pavin chipped in, his ball defying pace and gravity to find the bottom of the cup. Faldo missed his birdie putt to leave the Americans 9-7 in the lead.
The Americans celebrated as if the trophy was theirs, Wadkins hugging Strange as the crowd whooped in delight. Gallacher looked crestfallen. Noting the reactions of the American team and crowd, Gallacher then turned to his wife and said: "They're having their celebrations tonight. We'll have ours tomorrow night."
Effectively Europe were 10-7 down, such was the poor form of Ballesteros. But going out first against Lehman, his sheer guts and acts of escapology inspired those behind him. Ballesteros only hit one fairway on the front nine, but somehow remained all square.
Eventually Lehman won 4 and 3, but there was hope for Europe. James and Clark, who had not played since Friday morning, won their matches. Clark's hole in one on the 11th helped him edge his match against Jacobsen. "That roar was heard around the course and I believe, to this day, it was the moment Europe believed," Murray later noted.
Woosnam would never win a singles match at the Ryder Cup, but he came agonisingly close to breaking his duck when somehow his putt to defeat Couples slid past the hole. Rocca lost to Love III in a repeat of their 1993 match, before Gallacher's ploy of putting his strength in the middle order paid dividends.
Gilford nearly blew his match after going through the 18th green, his bogey putt from 10-feet enough to see off Brad Faxon as the American failed to make par; Montgomerie ended with four 3s to defeat Crenshaw; Torrance comfortably beat Roberts. Langer may have lost to the superb Pavin, but Europe were now within touching distance of an astonishing comeback.
Everything rested on the Strange v Faldo match. But with Faldo one down on the 17th, it was time for the five-time major winner to dig deep. A six-foot par putt on the 17th was enough to level the match - Strange unable to hide the distress on his face - as more and more people gathered around the pivotal contest.
Faldo found the rough with his drive, but after deliberately laying up he played a sublime approach to within a few feet. With Strange unable to make par, Faldo rolled his putt in - "everything was shaking bar the putter" - holding his arms aloft as Europe took the lead for the first time. "Our hearts go out to Nick Faldo," Murray announced. As Seve embraced Faldo, the pair shed tears in an iconic moment for European golf.
The winning moment looked like it might not arrive. Europe could not lose the match, but Walton was struggling to close out his match against Jay Haas. All Walton had to do was halve one of the last three holes to get Europe over the line. Haas then pitched in from a bunker at the 16th; Walton missed a putt for the cup a hole later; the agony continued.
Haas played the 18th poorly as understandably nerves frayed, allowing Walton to chip from the bank in front of the green and have the luxury of two putts for the cup. As his ball rolled next to the hole, it was done. "And the Ryder Cup will be on Concorde tonight," declared an excited Murray. Gallacher jumped up in delight before hurling himself at Walton. Against the odds, Europe had won the cup back.
Gallacher showed his class during the closing ceremony, helping a tearful Wadkins through his speech - "been there, done that," Wadkins joked - as the fallout from the US defeat began. Yet for the European team there was a night to remember, or perhaps forget due to their alcohol intake. Gallacher could enjoy some Sunday night celebrations after all.
"People were writing us off, calling me a three-time loser," Gallacher said. "But we won as a team, not as individuals. I'm proud that every player on this team contributed a point. They all shared in our success." The path was now clear for Ballesteros to lead the team at Valderama.
Sky's montage - including Vanessa Williams' Best for Last - was a fine tribute to Europe's surprise win. Not many gave them a chance prior to the match or after Pavin's chip. But winning the singles for the first time in America saw Gallacher's team defy the odds. Arguably Sky had saved the best for first.
You may be interested in:
No comments:
Post a Comment