Just when it appeared Tiger Woods was going to be thrust into the heat of the battle, a clutch putt by Martin Kaymer crushed any hopes of a last-minute US rally at the 39th Ryder Cup.
The 36-year-old Woods was facing Europe’s Francesco Molinari in the 12th and final singles match of the Ryder Cup in what potentially could have been the decisive match in a tight contest.
But when Kaymer drained a six foot putt to save par on the final hole to beat Woods’ teammate Steve Stricker 1-up, it lifted Europe to a stunning Ryder Cup victory. The celebration was on even before the Woods’ pairing had reached the 18th green.
“You come here as a team and you win or lose as a team and it is pointless to even finish,” said Woods, who was making his seventh Ryder Cup appearance.
“So 18 was just, hey, just get this over with and congratulations to the European team.”
The best he could have done was win the hole and give the Americans a tie. But the 14-time major winner Woods missed a four foot putt to save par and then conceded Molinari’s par putt to halve the hole as they added the finishing touches to a 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 shock win for Europe.
“It’s a tough spot to be in because you know you’ve got to finish out the match even though it’s useless because our team didn’t get the cup and they did.”
“I just kept focusing on my point. I was 2-down through three, so I didn’t really pay a lot of attention to the (score) boards.
“Just because I had to get my own game, my own match back to where it was all-square, if not put a red on the board.
“And I didn’t really start paying much attention until 17.”
With no chance to pull out a late victory, Woods said he conceded the final putt to Molinari, who admitted to being surprised at the gesture.
“When everything started coming together it looked like Europe had a really good chance of retaining the cup,” Woods said.
“Then after that all went down, my putt was useless. It was inconsequential. So I hit it too quick, and gave him his putt, and it was already over.”
Woods said the same thing happened to him at the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belry near Birmingham, England. Woods also halved that match against Jesper Parnevik.
“It’s the second time it happened to me being on the fairway,” he said.
Woods appeared to be heading to just his second Ryder Cup championship before Europe staged their improbable Sunday rally.
It all added up to another fruitless Ryder Cup for Woods as he and Stricker went winless in three team matches.
US skipper Davis Love also benched him for the first time at a Ryder Cup, making him sit out the Saturday morning fourballs.
Woods’ overall Ryder Cup record falls to 13-17-3.
