Sports

‘Very awkward’ ending for Tiger at Ryder Cup

MEDINAH, Ill. — The Ryder Cup ended in an awkward several minutes yesterday when, after the clinching point was won by Martin Kaymer and the European team celebrated madly on the 18th green, Tiger Woods and Francesco Molinari, playing in the final match, stood confused in the fairway waiting to finish their match.

The green was finally cleared and the two players hit their approach shots. Woods, after missing a short par putt, conceded Molinari’s par putt to halve their match, which had become inconsequential because Europe already had the 14 points it needed to retain the Cup.

Asked why he conceded the putt, Woods, who finished the week with only that half-point in his four matches, said, “It was already over. We came here as a team. This is a team event and the Cup had already been retained by Europe, so it was already over.’’

U.S. captain Davis Love III called the moment “very awkward,’’ but said he had no problem with the Europeans celebrating.

“I just think when it’s over, we all shake hands and go,’’ he said. “It doesn’t really matter the score. They had the Cup, and they knew it.’’

Jim Furyk is going to want to forget his 2012 season, capped with a horrendous 1-up loss to Sergio Garcia in his singles match yesterday after he had a 1-up lead standing on the 17th tee and finished bogey-bogey.

When Furyk’s 8-foot par putt on 18 to halve the match slipped past the hole, Furyk doubled over in pain before gathering himself to shake Garcia’s hand.

Earlier this year, Furyk lost a final-round lead at the U.S. Open and also at the WGC-Bridgestone Championship.

“Losing the U.S. Open this year, losing Bridgestone, I’ll be honest, it’s been a very difficult year,’’ Furyk said. “It’s been a low year. I’ve played very well this year but haven’t closed the door. I’m pretty sure Sergio would tell you that I outplayed him today but I didn’t win and I lost the match. I’ve had a lot of that happen this year.

“As far as team versus individual, it’s the lowest point of my year.’’

Luke Donald was sent out first by European captain Jose Maria Olazabal in an effort to ignite a rally for Europe by winning the first point of the day and he did just that, defeating Bubba Watson 2&1 in a match he controlled the entire way.

“I had a lot of responsibility going out No. 1 to get some blue up on the board early,’’ Donald said. “It’s a big honor for me. Ollie had enough trust in me to go out and get that first point for Europe, that means a lot to go out first and lead the team and I did what I had to do.’’

Donald, a Brit who went to Northwestern University, met his wife in Chicago and makes his home in the area, said he did not feel like an outsider this week despite playing for the road team.

“I felt very much at home this week,’’ he said. “It was great to have all the cheers I did. I didn’t feel so sectioned out as probably some of the other guys on our team would have. I felt a lot of love from the crowd.’’

Phil Mickelson went from thinking he was going to win his match against Justin Rose when he sent a chip toward the hole on 17 to losing on the 18th. Moments after Mickelson just missed holing out his chip, Rose drained a 35-foot birdie putt to win the hole, a putt so good and so clutch it left Mickelson smiling, applauding and giving Rose a thumbs-up.

“I thought I had the match,’’ Mickelson said. “I had a chance to go 2 ‑up, and he made a good 12‑-footer on top of me to halve it (on 16) and I holed a chip shot on 17 that would have won it in my mind, except he made that 40-‑footer to win the hole and the last hole he made a great birdie.

“He played some great golf.’’