THE 2014 RYDER CUP The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland September 26-28, 2014

McGinley’s Monarchs of The Glen It’s been an absolute thrill and privilege and above all an honour. We come

from diverse and very different cultures and backgrounds, but together we stand as one. From the bottom of Italy to the top of Sweden, from the West Coast of Ireland right across to Turkey. My feeling right now is exactly the same as in 2002 after my first Ryder Cup when I was fortunate enough to hole the winning putt. It’s the pride and smiles we put on everbody’s faces this week; the sense of bonding we created with each other and that sense of bonding that other people create with each other. You saw people high-fiving and bear-hugging, and that’s what The Ryder Cup is about - that passion, that togerthness and that’s why it’s such a different atmosphere. The Ryder Cup is so, so special

Paul McGinley

The 2014 Ryder Cup 1312

The European Tour has traditionally offered opportunity and incentive and if ever there was evidence of that then it arrived at 4.32 on a glorious afternoon at Gleneagles when Jamie Donaldson took aim from 146 yards to the green at the downhill 15th hole on the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary course with a wedge in his hands and willpower in his heart.

This was Donaldson’s moment. He had graduated – twice – from the European Challenge Tour. He had overcome a chronic back condition that threatened his career. He had pursued his passion with patience and fortitude and, after 12 years and 254 events on The European Tour International Schedule, achieved a maiden victory in the 2012 Irish Open. And, now, immortality beckoned with the prospect as a rookie of winning The Ryder Cup for Europe against the United States.

The 39-year-old from Pontypridd would, of course, be the first to acknowledge that this would be a victory for unity. That an Irish captain, Paul McGinley, had on his watch in the 40th edition of this biennial contest players from Denmark, England, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden and Wales. Only five weeks earlier, McGinley had told Donaldson that to be assured of a place he would need to do so automatically, not relying on a pick, and that he should go to the D+D REAL Czech Masters which he did. Donaldson won.

Now McGinley, who himself famously holed the winning putt in The 2002 Ryder Cup, spoke to Donaldson again on the 15th fairway. He told him that The Ryder Cup rested in his hands. Donaldson settled over his shot. To him there now seemed to be ten times as many spectators as there had been earlier in his match with Keegan Bradley.

“It was perfect for a wedge,” Donaldson said. “My bad shots with my shorter clubs that week were going left so I knew I could go straight for the pin on the right and the worse

thing which would happen was to find the middle of the green. But when I hit it, I knew.”

What he knew, what captains Tom Watson and McGinley knew, what the watching world – 50 broadcasters covered 180 territories – knew was that as the ball landed inches from the hole, and Bradley shook Donaldson’s hand, so Europe had won The Ryder Cup for a third successive time and for the eighth time in ten contests. It was not the last shot of The 2014 Ryder Cup, but it is the one that will never be forgotten.

For McGinley, whose meticulous planning and attention to detail earned universal praise, it maintained a blemish-free record. Three victories as a player; two as a vice captain and now one as the captain. He shook hands with Watson, by coincidence his golfing hero, then turned his attention to those team members still engaged on the fairways with Europe finally enjoying a 16 ½ - 11 ½ win – the largest differential in the match since 2008.

Sir Alex Ferguson, whom McGinley had brought into the team room to talk with players before the match began and again on the

Saturday night, joined the celebrations. Sam Torrance, one of the five vice captains and the winning captain in 2002, explained Sir Alex’s presence early in the week to have been just one of the many masterstrokes orchestrated by McGinley. “The harmony, the companionship was extraordinary,” said Torrance. “Everyone to a man was involved and Paul did that. He brought the unity. I have never seen it to that degree before. I always said he was meticulous. I knew he would be a great captain. I said it and meant it and I was proved right. Tony Jacklin started this, I was part of that sequence but Paul put a new level on it. The best captain I have ever seen by far.”

The most poignant of messages in Europe’s team room was one that belonged to the late Bob Torrance. It reiterated what he would tell his students, including his son, Sam, when they were heading out to the course – ‘Happiest Days of your Lives.’ The perfect phrase for the perfect captain and the perfect team. Europe United.

