No sooner had Davis Love III issued his strongest Ryder Cup war cry yet than Lee Westwood endorsed his status as Europe’s agent provocateur. If the event matches the preamble, there may be a need to stand back from the Hazeltine fireworks.
Love, the United States captain, took to an American radio station on Friday to speak effusively about the players under his command. “We don’t have to do anything superhuman. We’re a great golf team,” Love said. “This is the best golf team, maybe, ever assembled.”
In one sentence and depending on perception Love has either left himself open to ridicule or afforded fresh confidence to an American set-up which has become painfully familiar with Ryder Cup defeat.
Expanding on likely US strategy, Love added: “You need to stand up there, smash it down the middle and take off walking. Let the other team know we are going to dominate you. If we are putting any eight guys out at a time, they are going to be really good; it is more who to sit [out] that we are struggling with.”
As Love’s comments were posted online, Westwood immediately responded via social media. “No pressure there then lads!” said the Englishman towards the US team. Westwood, who will make a 10th playing appearance for Europe next week, had already stirred the Ryder Cup pot by claiming Tiger Woods may have an “adverse effect” as a US vice-captain. Westwood seems to be enjoying himself.
Love’s already upbeat mood would be improved further by the touch of Dustin Johnson at the Tour Championship. Johnson, who has proved himself an excellent Ryder Cup player in the past, is the 36-hole leader after a second round of 67 moved him to seven under par. He has both the Tour Championship and $10m FedEx Cup bounty in his grasp.
Johnson leads Kevin Chappell by one, with the latter seeking to muddy waters further with regards to whom Love turns for his fourth and final wild-card pick. So, too, is Kevin Kisner, who lies in a share of third here. Rory McIlroy’s 70, which leaves him five from the halfway lead, was notable for an inward half of 32. And yet, the Northern Irishman headed straight for the East Lake driving range on conclusion of his media duties as he sought to improve on inconsistent iron play.
“I feel like I’ve left a lot of shots out there this week,” McIlroy said. “I’ve sort of got it going both ways with the irons. It’s OK if you’ve got it going one way but if you’ve got it going both, there’s a few things in your head. So I just need to work on that.”
Paul Casey has matched McIlroy’s aggregate score but Jordan Spieth slipped back to even par after a Friday 72; Spieth found only five from a possible 14 fairways.
Russell Knox produced the lowest round of day two, 66, after coming home in 31. The Scotsman thereby propelled himself into the top 10. Phil Mickelson added a 72 to Thursday’s 74 but admitted to a bigger picture in mind. “I’ve won two Tour Championships and I’ve only been a part of two winning Ryder Cups,” Mickelson said. “I’d like to be a part of a third. Not to diminish this, but I’d rather win next week. For me, at this stage in my career, it means a little more to me.”
Jason Day’s dreams of claiming the FedEx Cup were shot down by injury, a recurrence of the back problem which meant the world No1 did not feature in the BMW Championship causing his withdrawal here after seven holes on Friday. Fitness issues continue to undermine Day’s quest for greatness.
“Jason has a strained ligament in his lower right back with muscle spasm,” said a statement from Day’s management company. “He withdrew as a precautionary measure. Jason should be fine with some rest.”
