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Colsaerts shoots 60 in first round at Portugal Open

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Nicolas Colsaerts (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/ Getty Images)

VILAMOURA, Portugal – Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium shot a brilliant 11-under 60 to take a three-shot lead of the Portugal Masters in the opening round on Thursday.

Colsaerts came close to setting a European Tour record of 59 when his putt missed on the par-4 18th hole.

Colsaerts made eagles on the 15th and 17th after hitting seven birdies through a near flawless first day at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club.

It was the 19th time the score of 60 has been reached on the European Tour.

Scott Jamieson and Alexander Levy were both three strokes behind in joint second.

The round was suspended late due to rain. It will be finished early Friday.

 

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Wilson wins Dunhill Links for first European title

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Oliver Wilson (David Cannon/ Getty Images)

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Oliver Wilson held off Rory McIlroy to capture his first European Tour title with a one-shot victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Wilson shot a 2-under 70 in the final round on the Old Course at St. Andrews as McIlroy came up just short after a bogey on the 17th hole. Wilson finished at 17-under 271, with McIlroy (68) in a three-way tie for second with Richie Ramsay of Scotland and Tommy Fleetwood of England.

The 34-year old Wilson, currently ranked 792nd in the world, had finished second nine times in his 227 previous tour events, but lost his card two years ago and was competing this week on an invitation.

“It’s all really hard to believe as I have dreamed of this moment many times in my career, and in the circumstances it has happened I can’t believe it,” said Wilson, who started the day with a three-shot lead. “So it’s a dream come true to win a tournament as St. Andrews because three, four weeks ago my career was looking pretty grim. It’s just amazing what is possible playing professional golf.”

McIlroy started with a double bogey but then made four straight birdies and picked up two more shots after the turn before putting from off the green and into the infamous Road Hole bunker at the 17th. At the first hole, his ball spun back off the green into the Swilcan Burn.

“I feel I cost myself the tournament in the space of 20 yards at the front of the green at the first and over at the Road Hole bunker, with both not too far away from each other,” McIlroy said. “They were the only two mistakes I made all day.”

Ramsay had a two-shot lead after birdies at 14 and 15 but then handed the shots back with bogeys the next two to shoot 67. Fleetwood had a chance to force a playoff but missed a six-foot putt at the 18th to settle for a 68.

Chris Doak of Scotland was alone in fifth place, another shot behind.

 

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Watson takes responsibility for Ryder Cup loss

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Tom Watson (Harry Engels/ Getty Images)

Tom Watson took the blame Saturday for his communication with his players in another American loss at the Ryder Cup, and the 65-year-old captain said he called Phil Mickelson earlier this week to clear the air.

“I regret that my words may have made the players feel that I didn’t appreciate their commitment and dedication to winning the Ryder Cup,” Watson said in a statement issued through the PGA of America. “My intentions throughout my term as captain were both to inspire and to be honest.”

Mickelson indirectly called out Watson in an awkward press conference after Europe’s 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory, the eighth out of the last 10 times it has won the cup. Mickelson said the Americans have strayed from a winning formula they had under Paul Azinger in 2008.

Watson was sitting in the middle of his 12 players and said he had a different philosophy.

The statement was issued one day after an ESPN report citing four unidentified people who were in the U.S. team room on the night before the final round. Those people said Watson blamed the players for their performance in foursomes – Europe went unbeaten in both sessions to build a 10-6 lead going into singles – and scoffed at a gift from the players by saying it was meaningless if they didn’t win.

The gift was a replica of the Ryder Cup the players had signed.

The report also said Watson denigrated some of the European players, and only praised the play of U.S. rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.

Watson was the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history. He was the last U.S. captain in 1993 to win the Ryder Cup away from home.

“The guys gave everything. They played their hearts out,” Watson said in his statement. “I was proud to get to know each and every one of them.”

Mickelson was playing his 10th Ryder Cup – no American has played more times – and said the U.S. team was not involved in any decision. He heaped praise on Azinger for his “pods” system that got the players involved when they won at Valhalla in 2008.

Watson dismissed that during the press conference, saying winning the Ryder Cup was not about pods and that it simply took 12 players to win.

The ESPN report said Mickelson was the last to speak during the team meeting, kept his back turned at Watson and tried to rally the players. Europe won key matches early and clinched the cup with four matches still on the course.

