GOLF RYDER CUP:THE FRAGMENTED nature of this 38th edition of the Ryder Cup hasn't diminished its appeal. Quite the contrary, in fact, as the European team yesterday displayed the sort of passion and desire that would do its instigator, Seve Ballesteros, the world of good.
They concluded the previous day's unfinished business with surgical precision to leave the United States almost empty-handed from the six matches, giving Colin Montgomerie's team a 9½ to 6½ lead heading into the final series of 12 singles today.
On a day when the appearance of rainbows in the Welsh valleys provided hope the rains which have forced a Monday finish for the first time since the event's inception in 1927 had finally departed, Europe surely inflicted terminal wounds on American ambitions to retain the trophy.
Europe were simply irresistible, emerging belatedly after another delay to the scheduled play from the team locker-room with intent.
Indeed, Lee Westwood had posted a written reminder above the exit door to his team-mates to make a "fast start".
That determination and desire was taken to the sodden course.
More than that, the Europeans thrived. And when the six matches, two foursomes and four fourballs, were completed, Europe claimed 5½ points from six.
They took both foursomes along with three of the fourballs, while the half point which was tagged on at the death indicated a hunger that permeates through the entire team as the Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, salvaged a half with Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar with a winning birdie putt, from Francesco, on the 18th.
Yet, with their day's work done, memories of the not-too-distant past were recalled to serve as a warning to any complacency. In 1999 at Brookline, Europe led 10-6 going into the final day's singles, only to capitulate.
"There will be nothing like that," observed Montgomerie, who'd actually mentioned the "B" word in talking to his players in the locker-room at the conclusion of play. "No, there's never any mention of (complacency)," he added.
Having trailed 4-6 after the opening two sessions, Europe reinvigorated their quest to reclaim the trophy with a thoroughly dominant performance yesterday.
Again, weather - the bane of the event - caused major disruption with spectators unable at first to gain admittance on health and safety concerns after heavy overnight rain left the course waterlogged.
In fact, play didn't get under way until 1.30pm - some five-and- a-half hours late - and players went about completing their foursomes and fourballs in the knowledge the singles had been pushed back a day.
Europe, who'd led in all six matches when play came to a halt on Saturday night, didn't back off from the task.
And, by the time Francesco Molinari rolled in the birdie putt on the 18th to bring down the curtain on the day's performance, Europe were in a position of control.
Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, along with Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, had won their foursomes, while, in the fourballs, Pádraig Harrington and Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer had all recorded wins.
The Westwood-Donald win over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker by 6 and 5 was the biggest foursomes win since Sam Torrance and Costantino Rocca beat Jeff Maggert and Davis Love in 1995.
This one, though, reverberated back through the roster to create deafening roars from the spectators packed in grandstands and on soggy hillsides to assure those following that Europe's top two were taking out the US's top two.
While claiming that he was "really proud" of his team, and acknowledging how all 12 "fought really hard and held their heads high," US captain Corey Pavin remarked of his opposition, "you have to give Europe a lot of credit, they held their ground and turned some of those matches that were going our way around the other direction. You've to give them credit for their fight and heart."
But Pavin wasn't quite throwing in the towel, with his side requiring seven-and-a-half points from the 12 singles to retain the trophy.
He warned: "In matchplay, anything can happen. Is it an uphill battle? Yes. (But) I have confidence in our guys. Is Europe ahead? Absolutely. It's nice to have a cushion. Can we come back from it? Absolutely."
Indeed, Montgomerie - anxious to keep the "C"-word, complacency, out of his locker-room - has pitched his in-form players to the top of the singles order.
"I feel the team line-up has strength everywhere . . . . anyone can beat anyone in this format and in these matches," said the Scot, who nevertheless had the look of a cat who had got all of the cream as he revelled in a good day's work and some inspired pairings.
EUROPE 9½ USA 6½
FIRST SESSION
Fourballs
L Westwood, M Kaymer bt P Mickelson, D Johnson 3 and 2
R McIlroy, G McDowell halved with St Cink, M Kuchar
L Donald, P Harrington lost to B Watson, J Overton 3 and 2
I Poulter, R Fisher lost to S Stricker, T Woods 2 up.
Europe 1.5, USA 2.5
SECOND SESSION
Foursomes
E Molinari, F Molinari lost to Z Johnson, H Mahan 2 up
P Harrington, R Fisher bt P Mickelson, D Johnson 3 and 2
MA Jimenez, P Hanson lost to T Woods, S Stricker 4 and 3
L Westwood, M Kaymer halved with J Furyk, R Fowler
I Poulter, L Donald bt B Watson, J Overton 2 and 1
G McDowell, R McIlroy lost to S Cink, M Kuchar 1 up
Europe 4, USA 6
THIRD SESSION
Foursomes
L Westwood, L Donald bt S Stricker, T Woods 6 and 5
G McDowell, R McIlroy bt Z Johnson, H Mahan 3 and 1
Fourballs
R Fisher, P Harrington bt J Furyk, D Johnson 2 and 1
MA Jimenez, P Hanson bt B Watson, J Overton 2up
E Molinari, F Molinari halved with S Cink, M Kuchar
I Poulter, M Kaymer bt P Mickelson, R Fowler 2 and 1
TODAY'S SINGLES PAIRINGS
09.05 Lee Westwood v Steve Stricker
09.17 Rory McIlroy v Stewart Cink
09.29 Luke Donald v Jim Furyk
09.41 Martin Kaymer v Dustin Johnson
09.53 Ian Poulter v Matt Kuchar
10.05 Ross Fisher v Jeff Overton
10.17 M A Jimenez v Bubba Watson
10.29 Francesco Molinari v Tiger Woods
10.41 Edoardo Molinari v Rickie Fowler
10.53 Peter Hanson v Phil Mickelson
11.05 Pádraig Harrington v Zach Johnson
11.17 Graeme McDowell v Hunter Mahan
