Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 27, 1993 TAG: 9309270032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SUTTON COLDFIELD, ENGLAND LENGTH: Medium
Even Nick Faldo's hole-in-one wasn't enough to stop a stirring comeback that allowed the Americans to keep the cup with a 15-13 victory over Europe on Sunday.
Fred Couples, Chip Beck and Davis Love III rallied on the back nine at the cold, wind-swept Belfry course, and the U.S. team won five of the last six matches to hang on to the cup, which nearly slipped away several times.
It was the second straight victory for the Americans, after the 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 win at Kiawah Island, S.C., in 1991, and the 23rd time the U.S. team has won in 30 Ryder Cups.
It also evened the record at two victories for each side and a tie since the cup became really competitive with a European victory at The Belfry in 1985.
"I think this is perhaps the greatest feeling I've ever had in my life, being captain of the Ryder Cup, even though I didn't hit a shot all week," American Tom Watson said.
"We gave our hearts," said Faldo, who played up to his No. 1 ranking in the world. "It just wasn't enough."
European captain Bernard Gallacher said, "Under no circumstances did we lose the Ryder Cup. The Americans won."
It didn't look like that would be the case early Sunday.
Play started with Europe leading by one point, and the first five matches passed the treacherous 10th hole - the short par-4 that challenges players to drive over the water for the green - with the Europeans ahead.
That's when the American charge started. From every corner of the course the meekest European move was met by thunderous roars that had U.S. players craning nervously to see the scoreboard. But it was the American nerves that held as the pressure built.
Couples, 2-down to Ian Woosnam of Wales after 11, birdied 13 and 15 to halve the first match of the day. In the next group, Beck, 3-down to Barry Lane of England after 13, took four of the last five holes - three of which Lane bogeyed - to win.
Meanwhile, Jim Gallagher Jr., Raymond Floyd and Tom Kite were easily beating three of Europe's biggest names - Spain's Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal and Germany's Bernhard Langer.
The pivotal match, though, turned out to be Love against Italy's Constantino Rocca.
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, Sweden's Joakim Haeggman and England's Peter Baker had beaten Lee Janzen, John Cook and Corey Pavin, respectively. The Europeans could have won the cup if Rocca defeated Love and Faldo beat Paul Azinger.
Love was 1-down going to 17, but again a European player buckled under the pressure and Love won the hole when Rocca missed a 4-foot putt. Rocca bogeyed again on 18, and Love won when he rolled in a 6-foot par putt, all but sealing the cup.
As Love's putt dropped, a small knot of Americans shrouded in red, white and blue and nearly swallowed up by the foot-stomping pro-Europe crowd, burst into a chant of "USA, USA, USA."
Keywords:
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by CNB