USA Passionate – Sports

(ANSA) – Rome, Group 30 – The United States ended the second day of the Ryder Cup today with a victory and closed the gap with Europe, which now rules the traditional golf tournament with a 10.5 to 5.5 advantage over the defending champion.
The last point of the day was contributed by Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark against Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick on the last hole to reduce the disadvantage and prevent the European team from escaping, which needs to reach 14.5 to take the lead. Crown.
We will have to wait for the final day with the 12 singles matches this Sunday to find out whether there is a new champion or not in the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup, which is being held for the first time in Italy.
“If we can track it?” I think we have to increase the energy to have any chance, which on the other hand is always there. Obviously it will be difficult, but each of us knows what to do,” American Colin Morikawa summed up.
Morikawa was one of those who gave a dose of hope to the Zach Johnson-led team, winning alongside Sam Burns in one of the day's four four-ball duels at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.
It was against the Norwegian Victor Hovland and the Swedish Ludwid Aberg, after which Max Homa and Brian Harman also repeated their victory over the Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and the Dane Nikolai Hoggard, and the Englishman Justin Rose and the Scot Robert McIntyre also defeated the duo consisting of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, which is the only victory for Europe on this day in this manner. .
“Zach told us this is the most united team he has ever led and that's true. I've been to two Ryder Cups and I can vouch for that because we help each other out,” Morikawa said.
“Playing as a pair with Kohli is simple and fun because every time the ball hits it ends up in the hole,” said Burns, who also said he believes in the US's options to reverse the opposite outcome.
He added, “I know these players and I know their abilities. We knew that it would not be easy, but we are ready for it.”
Europe, led by Englishman Luke Donald, who achieved his dream on the first day on Friday, benefited from the morning duels in the “four” system.
The first point of the day for the hosts was scored by Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Northern Irishman McIlroy in front of the duo of Thomas and Spieth, while Norwegian Hovland and Swedish Aberg added the second goal in front of Scotty Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.
Homa and Harman added the only point for the United States in this format by defeating Irishman Shane Lowry and Austrian Sepp Straka, but Spaniard John Rahm and Englishman Tyrell Hatton took advantage of the opportunity again against Cantlay and Xander Scheufele.
“It was a tougher match than it looked,” summed up Rahm, who acknowledged that the victory came because “we knew how to make the best of it.” “We knew it would be like this and that victory could not be taken for granted.” “Their mistakes.” There is a very good chemistry in the team. The equipment. “We all help each other and encourage each other,” said the Spaniard. The closure of the first half of the day did not at all satisfy the fans who came to support the American team, which will certainly regain part of the lost hope in afternoon.
“Watching this Ryder Cup is not cheap, considering the cost of travel, accommodations and tickets. We're talking thousands of dollars,” said Stephen, a New Hampshire native who traveled with his eldest son and expressed his discomfort, touching on his sadness. “Yankee pride.”
“The number one in the world can't allow certain mistakes,” said Howard, a Texas fan, referring to Scottie Scheffler's performance, but he admitted that it hurt him “to see him cry” and made him very “nervous.”
“This is the most beautiful city I have ever known,” said Harper, a California native who had never been to Rome, who also criticized the names Johnson chose to meet the challenge.
“I think this team lacks charisma. I was going to call Dustin Johnson (winner of the US Open in 2016 and Masters in 2020, ed.) because someone like him would have been very helpful,” Harper said, admitting that she was skeptical about it. US options to reverse the string.
On the other hand, the European team's fans, the overwhelming majority, gathered to sing the Beatles' “Hey Jude” in the chorus, disguising their Norwegian or Italian origin by singing a song in English that was almost a national anthem.
Among the show personalities whose presence did not go unnoticed are the American actor and singer Justin Temerlake, who is passionate about this sport (he is Tiger Woods' partner), the British Formula 1 driver Lando Norris (McLaren) and the English defender of the Roma team, Chris Smalling. Also present were the Italian Minister of Sports and Youth, Andrea Abudi, and the President of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malago, who pointed to the success of the event, which this country is hosting for the first time.
“It is wonderful and exciting to see the sunrise from these facilities,” Aboudi said, in a message accompanied by a video clip showing a crowded amphitheater as the sun appears between the hills of Gidonia.
The minister stressed that “this tournament may be the only event in which everyone comes together for Europe and perhaps there should have been more focus from a political point of view.”
“It is a great opportunity to strengthen Italy's future candidacy for other sporting events of this kind,” Malago commented, highlighting that “very few people initially believed that we would be able to do what we did.”
As the second day of the Ryder Cup got underway, there was also time for tributes, such as the one paid to the famous Spanish golfer Severiano Ballesteros, one of the sport's most prominent stars who died in 2011 and left an indelible memory on the world. Memory fans.
“Forever in our hearts,” read a large flag displayed at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club honoring Ballesteros. (I forget).