CHASKA, Minn. – Day 2, crack of dawn, first tee, Saturday at the Ryder Cup. Much like Friday's opening scene, Saturday's opening salvo proved to be quite the site. Thousands of fans, more red, white, and blue than you can shake a stick at; everything from those in suits, to those in bath robes, even Abe Lincoln made an appearance. Well he looked like Abe Lincoln, but there's a chance it wasn't actually him. The dance he was partaking in, waving the imaginary lasso above your head while mimicking a gallop, was not very presidential, but I digress.
Friday's crowd seemed to lose a bit of vigor as the day went on, but they were certainly refreshed and ready to go on Saturday morning and they knew their team needed them. After the U.S. team swept the morning session Friday, only to relinquish much of the lead in the afternoon, there was a sense that Team USA was in a delicate spot. Another poor session and the grips would get tighter, the whispers would start and the European confidence would grow.
Early in the morning session, it appeared that the U.S. had avoided disaster, but after the Patrick Reed/Jordan Spieth team blew a 4Up-lead, momentum was clearly on the side of the Euros and as they headed to the afternoon session only a single point separated the two teams. The afternoon session, and in particular the start of the afternoon session, would be pivotal for the Americans.
Although the start to the afternoon session was a little rough, the U.S., buoyed by Reed, charged back and managed to hold onto the overall lead heading into Sunday, and that's big for two reasons. First, well, they have the lead and every single half-point matters on Sunday. Second, it would have been easy to get down after the morning session, but the U.S. pulled up its collective boot straps and sent a message that this U.S. team will not crack mentally.
By day's end, the Americans not only held the lead, they extended it. They enter Sunday in a bit of a peculiar role – the favorite, not only by odds-makers, but by the general public, the golf fans and the golf experts.
There are several ways the American's can go from here and once again, the direction will be dictated by the six inches between their ears. Three points looks like a huge lead, and it actually is, but the Ryder Cup on Sunday can be about perspective sometimes and if the American's aren't careful, it can get away from them. Yet, if they play anything like they've played the first two days, the cup should be theirs come Sunday night.
