Europe closes in on Ryder Cup

Associated Press

GLENEAGLES, SCOTLAND

Justin Rose swept that magical putter into the air before his ball even reached the hole, and he punched his right fist when it dropped for a birdie. Just like at Medinah, the final match in the Ryder Cup on Saturday gave Europe another big boost of momentum going into the last round.

Only this time, Europe didn’t really need it.

Rose capped off a remarkable Saturday for himself and his team. That 6-foot putt on the 18th hole at Gleneagles was enough to give Rose and Martin Kaymer a half-point, giving Europe a 10-6 advantage and leaving it on the cusp of another Ryder Cup victory.

That was the same score two years ago, except that Europe was in dire need of a comeback. Now it is worried about complacency.

“This job is far from finished,” Europe captain Paul McGinley said. “We’re in great position, but we’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

Rose teamed with Henrik Stenson to make a record 12 birdies in 16 holes in fourballs. Equally important was getting something — even a half — in foursomes against America’s refreshing rookie tandem of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.

“Any glimmer of momentum that they had — say they win that match — they take something with them into the locker room,” Graeme McDowell said. “And that’s what happened to us at Medinah. That’s why that putt for Justin was so huge, because it gave them nothing to take away this evening.”

U.S. captain Tom Watson walked away only with a lot of questions he couldn’t answer.

He was criticized for playing Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley a second time on Friday, and it was even more peculiar when he didn’t they them at all on Saturday. It was the first time Mickelson sat out an entire day in his two decades playing the Ryder Cup.