MITCHELL PLATTS

Paul was amazing. Of all the captains I’ve played under his had the most modern style to it. It was unbelievable. He did things a little bit differently and with great style. He examined every detail and improved it

Sergio GarciaIt was just a general chat. I think I got more out of it than they did. These guys deserve their place in the pantheon of great golfers. It was fantastic to be in their company. The margins were so small and have to say this was a special day

Sir Alex Ferguson Paul was absolutely immense. He left no stone unturned. He was just fantastic. From everything that he’s done, everything sort of tied in from the speeches he made, to the people he got in to talk to us, to the imagery of our team room. He gave this week a lot of thought over the past two years and I’m so glad it worked out for him

Rory McIlroy

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Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson were first out for Europe on a beautiful autumnal day. The spectators thronging the first tee amphitheatre, arguably the finest in sport, serenaded the players, naturally enough honouring Stephen Gallacher with a rendition of ‘Flower of Scotland,’ as the 40th edition of this biennial contest burst into life for only the second time in the ‘Home of Golf.’

Day One – Eager to Serve

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The magnificence of the setting was not lost on the spectators as the sun rose above the Ochil Hills, taking the chill out of the air, and Rose and Stenson thoroughly deserved to receive their ringing endorsement as they swiftly moved past Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson 5 and 4. Rose was stung by a bee at the ninth although Stenson provided the perfect antidote with a birdie to take them three up then the Englishman rolled in a 25 footer at the next from where they never looked back.

An American rally was led by Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, the youngest American pairing in Ryder Cup history, as the two Texans belied their age with a performance of class and character, gathering five birdies in six holes from the sixth. Thomas Bjørn, who brilliantly chipped in at the 13th, and Martin Kaymer were pegged back to half a point when Jimmy Walker, another rookie, partnered by Rickie Fowler, chipped in for a birdie at 16 then holed from six feet at the 18th.

Keegan Bradley eagled the 16th and Phil Mickelson made an up and down birdie at the 18th to similarly finish strongly, overcoming Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, and with that the United States led 2 ½ - 1 ½. Paul McGinley, however, brilliantly marshalled his troops in the afternoon and Europe’s rousing recovery would mean that Tom Watson, the winning captain in 1993, and his team would be challenged by a two point deficit at the end of the first day.

DAY ONE - MORNING FOURBALLS Friday, September 26, 2014

DAY ONE - MORNING FOURBALLS Friday, September 26, 2014

JUSTIN ROSE & HENRIK STENSON v WEBB SIMPSON & BUBBA WATSON

MAT

CH 1

RoseStenson

4 2 3 2 4 4 3

Europe 5 & 4

4 4 5 4 4 4 4

AS 1Up 1Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 3Up 4Up 4Up 4Up 4Up 5Up

SimpsonWatson

5 3 5 3 4 4 4 4

4 4 5 3 4 4

STEPHEN GALLACHER & IAN POULTER v PATRICK REED & JORDAN SPIETH

MAT

CH 3

GallacherPoulter

4 4 5 3 4 4 4

USA 5 & 4

5 4 3 4 3 4 4

Reed Spieth

1Up 1Up 1Up 1Up 1Up 2Up 3Up 3Up 4Up 5Up 6Up 5Up 5Up 5Up4 2 4 4 3 4

4 4 3 4 3 2 5 4

THOMAS BJØRN & MARTIN KAYMER v RICKIE FOWLER & JIMMY WALKER

MAT

CH 2

BjørnKaymer

4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 5 5

Halved

3 2 31Up 2Up 2Up 3Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 1Up 1Up 1Up 1Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 1Up 1Up AS

FowlerWalker

5 3 3 4

4 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4

SERGIO GARCÍA & RORY McILROY v KEEGAN BRADLEY & PHIL MICKELSON

MAT

CH 4

GarcíaMcIlroy

4 2 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 5

USA 1 Up

3 5 3 5 5 4 4 3

AS AS AS 1Up 1Up 1Up AS AS AS AS 1Up AS AS

BradleyMickelson

1Up 2Up 1Up 1Up 1Up5 4 4 2 5 3 5 3 3

3 3 4 3 4 4 5 4 4

HOLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN TOTAL

PAR 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 4 5 36 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 5 36 72