Watson said he had a “candid conversation” with Mickelson this week “and it ended with a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.”

“Phil’s heart and intentions for our team’s success have always been in the right place,” Watson said. “Phil is a great player, has great passion and I admire what he’s done for golf.”

Watson said the loss at Gleneagles fell to him.

“I was their captain,” he said. “In hindsight, whatever mistakes that were made were mine. And I take full responsibility for them.”

 

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Wilson regains Dunhill Links lead

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Oliver Wilson (David Cannon/ Getty Images)

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Oliver Wilson of England closed in on a maiden European Tour title when he moved three strokes clear of the field in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday.

Wilson, playing with an invite as he lost full playing rights on tour in 2011, shot a 7-under-par 65 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to tally 15-under 201.

On his tail at 12 under were four players: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (64), England’s Tommy Fleetwood (62), and the French pair of Raphael Jacquelin (69) and Alexander Levy (68).

Heavy overnight rain caused an hour’s delay to the start of play, and officials adopted the preferred lie rule, meaning Fleetwood’s and Louis Oosthuizen’s 10-under 62s weren’t counted as tying the Old Course record.

Before he lost his card, Wilson, a 2008 Ryder Cup player, was runner-up nine times on tour, including here in 2009. This is his 229th tour event.

“There is a long 18 holes still to go, so it will be a long day, but to win would mean a lot to me,” said Wilson, ranked 792.

“I just love coming to play golf here on the three courses, and that walk up the 18th on the Old Course is pretty cool.”

He also wasn’t fazed when McIlroy surged on the front nine to tie him briefly.

McIlroy birdied five straight holes and made the turn on 30. But he hit into a bunker on the 16th, took two shots to get out and bogeyed the hole he eagled the day before. He finished with a 64, one off his best on the course.

“That was mission accomplished,” McIlroy said.

“The last four holes wasn’t really what I wanted but any time you shoot a score like that around St. Andrews, you have to be happy. Got myself into contention going into tomorrow, and Dad and I are going to get to play St. Andrews on his birthday tomorrow which will be a huge treat for both of us.”

Fellow Ryder Cup teammate Stephen Gallacher (69) at 9 under was five shots under the cut. But their other teammates Victor Dubuisson (75) at 1 under, and Martin Kaymer (71) at 1 over missed out.

 

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Jacquelin leads Dunhill Links by a shot

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Raphael Jacquelin (Ross Kinnaird/ Getty Images)

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Raphael Jacquelin of France birdied his last two holes for a 2-under 70 to break clear of a tightly packed leaderboard and take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Four players – Irish duo Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry along with Frenchman Alexander Levy and England’s Oliver Wilson – were in a tie for second, with three others another shot back. At one stage late in the day, nine players were tied for the lead before Harrington jumped in front and Jacquelin then leapfrogged him with his strong finish for a 9-under total of 135.

The tournament is played on three courses, with 11 of the players in the top 12 having played Kingsbarns on Friday. Lowry was the only exception, shooting a 70 at St. Andrews.

“It’s always nice to finish birdie-birdie, but it was difficult out there,” Jacquelin said. “I am in a nice position and right where I want to be. I played really well yesterday shooting a 65 at Carnoustie and putting really great, but then today here at Kingsbarns I just didn’t get the pace of the greens.”

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy shot a 67 on Kingsbarns to sit five shots back. McIlroy started on the back nine and was 1 over through six holes before an eagle on No. 16 and a birdie on the next got him going. He added four more birdies and a bogey on his last nine holes.

“The eagle on 16, or my seventh hole, kick-started something for me and I just went from there and started seeing a few more putts roll in,” he said. “That gave me a little bit more confidence, and looking at the leaderboard I am only five shots behind with two rounds to play.”

Harrington is looking to end a six-year title drought, having failed to win a tournament on either of the main tours since capturing a third major at the 2008 PGA Championship.

The 43-year old has slipped to 324th in the world rankings, and said his main goal now is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

“That’s where I am focused so I’ve got two years to achieve that goal, and it makes no difference where I am in the world now,” Harrington said. “So I am starting at `ground zero’ and working my way up to becoming an Olympic athlete. That would be very special.”

Scottish duo Richie Ramsay (68) and Chris Doak (67) were in a share for sixth place with American Ryan Palmer (68).

Stephen Gallacher carded a 70 to move to a share of ninth place at 6 under to be the best of the four European Ryder Cup winners competing this week.

