THE FIRE STARTER

The Ryder Cup Matches were great theater with everything but a happy ending for the Americans. You have to give the Europeans credit for an amazing and courageous comeback.

Many heroes for the Europeans abounded, but one in particular stands out as a symbol of resolution, pure grit and combativeness---Ian Poulter. This Florida-based Brit has a history of performing well in match play---man vs. man. His Ryder cup record is incredible over the years, and he even won the World Match Play Championship a few years ago against the world’s best.

It was Poulter who ignited the turnaround with his incredible run of five successive birdies to stop the American avalanche in foursome golf. His was the momentum builder; his was the inspiration; his was the symbol of undying resistance as he stood with clenched fists and body pumps when he made his string of birdies. He did not lose a match, completing his sweep with a close one-up victory over U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson mid Sunday afternoon.. It was about mid-afternoon that you began to get the message that the European tide was about to engulf the Americans.

All the big European guns came through when it counted. Rory McIlroy, number one in the world, who was almost late for his tee time due to a time misunderstanding, stopped the hot young American, Keenan Bradley. Luke Donald, the number three, always a stalwart in Ryder Cup, had had a mediocre record in this Cup but came through and outplayed Bubba Watson. Lee Westwood, number four in the world had a horrible losing record this year until the final singles match when he came through and defeated Matt Kuchar. Paul Lawrie, an old stalwart for Europe, whipped the hottest (until the Ryder cup) American player, Brandt Snedeker, who had just win the Fedex Cup Championship and Final, collecting $11,000,000. Snedeker quickly found that Ryder Cup pressure is stifling. Sergio Garcia nipped Jim Furyk in a tight match, calling on the ghost and memory of Seve Ballesteros, his friend and the late great Spanish star who tragically died of brain cancer last year and whose silhouette was on every European golf bag and sport shirt. Justin Rose, number six in the world and climbing fast, birdied the last two holes to steal one from the gallant Phil Mickelson by a stroke in an awesome display of grace under pressure (Hemingway’s famous definition of courage). And then of course, the Fire Starter himself, Ian Poulter, edging Simpson.

Only Jason Dufner, a fast-rising golfer, and the two Johnson Boys, Zach and Dustin, were able to win for the U.S.A. Tiger Woods lost every match until the final singles when he missed a three and a half foot putt and drew with Francisco Molinari.

It was a total deflation and crushing of hopes in a single Sunday afternoon . All the Americans can do is lick their wounds and hope that the scars heal quickly. Perhaps this crucible of experience under heat and pressure will harden their resolve for future encounters. In the meantime, hats off and bows to the Fire Starter and his friends.  Captain Jose Maria Olazabal, a former Ryder Cup stalwart with his friend and mentor, Seve Ballesteros, openly wept tears of joy. I think he and Seve planned the whole thing