YARDAGE 426 516 431 211 461 201 468 419 618 3751 208 350 445 481 320 463 518 194 513 3492 7243

HOLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN TOTAL

PAR 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 4 5 36 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 5 36 72

YARDAGE 426 516 431 211 461 201 468 419 618 3751 208 350 445 481 320 463 518 194 513 3492 7243

EUROPE 1½MATCH SCORE USA 2½

The captain put faith in Henrik and I today and when you’re out first, you have to deliver and that’s what me and the Ice Man did. It’s been special

Justin Rose

The 2014 Ryder Cup 1918

First, Rose and Stenson bloomed again. They digested the loss of a two hole lead when Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan birdied the seventh and eighth and with six birdies in total ran out 2 and 1 winners of a splendid match. Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell gelled brilliantly and earned another full point by ending Bradley and Mickelson’s bid to win a fifth successive Ryder Cup match in partnership. A winning birdie at the second, then three up after five, they closed out their opponents with another birdie at the 16th.

Macclesfield-based Jamie Donaldson and Worksop-born Lee Westwood launched a flourishing foursomes partnership, almost as if they had grown up playing golf together, and eventually closed out Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar with a birdie on the last green.

DAY ONE - AFTERNOON FOURSOMES Friday, September 26, 2014

DAY ONE - AFTERNOON FOURSOMES Friday, September 26, 2014

JAMIE DONALDSON & LEE WESTWOOD v JIM FURYK & MATT KUCHAR

MAT

CH 1

DonaldsonWestwood

4 4 5 3 4 2 4 4 5 3 3 4 4 3 4 5 3 4

Europe 2 UpAS AS AS1Up 1Up 1Up 1Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 1Up 1Up

FurykKuchar

1Up 1Up 1Up

4 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 5 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 5

SERGIO GARCÍA & RORY McILROY v RICKIE FOWLER & JIMMY WALKER

MAT

CH 3

García McIlroy

4 4 4 3 6 2 5 3 5 3 4 5 4 4 5 4 2 4

HalvedAS AS1Up 1Up

AS1Up

AS AS AS AS AS

Fowler Walker

1Up 2Up 1Up 1Up 2Up 2Up 1Up

4 4 5 3 5 3 4 3 5 3 3 4 5 4 4 4 3 5

JUSTIN ROSE & HENRIK STENSON v ZACH JOHNSON & HUNTER MAHAN

MAT

CH 2

RoseStenson

3 4 5 3 4 2 4 5 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 3

Europe 2 & 11Up 1Up 1Up 1Up 1Up 2Up 1Up

AS AS AS1Up 1Up 1Up

AS1Up 1Up 2Up

Johnson Mahan 4 4 5 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 5 4 4

VICTOR DUBUISSON & GRAEME McDOWELL v KEEGAN BRADLEY & PHIL MICKELSON

MAT

CH 4

DubuissonMcDowell

4 4 4 3 4 3 4 5 5 3 4 4 5 4 4 4

Europe 3 & 2AS1Up 1Up 2Up 3Up 3Up 3Up 2Up 1Up 2Up 2Up 3Up 2Up 2Up 2Up 3Up

Bradley Mickelson 4 5 4 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 5

HOLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN TOTAL

PAR 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 4 5 36 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 5 36 72

YARDAGE 426 516 431 211 461 201 468 419 618 3751 208 350 445 481 320 463 518 194 513 3492 7243

HOLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN TOTAL

PAR 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 4 5 36 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 5 36 72

YARDAGE 426 516 431 211 461 201 468 419 618 3751 208 350 445 481 320 463 518 194 513 3492 7243

MATCH SCORE EUROPE 5 UNITED STATES 3

Europe’s 5-3 advantage was guaranteed by a spirited fight back by Garcia and McIlroy. Two down with two to play against Fowler and Walker, McIlroy sank a putt of fully 40 feet to win the 17th with a two. Then Garcia struck a laser-like five wood from out of the rough to 25 feet at the 18th for a two-putt birdie that earned a half and most certainly made any refreshment all the more enjoyable for the partisan spectators whose sporting appreciation of both teams once again underlined the special atmosphere created by this encounter.

When the surge came from America at the end of the session this morning, for our guys to react as well as they did shows real strength of character

Paul McGinley

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