Francesco Molinari does not deviate from the plan. They say every teacher has their own way, but it certainly surprises. Not even the heavy defeat in the first two sessions of play, Friday’s fourballs and Saturday morning’s foursomes, both by 3.5 to 1.5, has made him change the strategy with the pairs.
In fact, this Saturday afternoon, the same players who played in the morning are going out, despite the fact that, for now, it seems that the only pair that has worked is the French duo of Matthieu Pavon and Romain Langasque. The inaction is truly strange, as if the result of this week was the least important and they were thinking of a greater good, which is the Ryder Cup, or as if they couldn’t quite believe that any of those competing in Continental Europe this week could be in Bethpage next September. Surely that’s not the case, but that’s the impression conveyed by their decisions.
Saturday afternoon foursomes matches
Rasmus Hojgaard – Neergaard Petersen Vs. Hatton – Wallace
Olesen – Nordgaard Vs. Matthew Jordan – McKibbin
Rozner – Manassero Vs. Waring – Canter
Pavon – Langasque Vs. Rai – Rose
Molinari – Guerrier Vs. Fleetwood – Jordan Smith
For Great Britain and Ireland, Justin Rose, and Luke Donald of course, who is behind all the decisions, does seem to have a clearer plan with a view to the Ryder. It’s also easier when you’re winning. The islanders maintain only two pairs that shone in the morning: they have split the Rose-Fleetwood duo to pair them with Rai and Jordan Smith, respectively, as well as Waring leaving Smith to play with Canter and Canter leaving Smith. McKibbin and Jordan and Hatton and Wallace repeat.
What doesn’t seem like a random decision, far from it, is that Rose and Fleetwood, the two main heavyweights of the British team, have played with three different players in each of the pairs sessions. A way to test things and affinities. Similarly, the Wallace-Hatton pair is being established. Don’t rule them out for New York if the former ends up making the team.