 

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McIlroy 9 behind leader after Dunhill first round

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Rory McIlroy (Matthew Lewis/ Getty Images)

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Rory McIlroy found himself nine shots off the lead after a 1-over-par 73 in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.

Four days after celebrating a third straight European Ryder Cup victory, McIlroy could manage just one birdie against two bogeys at Carnoustie, one of the three courses.

“A 73 isn’t disastrous,” McIlroy said.

Oliver Wilson of England, ranked 791 places below the top-ranked McIlroy, equaled the Carnoustie course record with an 8-under 64. It’s the second straight year he’s shot an opening 64 to lead the Dunhill Links. Last year, he finished tied for 59th.

Wilson was in the Ryder Cup in 2008, the last time Europe lost to the U.S, but since 2011 has been competing on the secondary Challenge Tour. He received an invite for this week and sank nine birdie putts, finishing birdie-birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie.

“I shot a 63 a fortnight ago in the Kazakhstan Open, which is our major on the Challenge Tour, so to shoot a 64 here at Carnoustie is very pleasing,” Wilson said.

“I only dropped one shot, which was disappointing at 17, but then to birdie the last makes up for that. I’m so delighted to get Carnoustie and the tougher of the three courses out of the way.”

Raphael Jacquelin of France, also at Carnoustie, was one shot behind in second after a 65 which included an eagle on the par-5 14th, his fifth hole.

The Irish pair of Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry shared third with 66s. Harrington, at Carnoustie where he captured the 2007 British Open, bogeyed his closing two holes.

The 55th-ranked Lowry, desperate to earn a maiden Masters invitation by being inside the top-50 at year’s end, birdied six of his opening 10 holes at Kingsbarns course.

McIlroy sent his opening tee shot at Carnoustie way left after hitting the ground about four inches (10 centimeters) behind the ball, but then managed to save par on the course where he won the low amateur medal in the 2007 Open won by Harrington.

“I just felt a little flat coming here after the crowds and everything that we were playing in front of last week,” he said.

“I’ve got Kingsbarns tomorrow, so I will try and post a better number and try and hang in there, and then go to St. Andrews over the weekend, a golf course I’ve played well on before.”

Of the three other Ryder Cup winners in the field, Stephen Gallacher fared best with two eagles in a 68, followed by Victor Dubuisson (71), and Martin Kaymer (74). Their captain, Paul McGinley, was 2 over after four holes before ending with a par 72.

 

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Phil Mickelson saves best shot for his captain

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Phil Mickelson (Harry Engels/ Getty Images)

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – Phil Mickelson delivered his most memorable shot after the Ryder Cup was over.

Not with a club, but with his words.

Mickelson knew this Ryder Cup was a lost cause before it was over. Even though he won his singles match over Stephen Gallacher, another European victory looked imminent. That’s what led Mickelson to say in a television interview, “We had a great formula in `08 and I don’t know why we strayed from it. I don’t know why we don’t ever try going back to it.”

He was talking about the only Ryder Cup the Americans have won in the last 15 years.

And he was just getting warmed up.

It’s rare to hear even a remote reference to criticism from a player at Ryder Cup. Mickelson took it to an unprecedented level when he delivered his message in the closing news conference, sitting alongside his 11 teammates with captain Tom Watson right in the middle.

Mickelson blistered one captain by praising another.

He spoke in detail about Paul Azinger’s pod system – three groups of qualifiers that filled out their pod by telling Azinger whom they wanted as a captain’s pick. They ate together. They practiced together. They never played with anyone outside their pod, and they were next to each other in every lineup. And then he raved about how Azinger had a game plan for every occasion, which suggested that Watson did not.

Watson never looked at Mickelson as he spoke. When asked to reply, the 65-year-old captain said he had a different philosophy and sneered at the notion of a pod.

This might have been the most intense match of the week.

Even when the Europeans lost at Valhalla under Nick Faldo, they closed ranks in the news conference. Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia both were benched for the first time in their careers. They are not fans of Faldo. And yet they took the blame that day by saying they should have played better.

Mickelson didn’t call out Watson by name. He just criticized his heavy-handed leadership style.

It needed to be said.

And as bad as it made Watson look – and Mickelson, for that matter – it was the right time and the right place. The message was directed more at the PGA of America, which selected Watson without player input, than it was at the captain. Given the stage, his comments will not be forgotten.

