MEDINAH, Illinois: Tiger Woods exited Medinah Country Club the forgotten man yesterday, denied the chance to become the US Ryder Cup hero then handing Europe the outright victory to cap a dismal weekend.
The Americans had started the last day with a commanding 10-6 lead but as the afternoon wore on and the advantage slowly slipped away, it appeared the Ryder Cup could come down to the final match between Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Woods, leaving the 14-time major winner a shot at redemption for his miserable play.
But Woods would never get the chance to pull the trigger, as Germany’s Martin Kaymer, playing in the penultimate pairing, stepped smartly into the hero’s role dropping a nerve-jangling five-foot putt at the last to beat Steve Stricker and make sure Europe would retain the coveted golden trophy.
When Woods arrived on the scene a few minutes later the party was already in full swing around the 18th green, a disinterested Woods sliding a three-footer past the cup to surrender a half-point and gift the Europeans the out-right win 14 1/2 to 13 1/2.
“To be honest I didn’t really pay that much attention,” a gloomy Woods told reporters. “I was trying to get my point.
“I went one up at 17, and I asked what was going on down at 18 because my responsibility was to be able to get my point.
“Then they said that Europe has a chance to win on this hole, or retain the Cup. 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.” REUTERS
