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| Sun 29-Sep-2002 18:36 (GMT) |
| Notebook: Monty the King | by Marino Parascenzo
SUTTON COLDFIELD, England – "That's the best I can do," Colin Montgomerie was saying, and his best was plenty good enough.
Monty, rising again to the call of Empire – the 34th Ryder Cup Matches in this case, had just thrashed Scott Hoch, 5 & 4, in Sunday's opening singles match, giving Europe a 9-8 lead overall. If there is such a thing as a spark for 12 matches that takes all afternoon, then Monty was it. The Europeans rushed from there to beat the Americans, 15 ½ to 12 ½, to win the Ryder Cup.
Monty was 6 under par with six birdies and no bogeys when he closed out Hoch with a birdie two at the 14th. He was followed in quick order by Bernhard Langer whipping Hal Sutton, by 4 & 3, and Padraig Harrington thrashing Mark Calcavecchia, 5 & 4. The tone was set.
"We had no idea [about the order of play]," Montgomerie said. "I came out and was looking on the sheet for my name at [match] seven, eight or nine, where I usually play, and couldn't see my name because it was 'Monty' instead of Montgomerie."
This was pretty good, too: Monty never trailed in 83 holes. And he's never lost a Ryder Cup singles, oging 4-0-2 for his career. Playing in all five matches this week, he went 4-0-1, bringing his Ryder Cup record to 16-7-5.
Snapshots of the action as it unfolded from that point onward:
CHECK THE RECORDS: Bernhard Langer, on the anticipated comeback by the Americans after Europe's quick start: "When you look at the last 200 or so odd matches, we're dead even. We're dead even the last 20 years. And that just speaks volumes, and it looks like another close one today."
A MATTER OF PRESSURE: David Toms, on the pressure in his 1-up win over Sergio Garcia, which slowed the European charge: "By far and away the most pressure. Those last few holes were awfully tough. Just to get it to the house."
ALMOST THE GOAT: Sergio Garcia, on going for the 10th green with a 2-up lead, then losing the hole to Toms' lay-up birdie and then losing to him by one hole: "I felt comfortable all week. I probably had the worst break all week right there. That ball bounced out of the bunker. If it stays in the bunker, it's probably the easiest up-and-down on the whole golf course. But it goes over, and it's a difficult one."
OPPORTUNITY CAME KNOCKING: Padraig Harrington, on getting the lead against Mark Calcavecchia: "I've got to say I wasn't a hundred precent on top of my game this week. I had to focus, and I did the best with what I've got. When Mark gave me the opportunity, I took it."
TIGHTER AND TIGHTER: Hal Sutton, on what he'd be feeling like if he were captaining the American team (down 3-0 after his loss): "Uptight, just like I'm sure Curtis [Strange] is. We've got a bunch of great players on this team with a lot of heart. We'll have to sweat it out till the end."
AND TIGHTER: Thomas Bjorn, on the pressure building in his 2 & 1 win over Stewart Cink: "It wasn't the prettiest of golf, but it was certainly tough and tight out there all the time. And I think we both got a bit nervous in the end, and it was a question of trying to make pars all the time. I was fortunate to win this one."
QUIET, PLEASE: Scott Verplank, after his victory, on whether he knew how badly things were going for the Americans: "Well, yes -- because it's been a little too loud all day. And we were hoping for it to be a little more quiet."
MEMORIES, MEMORIES: Paul Azinger, on holing his bunker shot at the 18th to get a half with Niclas Fasth, as he did to win the 1993 Memorial Tournament: "After I hit it, I thought about it. I was struggling, and playing on shot at a time. I was in trouble, and I knew the team was in trouble. I knew I needed to make a birdie. My only hope, if it didn't go in, was that he would three-putt. I just got lucky."
ALL ABOUT FEELINGS: Phil Mickelson, after 3&2 loss to Ryder Cup rookie Phillip Price, on how he's feeling: "I'm not feeling great. I didn't play well enough to win."
COLLOQUIALLY SPEAKING: U.S. Captain Curtis Strange: "We got a European butt-kicking today."
DRAMATICALLY SPEAKING: European Captain Sam Torrance, on his lineup: "I just led them to the water. They drank copiously."
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