Here we go again: The U.S. digs big hole with disappointing Saturday afternoon
If the U.S. loses its third-consecutive Ryder Cup on Sunday, the culprit will be obvious: foursomes.
The Europeans had a 6-0-2 record in the eight alternate-shot matches, overcoming one-point losses in both fourball sessions to carry a 10-6 lead into the final day at Gleneagles.
Before you utter the word "Medinah," this is different. The Europeans closed Saturday two years ago on an inspiring note, captivated by Ian Poulter's Herculean effort to steal a point in the anchor foursomes match, turning what probably would have been an impossible task into a very difficult one. The Americans ended Saturday with a disappointing halve surrendered by its best team, a team of two rookies who coming into the week had no reason to believe their opponents were superior.
The U.S. looked tired on Saturday afternoon.
Jimmy Walker was running on empty after playing 54 holes of stressful, all-square match play.
Matt Kuchar put up a fight in the morning with Bubba Watson, making nine birdies only to lose 3 and 2 to the 12-under blistering Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson put on the Centenary Course. He looked defeated early in the afternoon match.
Patrick Reed looked deflated after his miss for par on the 16th hole against Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer.
But a Ryder Cup isn't typically won with all 12 on a side playing at their pinnacle. If half your team can play well, you have a great chance to win. The Europeans had that half-dozen in Rose, Stenson, Dubuisson, McDowell, Westwood and Garcia. The Americans had five: Fowler, Spieth, Reed, Walker and Bradley. Bradley sat two sessions while Kuchar and Zach Johnson continued to get chances, going a combined 0-5.
Let's be clear: The players decide the matches. However, it is the captain's job to put them in a position to win, especially when so few were playing well. Somewhat handcuffed, Tom Watson did not do that for the United States.
He put Walker and Fowler out for a fourth match, knowing full well when he had to submit his afternoon lineup that the duo was mired in yet another close, tiring match.
He kept Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson on the bench for all of Saturday, an unfathomable decision given how the duo played in 2012. Mickelson needed some rest after he sputtered to the finish on Friday, but wanted to be in the lineup on Saturday afternoon. Watson denied him. Even if Watson considered Mickelson tired in the morning and a liability in the afternoon, he could have sent out the excitable Bradley in either session. He would have been happy to play, particularly after the Friday foursomes disaster.
And lest we forget that Spieth and Reed were sat on Friday afternoon. Thank Steve Stricker for that pairing; the U.S. may be down even further.
Then again, what could Watson do? Bubba Watson had no logical pair in foursomes. Webb Simpson was only on the team to pair with the Masters champion, and he did that poorly. Jim Furyk keeps making Ryder Cup teams, but also keep losing. Hunter Mahan seems a great fit for Ryder Cup golf, but it's hard not to wonder if the spectre of 2010 has forever tainted him, especially on the road.
By contrast, everything Paul McGinley has done has turned into gold. The duo of Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell were spectacular as foursomes specialists, with the latter going out of his way months ahead of time to get to know the Frenchman specifically for this week. Late-bloomer Jamie Donaldson found a kindred spirit in Lee Westwood in the foursomes format. McGinley let Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson keep going until Stenson had to tag out with a back issue. It never hurts to have the best player in the world on your team, either.
Now the U.S. faces a Saturday night deficit only overcome twice since 1979, both times on American soil. The Americans had the crowd on their side and a historically bad European captain in Mark James to help them in 1999. The Europeans played inspired, by both Ian Poutler and Seve Ballesteros, on Sunday two years ago.
If the Americans are to win eight-and-a-half points on Sunday and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, they'll need to find an inspiration. Sounding resigned to their fate, it doesn't seem likely.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
