1995 Ryder Cup Review
Posted: Mon September 22, 1997 at 11:58 a.m EDT
The European team won 7 1/2 of a possible 12 points in singles
and rallied to defeat the United States, 14 1/2 - 13 1/2, in the
31st Ryder Cup matches at the Oak Hill Country Club in
Rochester, New York.
The Americans entered the final day of the three-day competition
with a 9-7 lead and needed only five points to gain a tie and
retain the Cup. But the U.S. squad came up short due to its
inability to win any of the day's close matches.
Of the five matches that were decided on the 18th hole, U.S.
golfers went 0-4-1 and carded three final-hole bogeys. The most
costly loss was by Curtis Strange, a controversial selection to
the team by captain Lanny Wadkins.
Strange missed a 10-foot putt for par on the 18th hole which
would have halved the hole and his match with Nick Faldo.
Instead, with Faldo's victory, the Europeans moved within a
single point of securing the Cup.
progress.
American Jay Haas, trailing Philip Walton by three holes with
three to play in one of the two remaining matches, delayed the
European team's celebration, but could not prevent it. He holed
out from the bunker on the 16th hole to reduce the deficit to
two holes and won the 17th when Walton pushed a five-footer to
the left. Needing to win the 18th hole to halve the match,
Haas found the trees with his tee shot and was unable to
recover. Walton won the hole and the match, 1 up, giving the
Europeans the necessary 14 1/2 points.
The U.S. leads the overall series, 23-6-2, but Europe has
won three of the last six competitions.
After winning three of the four afternoon matches to take the
lead on Day Two of the competition, the United States gained
2 1/2 points in the first four singles matches and appeared
headed to victory.
Tom Lehman began the day with a 4 and 3 win over
Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples halved with Ian Woosnam and
Davis Love defeated Costantino Rocca, 3 and 2, to give the U.S.
an 11 1/2 - 8 1/2 lead. But Europe stormed back, winning the
next three matches to even the score.
Howard Clark began the European run by defeating Peter Jacobsen,
1-up. Also claiming points for Europe were David Gilford, who
defeated Brad Faxon, 1-up, and Colin Montgomerie, who topped
Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, 3 and 1.
Corey Pavin put the U.S. back in front, defeating Bernhard
Langer, 3 and 2, but Sam Torrance completed a 2 and 1 win over
Loren Roberts moments later and Faldo edged Strange to put the
Europeans in command of the match.
In the final match, which was not completed until after the Cup
had been clinched, Phil Mickelson of the United States defeated
his former Arizona State teammate, Per-Ulrik Johansson, 2 and 1.
Mickelson went 3-0 during the competition and was the only
American player not to lose a point.
Pavin had been the hero for the U.S. on Day Two. His 20-foot
chip for birdie from the fringe of the 18th green in the final
match gave the United States what appeared to be a significant
9-7 advantage. Pavin won four of his five matches during the
three-day event.
The U.S. led, 5-3, after the first day of competition.
Day-by-Day Results
Friday, September 22nd
Foursomes
Corey Pavin and Tom Lehman, United States, def.
Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, Europe, 1 up
Sam Torrance and Costantino Rocca, Europe, def.
Jay Haas and Fred Couples, United States, 3 and 2
Davis Love and Jeff Maggert, United States def.
Howard Clark and Mark James, Europe, 4 and 3
Bernhard Langer and Per-Ulrik Johanssen, Europe, def.
Ben Crenshaw and Curtis Strange, United States, 1 up
Four-ball
David Gilford and Seve Ballesteros, Europe, def.
Brad Faxon and Peter Jacobsen, United States, 4 and 3
Jeff Maggert and Loren Roberts, United States, def.
Sam Torrance and Costantino Rocca, Europe, 6 and 5
Fred Couples and Davis Love, United States, def.
Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, Europe, 3 and 2
Corey Pavin and Phil Mickelson, United States def.
Bernhard Langer and Per-Ulrik Johanssen, Europe, 6 and 4
Saturday, September 23rd
Foursomes
Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, Europe def.
Curtis Strange and Jay Haas, United States, 4 and 2
Sam Torrance and Costantino Rocca, Europe, def.
Davis Love and Jeff Maggert, United States, 6 and 5
Loren Roberts and Peter Jacobsen, United States, def.
Ian Woosnam and Philip Walton, Europe, 1 up
Bernhard Langer and David Gilford, Europe, def.
Corey Pavin and Tom Lehman, United States, 4 and 3
Four-ball
Brad Faxon and Fred Couples, United States, def.
Sam Torrance and Colin Montgomerie, Europe, 4 and 2
Ian Woosnam and Costantino Rocca, Europe, def.
Davis Love and Ben Crenshaw, United States, 3 and 2
Jay Haas and Phil Mickelson, United States, def.
Seve Ballesteros and David Gilford, Europe, 3 and 2
Corey Pavin and Loren Roberts, United States, def.
Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, Europe, 1 up
Sunday, September 24th
Singles
Tom Lehman, U.S., def. Seve Ballesteros, Europe, 4 and 3.
Mark James, Europe, def. Jeff Maggert, U.S., 4 and 3.
Howard Clark, Europe, def. Peter Jacobsen, U.S., 1 up
Ian Woosnam, Europe, and Fred Couples, U.S., halved
Davis Love, U.S., def. Costantino Rocca, Europe, 3 and 2
David Gilford, Europe, def. Brad Faxon, U.S., 1 up
Colin Montgomerie, Europe, def. Ben Crenshaw, U.S., 3 and 1
Nick Faldo Europe, def. Curtis Strange, U.S., 1 up
Sam Torrance, Europe, def. Loren Roberts, U.S., 2 and 1.
Corey Pavin, U.S., def. Bernhard Langer, Europe, 3 and 2.
Philip Walton, Europe, def. Jay Haas, U.S., 1 up.
Phil Mickelson, U.S., def. Per-Ulrik Johansson, Europe, 2 and 1.
Player Performance
United States
PLAYED W L T PTS
Corey Pavin 5 4 1 0 4
Phil Mickelson 3 3 0 0 3
Loren Roberts 4 3 1 0 3
Davis Love III 5 3 2 0 3
Fred Couples 4 2 1 1 2 1/2
Jeff Maggert 4 2 2 0 2
Tom Lehman 3 2 1 0 2
Jay Haas 4 1 3 0 1
Brad Faxon 3 1 2 0 1
Peter Jacobsen 3 1 2 0 1
Curtis Strange 3 0 3 0 0
Ben Crenshaw 3 0 3 0 0
Europe
PLAYED W L T PTS
David Gilford, England 4 3 1 0 3
Sam Torrance, Scotland 5 3 2 0 3
Costantino Rocca, Italy 5 3 2 0 3
Colin Montgomerie, Scotland 5 2 3 0 2
Nick Faldo, England 5 2 3 0 2
Bernhard Langer, Germany 5 2 3 0 2
Seve Ballesteros, Spain 3 1 2 0 1
Ian Woosnam, Wales 3 1 1 1 1 1/2
Mark James, England 2 1 1 0 1
Howard Clark, England 2 1 1 0 1
Phillip Walton, Ireland 2 1 1 0 1
Per-Ulrik Johannson, Sweden 3 1 2 0 1
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