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Americans in see-saw battle with Internationals to the very end
George (South Africa), Nov 25: Earlier, American Davis Love III had duffed his greenside chip at the par-five 18th in a pivotal match - the last singles tie out on the course - against Robert Allenby. It led to Love making a double-bogey six and Allenby winning the hole.
George (South Africa), Nov 25: Earlier, American Davis Love III had duffed his greenside chip at the par-five 18th in a pivotal match - the last singles tie out on the course - against Robert Allenby. It led to Love making a double-bogey six and Allenby winning the hole.
This meant the match was halved and, incredibly, tied up at 17-17 after four days of intense play.
The Internationals started the day with a 12 1/2 - 9 ½ lead, but the first three Americans out all won their games to make it all square - Jim Furyk beating Mike Weir 3 and 1, Jerry Kelly edging out Tim Clark by 1 hole and Kenny Perry defeating Nick Price by the same margin.
It was heart-breaking for Price who had fought back from being three down to level the match after the 16th. The 17th was halved in par-threes but price could not match Perry's birdie at the par-five closing holing. The 46-year-old Zimbabwean, a team man to the last, was so angry with himself that he broke his putter over his knee.
Clark had played well all week - partnering Els to two fine foursomes wins - but Kelly knocked in a five-footer for birdie at the 18th to stay one ahead and secure the point on his 37th birthday.
The Internationals picked up their first win when KJ Choi beat Justin Leonard 4 and 2. But it all started to look gloomy for the Internationals when American Charles Howell III crushed Adam Scott and veteran Jay Haas made four birdies in five holes on the back nine to come from behind and beat Stephen Leaney - one of five Australians in the International team - 4 and 3.
It was nip and tuck from then on. Retief Goosen, playing America's Phil Mickelson, quickly went two down with a couple of opening bogeys. But the South African made eight birdies in 13 holes from the fourth to ultimately win 2 and 1.
Bureau Report
This meant the match was halved and, incredibly, tied up at 17-17 after four days of intense play.
The Internationals started the day with a 12 1/2 - 9 ½ lead, but the first three Americans out all won their games to make it all square - Jim Furyk beating Mike Weir 3 and 1, Jerry Kelly edging out Tim Clark by 1 hole and Kenny Perry defeating Nick Price by the same margin.
It was heart-breaking for Price who had fought back from being three down to level the match after the 16th. The 17th was halved in par-threes but price could not match Perry's birdie at the par-five closing holing. The 46-year-old Zimbabwean, a team man to the last, was so angry with himself that he broke his putter over his knee.
Clark had played well all week - partnering Els to two fine foursomes wins - but Kelly knocked in a five-footer for birdie at the 18th to stay one ahead and secure the point on his 37th birthday.
The Internationals picked up their first win when KJ Choi beat Justin Leonard 4 and 2. But it all started to look gloomy for the Internationals when American Charles Howell III crushed Adam Scott and veteran Jay Haas made four birdies in five holes on the back nine to come from behind and beat Stephen Leaney - one of five Australians in the International team - 4 and 3.
It was nip and tuck from then on. Retief Goosen, playing America's Phil Mickelson, quickly went two down with a couple of opening bogeys. But the South African made eight birdies in 13 holes from the fourth to ultimately win 2 and 1.
Bureau Report