Watson wanted to be captain again, even though it had been 21 years since he was captain, or even attended a Ryder Cup. After watching the meltdown at Medinah, he was tired of the Americans losing. Watson saw a team with a silver spoon that was in dire need of an iron fist.

“This guy is tough as nails. We all know that,” European captain Paul McGinley said. “He was going to be strong. He was going to be a very strong captain, and he was going to lead it his way.”

That might have worked in 1993. It doesn’t work now.

Azinger’s all-inclusive style was key in winning the Ryder Cup. Davis Love III had a similar style at Medinah, and the Americans built a 10-6 lead going into the final day. If not for Justin Rose making a 45-foot putt, and Ian Poulter making just about everything, the Americans would have won that cup, too.

Watson talked about keeping it simple. He saw his main roles as the captain’s picks and the pairings, and neither merited a passing grade.

It wasn’t all on Watson, who didn’t hit a single shot. And it’s not a complete failure by the Americans. Europe always has a great team, and now it has great players. Winning the Ryder Cup was never going to be easy.

Watson returns to Scotland next year at St. Andrews for his final appearance in the British Open, which he has won five times. He is revered in Scotland, and a bad week at Gleneagles is not going to change that. This Ryder Cup loss will be forgotten. It’s not like the Americans losing is an anomaly.

As for Mickelson?

He came across as disingenuous and disrespectful for going public with what could have been handled in private.

It was a big risk for Mickelson, who is wildly popular with fans but can be as polarizing as Tiger Woods. Mickelson opened himself up to massive criticism for calling out Watson on such a big stage. And it’s not as if Mickelson can lean on a great Ryder Cup record. A five-time major champion, he has been on eight losing teams.

Mickelson doesn’t speak from the hip. This was calculated. He knew the risk.

Go back to start of the week, when Mickelson poked fun at Rory McIlroy’s lawsuit against his management company that now involves Graeme McDowell. Mickelson said the best part of American unity is that “we don’t litigate against each other.”

He has been coming over to Britain for 20 years. He knew what kind of headlines one comment was going to generate. And he didn’t care.

“I might get roasted,” he told Golf Digest. “I can handle it.”

 

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McGinley ends career on a winning note

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Paul McGinley (Mike Ehrmann/ Getty Images)

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – Paul McGinley is ready to call it a career in the Ryder Cup, and it ended on a perfect note.

McGinley made his debut in 2002 at The Belfry by holing the winning putt for Europe. His final act was captain of another formidable team, and he called all the right shots at Gleneagles as Europe sailed to its eighth win in the last 10 Ryder Cup matches.

In between, he played in two other Ryder Cups (both record wins for Europe) and was an assistant twice.

“That’s six Ryder Cups now I’ve been involved in and six wins,” he said. “I do feel lucky.”

After another celebration that lasted into the early hours Monday, McGinley says he won’t take part in another Ryder Cup, at least not in an official capacity.

“I’ve gone from a player to a vice captain to a captain. I’ve been six out of six. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve had six great experiences,” McGinley said. “I’m very happy to help going forward in an unofficial capacity.”

Two of his assistants at Gleneagles previously were captains – Sam Torrance in 2002 and Jose Maria Olazabal in 2012. McGinley said his personality would not allow him to return after being at the pinnacle of European leadership.

“I’ve put so much on the table,” he said. “I would like to be able to support the next captain in whatever direction he went, and if I had a belief about a different area, I’m afraid there would be conflict. So I can’t see myself doing that role again.”

His job for the European team is not over yet.

McGinley will join Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie on a five-member panel that decides the next captain for the 2016 job at Hazeltine. European Tour chief executive George O’Grady and a player from the tournament committee fill out the panel.

Darren Clarke is among those under consideration. McGinley and Clarke had a falling out two years ago when Clarke was up for the 2014 job, stood down and then backed Montgomerie because he thought Europe needed a big personality to match U.S. captain Tom Watson, who has iconic status in Scotland.

McGinley pledged there would be “absolutely no problem whatsoever” when he serves on the panel.

“I’m going to get a large opinion from a lot of players and a lot of people before I put my opinion forward,” McGinley said. “I think a lot of us benefited hugely from being vice captains. Darren has been a vice captain, along with many other guys, as well. So we will see where that all evolves, and I certainly won’t have no issues with that whatsoever. I’ll make a professional decision based on the views of the people I respect.”

