Session 3 wrap up

Session 3 wrap up

BUZZING AMERICANS: Stewart Cink asked to have Matt Kuchar as a partner.

Good thing the captain went along.

The Georgia Tech alums and good friends were the most successful pairing for the Americans during team play, winning one match and halving two others.

Without them, the Americans would be facing an even more daunting deficit than the three-point margin they'll have to overcome in singles Monday.

Cink's putter has been hot, while Kuchar has steadily improved since a shaky start.

"Certainly, there's been some good play," Kuchar said. "I've been pleased I've kind of gotten better every day. I'm pleased with Stewart and we paired up pretty well together, took two of three points, and I feel like it's been a good performance I put in. I feel like it's been getting stronger."

They won't be able to lean on each other anymore. Cink will go out in the second match, facing Rory McIlroy, while Kuchar was placed in the fifth slot against Ian Poulter. The Americans must win 7½ out of 12 points to retain the cup, a tough task playing on the road.

"We have to continue to do well in the singles," Kuchar said.

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BROTHER ACT: As the Molinaris went to the 18th hole, trailing again, they surely were aware that being the first siblings to play in the Ryder Cup since 1963 wouldn't mean a thing if they couldn't produce at least a half-point for the European team.

Edoardo put his wedge shot about 15 feet from the flag. His little brother Francesco stuck his even closer — just three feet away.

When big brother missed his putt, Francesco knew he had to come through. Plagued all day by a shaky putter, he knocked this one right in the centre of the cup for the birdie that won the hole, halved the match and gave Europe a potentially important half-point.

"It was a great finish," Edoardo said.

The Molinaris went to No. 18 one hole down, facing the prospect of being the only European team not to score on Sunday. They were playing with passion and flair, but already had lost one match and faced another defeat largely because of Francesco's shaky putter, which missed on several short attempts.

But the Italians caught a break when Cink drove into a bunker on the par-5 finishing hole, a mistake that took him out of contention for making birdie. Kuchar had to lay up in front of the water with his second shot, and only got within 25 feet of the flag with his wedge into the green, not close enough for a strong chance at birdie.

"When Cink missed the drive in the bunker, it was two against one," Edoardo said. "We definitely had an advantage and we were good enough to win the hole."

With the match all-square at No. 16, Francesco elected to putt first to save par even though he was closer than his brother. The move backfired. Francesco missed another one from inside 10 feet, his brother also missed and the Americans regained the lead.

But Francesco's putt at 18 made up for it.

"We played very well," Edoardo said. "I think we deserve our half-point at least."

European captain Colin Montgomerie praised the Italians more than anyone else, knowing that halving a match will surely help their confidence going into singles play. Francesco will be playing Tiger Woods in the eighth match Monday, followed by his brother against Rickie Fowler.

"To do what they did at that last hole, two rookies, two brothers coming down that last hole with everybody who plays golf in Europe watching them," Montgomerie said. "Fantastic performance to hole that putt at the last by Francesco. Fabulous."

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CARRYING THE LOAD: One of the most overlooked members of the European team is Ross Fisher.

While players such as Lee Westwood and Luke Donald garner much of the attention, Fisher's performance has been invaluable.

Paired with Ian Poulter in the opening fourballs, Fisher's team lost to Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker in a tight match.

Captain Colin Montgomerie then juggled his teams, pairing Fisher with struggling Padraig Harrington. The Irishman continues to have his problems, but Fisher has picked up the slack in two victories. They beat Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson in alternate shot, then took out Johnson and Jim Furyk in fourballs.

"He certainly played the best golf probably anyone has ever seen in a Ryder Cup," Harrington said. "He made all the shots, holed all the putts. He really did play awesome."

Fisher got the Europeans going with three straight birdies early in Sunday's match, and he made three more on the back side — including the clinching birdie putt at No. 17.

"I just had so much fun out there," Fisher said. "Being with Paddy again, you know you're with a great champion, a three-time major champion, and he showed his class. I got him to read my putts, and every time I was standing over a putt, I felt so confident."

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DIVOTS: The depth of the European team is evident: All 12 players helped score at least a half-point in team matches. Lee Westwood (2-0-1) and Martin Kaymer (2-0-1) lead the way, while Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher and Luke Donald have been in on two wins apiece. ... Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker are the only Americans with two wins, and even that mark is tarred by the biggest loss of the team competition, a 6-and-5 blowout by Westwood and Donald. Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who were sent out in the very first match by the U.S., are both 0-3. They lost twice as partners, then were beaten again after the pairings were switched up for the third session. ... The win by Westwood and Donald was the biggest in alternate shot since Sam Torrance and Costantino Rocca beat Davis Love III and Jeff Maggert by the same margin in 1995. ... Donald is 6-0 in alternate shot matches in his Ryder Cup career.