Cink provides sting in the tail

Golf:The familiar "farmer-like" Pádraig Harrington stride was back. After an uncomfortable opening day the triple major winner cut an entirely different figure during his much-needed win playing alongside Ross Fisher. Their point was crucial as the Americans hold a 6-4 lead heading into the third session.

With just two half points garnered from his last two Ryder Cups, Harrington doubled his tally with today’s 3 and 2 foursomes win over Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, who have lost both outings playing together.

A double-bogey at the opening hole against an American birdie didn’t initially bode well as Harrington left his partner in the bunker. However, it was to prove the only blip of the day as the both players, seemingly showing the least amount of form within the European ranks, clicked into gear and by the turn had turned it around to be two up.

They turned the screw on the back nine with birdies at 10, 11 and 15 before sealing the deal on 16th. This win was needed; it was the perfect tonic for both players.

“We got the putters going, that was a big factor,” said Harrington. “The atmosphere here is electric. This is going to be a tight contest and we need all the support we can get. The crowds give us a massive boost.”

Captain Colin Montgomerie liked the look of the pairing, so much so, he opted to keep them together for the third session, but they revert to fourball format this afternoon.

Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson never got to grips with Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, who were comfortable 4 and 3 winners. It marked the sixth straight win in fourball competition for the Americans (four in last year’s Presidents Cup and two here in Wales) and not surprisingly Corey Pavin retained them to compete in the top foursomes match against Lee Westwood and Luke Donald.

There was disappointment for Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, who fell away in the latter stages to lose to Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar on the 18th. Nevertheless, Monty opted to retain the Irish pair for the third straight match and they will take on Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan in the other foursomes match.

The “Macs” were quickly into the zone against Cink and Kuchar, but rather than get carried away they were businesslike and efficient. Sure, there were a few moments of emotion and a notable high five when McIlroy drained a difficult 20 footer at the eighth for their first birdie of the day.

The par threes offered plenty of reward for the Americans as they made no less than four twos in the match with the final one at 17 the most difficult to swallow from a European standpoint.

The Northern Irish pair had levelled the match after McIlroy holed a clutch eight footer for birdie at 14 before McDowell landed his drive into 25 feet at the short par four 15th. The Americans were all over the place and eventually conceded the hole. However, a bogey at the 16th brought the match back to all-square for the seventh time.

The ebb and flow continued at the next and Cink guaranteed USA at least half a point by sinking a 20 footer while McIlroy missed his six foot birdie chance. And so it all went down the final hole where both sides laid up at the par five.

Instead, of the grandstand finish it petered out as McIlroy missed the green and found sand with a lob wedge in hand. An anti-climax it surely was and a difficult one to pick up from as the Irish pair now have to get straight back into action.

“I had a sense this was an important match. And being the last match out you obviously want to bring it home,” said Cink. “We’re just tickled with the result because they’re two tough guys to play.”

“I think I referred to him as a horse before, what I meant is, he is a thoroughbred,” added Kuchar of his partner.

It means the Americans won the session 3.5 to 2.5 to lead 6-4 overall and session three quickly becomes a must-win scenario for Europe.

Europe 4 USA 6

Session Three 

Foursomes
Luke Donald/ Lee Westwood v Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell v Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan

Fourballs
Pádraig Harrington/Ross Fisher v Jim Furyk/Dustin Johnson
Peter Hanson/Miguel Angel Jimenez v Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton
Edoardo Molinari/Francesco Molinari v Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
Ian Poulter/Martin Kaymer v Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler

Session Two Foursomes results

Europe 2.5 USA 3.5
Miguel Angel Jimenez/Peter Hanson lost to Tiger Woods/ Steve Stricker 4 and 3
Edoardo Molinari/Francesco Molinari lost to Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan 2 holes
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer halved with Jim Furyk/Rickie Fowler
Pádraig Harrington/Ross Fisher defeated Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson 3 and 2
Ian Poulter/Luke Donald defeated Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton 2 and 1
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell lost to Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar 1 hole

Session One Fourball results

Europe 1.5 USA 2.5
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer defeated Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson 3 and 2
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell halved with Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher lost to Steve Stricker /Tiger Woods 2 holes
Luke Donald/ Pádraig Harrington lost to Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton 3 and 2