McGinley was not ready to think that far forward. He still was buzzing from a big night in the team room, and some photos on Twitter illustrated the happy occasion. Among the more unusual photos was Rory McIlroy dressed in only a tartan skirt with a red wig, posing with Stephen Gallacher.

McGinley some of the Europeans ventured into the team room of the Americans to play table tennis and “we got our (butt) kicked.”

“I’m glad the Ryder Cup is not a table tennis championship,” he said.

McGinley said his last Ryder Cup and first Ryder Cup were filled with the same satisfaction, though not quite the same emotion. He was the player who hit the winning shot for Europe at The Belfry in 2002. He didn’t hit a single shot at Gleneagles.

“The buzz at The Belfry was incredible. It was the first time I felt that kind of ecstasy, that sense of `Wow!’ It was an explosion of joy,” he said. “Yesterday wasn’t quite the explosion because I was very much in management mode. … But the sense of satisfaction is exactly the same.”

The American team filed out of Gleneagles Hotel in the morning, heading for Edinburgh and a charter flight home. It left on a far less unified front as Phil Mickelson said the Americans had strayed from a winning formula under Paul Azinger in 2008 and that Watson didn’t involve his players.

McGinley still hasn’t seen the press conference, which attracted nearly as much attention as Jamie Donaldson’s winning shot into the 15th. He greeted Watson at the hotel on Monday morning before the U.S. team left.

“He’s incredibly disappointed,” McGinley said. “But you know what? He’s got that smile, that steely grin. Tom Watson is Tom Watson. He’s a hard man, and he’s a man I respect. So I have the greatest respect to be able to share this journey with a hero of mine.”

 

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McGinley ends career on a winning note

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Paul McGinley (Mike Ehrmann/ Getty Images)

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – Paul McGinley is ready to call it a career in the Ryder Cup, and it ended on a perfect note.

McGinley made his debut in 2002 at The Belfry by holing the winning putt for Europe. His final act was captain of another formidable team, and he called all the right shots at Gleneagles as Europe sailed to its eighth win in the last 10 Ryder Cup matches.

In between, he played in two other Ryder Cups (both record wins for Europe) and was an assistant twice.

“That’s six Ryder Cups now I’ve been involved in and six wins,” he said. “I do feel lucky.”

After another celebration that lasted into the early hours Monday, McGinley says he won’t take part in another Ryder Cup, at least not in an official capacity.

“I’ve gone from a player to a vice captain to a captain. I’ve been six out of six. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve had six great experiences,” McGinley said. “I’m very happy to help going forward in an unofficial capacity.”

Two of his assistants at Gleneagles previously were captains – Sam Torrance in 2002 and Jose Maria Olazabal in 2012. McGinley said his personality would not allow him to return after being at the pinnacle of European leadership.

“I’ve put so much on the table,” he said. “I would like to be able to support the next captain in whatever direction he went, and if I had a belief about a different area, I’m afraid there would be conflict. So I can’t see myself doing that role again.”

His job for the European team is not over yet.

McGinley will join Olazabal and Colin Montgomerie on a five-member panel that decides the next captain for the 2016 job at Hazeltine. European Tour chief executive George O’Grady and a player from the tournament committee fill out the panel.

Darren Clarke is among those under consideration. McGinley and Clarke had a falling out two years ago when Clarke was up for the 2014 job, stood down and then backed Montgomerie because he thought Europe needed a big personality to match U.S. captain Tom Watson, who has iconic status in Scotland.

McGinley pledged there would be “absolutely no problem whatsoever” when he serves on the panel.

“I’m going to get a large opinion from a lot of players and a lot of people before I put my opinion forward,” McGinley said. “I think a lot of us benefited hugely from being vice captains. Darren has been a vice captain, along with many other guys, as well. So we will see where that all evolves, and I certainly won’t have no issues with that whatsoever. I’ll make a professional decision based on the views of the people I respect.”

McGinley was not ready to think that far forward. He still was buzzing from a big night in the team room, and some photos on Twitter illustrated the happy occasion. Among the more unusual photos was Rory McIlroy dressed in only a tartan skirt with a red wig, posing with Stephen Gallacher.

McGinley some of the Europeans ventured into the team room of the Americans to play table tennis and “we got our (butt) kicked.”

