IRELAND: GOLF - Press conference after the Ryder Cup Fourballs on Saturday

Rookie Zach Johnson delivered a spectacular one-man show for the United States on Saturday (September 23) as Europe strengthened their grip on the Ryder Cup. After leading a stirring fightback to halve his foursomes match with Chad Campbell the previous day, the in-form Johnson was responsible for the only American victory in the morning's fourball matches. Making his debut in the format with wildcard pick Scott Verplank, the 30-year-old reeled off four birdies in the first five holes, and seven in all, to pave the way for a 2 and 1 win against Padraig Harrington and Henrik Stenson. He fittingly ended the match by chipping in for birdie at the par-four 17th to deny the Europeans a late rally. U.S. captain Tom Lehman, who made a late decision to include Johnson in his foursome pairings for the afternoon because of his morning display. One of four rookies in the U.S. team, Johnson holed an eight-footer at the first, hit his approach to four feet at the second and narrowly missed a 10-footer for another birdie at the par-three third. He sank an eight-footer at the par-four fourth to halve the hole after both Europeans had effective tap-ins for birdie and picked up his fourth shot at the fifth to keep the Americans one ahead. Urged on by repeated cries of "Go Zach go" from the American supporters, he rolled in a five-foot birdie putt at the 10th to leave the Europeans trailing by two. Johnson, who came close to a Presidents Cup call-up last year, then birdied 15 and 17 before celebrating the lone U.S. victory of the morning with a fist pump.

ITN Source | September 24, 2006

Tags:. .effective. .tom. .saturday. .matches. .rolled