Bradley sparks early U.S. surge

Keegan Bradley celebrates a birdie putt on the eighth hole during a four-ball match Friday in Ryder Cup play.
Keegan Bradley celebrates a birdie putt on the eighth hole during a four-ball match Friday in Ryder Cup play.

— Keegan Bradley made Friday at the Ryder Cup feel like the best day of his life, and it wasn’t too shabby for the rest of the Americans either.

Bradley led a strong performance by rookies on both teams at Medinah by teaming with Phil Mickelson for two victories against Europe’s best two partnerships. Even with Tiger Woods getting shut out on opening day for the fourth time, the United States took a big step toward regaining the cup by taking a 5-3 lead.

Leading the way was Bradley, the former PGA champion whom Mickelson took under his wing last year for a series of money games at the majors to prepare the New England kid for moments like this, and did he ever deliver.

“This is literally what I’ve dreamt about since I was a little kid,” Bradley said. “I got to do it next to my idol all day.”

Bradley holed a 25-foot birdie putt in morning foursomes to hand Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia their first loss ever in Ryder Cup foursomes. Next up were Rory Mc-Ilroy and Graeme McDowell, and the Americans won the first three holes. Mickelson wasn’t there only for support. Right when Europe was trying to rally, the four-time major champion closed it out with a7-iron to 2 feet that was conceded for birdie.

It was a day Bradley didn’t want to end.

“Oh, baby, I wish we could go 36 more,” Bradley said.

He wasn’t the only rookie to shine on a mild day in the Chicago suburbs. Nicolas Colsaerts, the 29-year-old from Belgium, helped Europe avoid getting shut out in afternoon fourballs by single-handedly taking down Woods and Steve Stricker.

Colsaerts made eight birdies and an eagle - a 10-under 62 if he were keeping score on his own. He teamed with Lee Westwood, who was just along for this amazing ride for a 1-up victory that ended 11 hours of enormous cheers and plenty of American red on the leaderboard.

“I don’t think there has ever been a better debut than that,” Westwood said.

Woods and Stricker also lost to Ian Poulter and Justin Rose in morning foursomes, making this the fourth time in the seven Ryder Cups that Woods has played that he lost both matches on the opening day.

There was nothing Woods could do against Colsaerts, the biggest hitter in Europe who isn’t too bad with the putter, either.

“Nicolas probably had one of the greatest putting rounds I’ve ever seen,” said Woods, a 14-time major champion.

Woods turned in a mixed performance. He missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 15th to fall 2 down and then came back with a bending, 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th and a shot into 4 feet on the 17th that looked as if it might square the match. Instead, Colsaerts rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt for a halve. Woods had a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to halve the match, only it caught the left lip.

“We ran into a guy who made everything today,” Woods said. “I don’t know what he shot. He was like 7 under through 10. I quit counting after that.”

Both captains made sure all 12 of their players got into the game early, though European captain Jose Maria Olazabal set himself up for second guessing when he sat Donald, Garcia and Poulter for the afternoon matches. They have a combined 31-13-5 record in the Ryder Cup.

Mickelson set an American record by playing in his ninth Ryder Cup, and he won his opening two matches for the first time in his career. Mickelson came up with some big putts and amazing shots, and the 42-year-old said he felt about 10 years younger playing alongside Bradley.

“It could be the best day of my life,” Bradley said.

Europe has won six of the past eight times in the Ryder Cup, and it wasn’t about to hang its head after one day. It was leading all four of the opening matches early Friday under a gloomy sky. The sun came out, and the Americans came to life.

“There’s a long way to go in this tournament,” Rose said. “There’s ebbs and flows. Obviously, there’s momentum for the U.S. team right now, but that could all swing back in our favor tomorrow.”

Even so, the Americans headed to their team room full of confidence. It won five of eight matches without getting a point from Woods, and they picked up a little extra momentum when Mickelson and Bradley took down McIlroy, the No. 1 player in the world.

The Ryder Cup again lived up to its billing as the most exciting tournament in golf with relentless action, huge swings in momentum and endless cheers.

Bubba Watson asked the crowd to keep chanting and cheering when he stepped to the tee for his afternoon four balls with Webb Simpson, and the Masters champion belted his drive down the middle, raising his driver to play to the crowd. Then the Americans did a number on Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson, going 6 up through eight holes and closing them out on the 14th hole.

Matt Kuchar ran off four consecutive birdies as he and Dustin Johnson built an early lead against Rose and Martin Kaymer.

The only rookie who didn’t deliver a point was FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker, though it wasn’t from a lack of effort. Snedeker and Furyk were 3 down through 12 holes against McIlroy and McDowell in the morning when they put together a furious rally, with Furyk carrying the bulk of the load. They squared the match going to the 18th when Snedeker hit a drive toward the hospitality tents well right of the fairway, and Furyk couldn’t convert a 20-foot par putt to halve the match.

But it was a sign of the American fight.

Bradley turned into a rock star at Medinah, especially on the par-3 13th, perhaps the toughest tee shot because it was long and into the wind, requiring a hybrid. He hit it to 15 feet left of the flag, and Bradley nodded to the crowd repeatedly as fans chanted, “USA! USA!”

Mickelson, who first played in these matches in 1995, smiled and gently patted him on the back to let him soak up the moment. Mickelson then holed the birdie putt for a 2-up lead, and Garcia missed a 3 1/2-foot par putt on the next hole. It was the Spaniard’s first loss in 10 foursomes matches dating to 1999.

Friday’s results At Medinah Country Club (Par 72, 7,658 yards), Medinah, Ill.

UNITED STATES 5, EUROPE 3

FOURSOMES Europe 2, United States 2 Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, Europe, def. Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker, United States, 1-up.

Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, United States, def. Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, Europe, 4 and 3.

Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson, United States, def. Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari, Europe, 3 and 2. Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, Europe, def. Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, United States, 2 and 1.

FOURBALLS United States 3, Europe 1 Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, United States, def. Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson, Europe, 5 and 4.

Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, United States, def. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, Europe, 2 and 1. Lee Westwood and Nicolas Colsaerts, Europe, def. Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, United States, 1-up.

Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar, United States, def. Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer, Europe, 3 and 2.

Sports, Pages 19 on 09/29/2012

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