Ryder Cup 2014: Rob Lee shocked to see Rory McIlroy paired with Ian Poulter
Rory and Sergio Garcia had a good thing going, says Sky Sports pundit
Friday 26 September 2014 20:32, UK
I think Ian Poulter’s years of brilliant Ryder Cup performances caught up with him on Friday.
So often in this competition he goes into the barrel and finds a bit of form out of nowhere but he wasn’t that player on day one at Gleneagles.
Perhaps the magic will return on Saturday – but I do think it could be a mistake from Paul McGinley to pair Poulter and McIlroy together in the morning fourballs, in which they will meet Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler.
Live Ryder Cup Golf
It’s not that I foresee any issues with Poulter and McIlroy as a partnership, it’s just that I don’t know why Paul would want to break Rory and Sergio Garcia apart.
I know McIlroy and Garcia didn’t fire on all cylinders on Friday but they rescued a massive half a point against Walker and Fowler in the evening session, something that will be a great confidence boost for Europe.
I believe Rory and Sergio turned the corner with that and so I am amazed they won’t go out together in the morning.
Fearless
Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed were absolutely inspired, though, as they beat Poulter and Stephen Gallacher 5&4 and as my colleague, Colin Montgomerie, said, it was weird not to see them in the afternoon.
Those rookies looked absolutely fearless and the way they operated on the fairways and around the green, they looked an absolute shoo-in to play foursomes.
If they win their fourballs against Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer in the morning, I’m sure Tom Watson won’t dream of leaving them out for the afternoon!
From a European point of view, Victor Dubuisson did what I said he could do in my Ryder Cup preview and impressed everyone – the boy is an absolute star.
He was tremendous alongside Graeme McDowell and looked totally at home with the situation, but credit to G-Mac, too, for taking him under his wing and leading from the front.
I am also delighted for Lee Westwood, who picked up a fourballs point with Jamie Donaldson.
Regular readers of my blog will know how much I rate Lee, but as a wildcard pick he would have wanted to get cracking quickly.
He didn’t get that chance in the morning fourballs but he showed his class and experience later on and I am not surprised in the slightest to see him penned in and partnering Donaldson in Saturday’s opening session.
ROB’S AWARDS
Player of the Day – Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson won two points, so it has to be one of them and, for me, Justin just shaded it.
Shot of the Day – Sergio gets this – for both the best and worst! His chip-in from the bunker on the fourth in the morning was delightful, his wayward drive on the fifth in the afternoon, not so!