“I’m glad the Ryder Cup is not a table tennis championship,” he said.

McGinley said his last Ryder Cup and first Ryder Cup were filled with the same satisfaction, though not quite the same emotion. He was the player who hit the winning shot for Europe at The Belfry in 2002. He didn’t hit a single shot at Gleneagles.

“The buzz at The Belfry was incredible. It was the first time I felt that kind of ecstasy, that sense of `Wow!’ It was an explosion of joy,” he said. “Yesterday wasn’t quite the explosion because I was very much in management mode. … But the sense of satisfaction is exactly the same.”

The American team filed out of Gleneagles Hotel in the morning, heading for Edinburgh and a charter flight home. It left on a far less unified front as Phil Mickelson said the Americans had strayed from a winning formula under Paul Azinger in 2008 and that Watson didn’t involve his players.

McGinley still hasn’t seen the press conference, which attracted nearly as much attention as Jamie Donaldson’s winning shot into the 15th. He greeted Watson at the hotel on Monday morning before the U.S. team left.

“He’s incredibly disappointed,” McGinley said. “But you know what? He’s got that smile, that steely grin. Tom Watson is Tom Watson. He’s a hard man, and he’s a man I respect. So I have the greatest respect to be able to share this journey with a hero of mine.”

 

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Donaldson hits ‘shot of my life’ to win Ryder Cup

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Phil Mickelson (Harry Engels/ Getty Images)

GLENEAGLES, Scotland – The decisive match. The shot of his life. Jamie Donaldson will never forget his Ryder Cup debut.

The chance to clinch Europe’s third straight victory in golf’s biggest team event fell to a strapping, mild-mannered Welsh rookie who was nothing more than a journeyman pro only two years ago.

He didn’t let it pass.

Unaware he had already retained the cup for Europe on the previous hole, Donaldson hit a 9 iron from 146 yards to within 18 inches of the pin on No. 15 at Gleneagles on Sunday.

The crowd roared. Donaldson thrust his right arm up in the air and was slapped on the back by his captain. He didn’t need to make the tap-in – Europe had won again.

“This is the pinnacle,” said Donaldson, draped in a Welsh flag and surrounded by joyous teammates and family members by the side of the 15th green.

He guzzled down champagne and soaked in an atmosphere and experience he’d always dreamed of being part of.

Donaldson is a late developer in golf, winning his first tournament – the Irish Open in the summer of 2012 – at the age of 36. The following two years has seen him top a loaded field in Abu Dhabi at the start of 2013, crack the top 30 in the rankings and make regular appearances at the majors.

But making the Ryder Cup team, by winning the next-to-last qualifying event in the Czech Republic, sealed a career ambition.

“It was all he ever wanted,” his mother, Jacqui, told The Associated Press as she looked over at her son surrounded by reporters and camera crews on the 15th. “It’s what he has ever aimed for all his life.”

Donaldson, the seventh Welshman to play in the Ryder Cup, won two points in three matches with Lee Westwood over Friday and Saturday and was sent out in the 10th match in the singles.

Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer won three of the first six matches, Justin Rose had earned a half, but Europe still needed another half to retain the cup and a win to take it outright.

Step forward Donaldson.

Four up with five to play, Donaldson narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 14 and swiped the ball away in disappointment. He walked off with a stern look on his face.

He didn’t know it yet but halving that hole kept the cup in Europe’s hands.

Donaldson split the fairway with his drive on No. 15, leaving him with perfect yardage for a wedge to the green.

“I knew the crowd was gathering,” said Donaldson. “I knew things were coming down to my game. I was just trying to win my point.

“And it was the shot of my life.”

The noise was deafening as Donaldson marched to the green. U.S. captain Tom Watson shook Donaldson’s hand and then European counterpart Paul McGinley’s.

The Ryder Cup was effectively won – but it still needed Bradley to officially concede a 4-and-3 victory, which he did when he saw how close Donaldson’s ball was to the hole.

Donaldson was mobbed by McIlroy, then Henrik Stenson and then a sea of media who battled for a sight of Europe’s match-winner.

“Oh Jamie, Jamie,” the crowd sang.

“It’s hard to describe how good it is,” Donaldson said. “There’s nothing else like it in golf. It’s just a total one-off. It’s just a huge, huge thing, and it’s just been amazing to be a part of it.”

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