LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Justin Leonard’s undefeated record through the first three matches of the Ryder Cup wasn’t enough to persuade U.S. captain Paul Azinger to play Leonard during Saturday’s afternoon four-ball.
Leonard and Hunter Mahan rolled to a 3-0-0 record through the first three rounds, and Azinger sent Mahan back out for the afternoon matches. Mahan joined Phil Mickelson as the only American players to play in each of the first four matches.
Leonard felt he could have gone another 18 holes but respected Azinger’s decision.
“I told Zinger, you know, I felt like I had some more in the tank,” Leonard said. “I wasn’t sure how much. And I think he wants me to be ready for tomorrow.”
Leonard wasn’t the only red-hot player who took the afternoon off. Europe’s Justin Rose asked captain Nick Faldo if he could sit out the four-ball matches even though he and Ian Poulter had gone 2-1-0 through three matches.
“I really felt like it was best for the team, should I sit out a bit,” Rose said.
Payne’s kids.
Azinger had special guests in his cart late Saturday afternoon — Aaron and Chelsea Stewart, the children of the late Payne Stewart, who was Azinger’s best friend on tour.
The Americans have not won the Ryder Cup since Stewart played on the team in 1999 at Brookline. Six weeks later, Stewart died in a plane crash.
A ticked Woods.
Michael Jordan took a little pity on Nick Faldo during Friday’s opening-round matches, playfully giving Faldo a neck massage.
Jordan, back at Valhalla on Saturday, admitted the move didn’t sit well with at least one Ryder Cup regular: Tiger Woods.
“He texted me when I was massaging (Faldo),” Jordan said. “He said, ‘Get your hands off him and choke him instead of massage him.’ ”
Boo who?
When Boo Weekley attempted to duck under a rope and head into the clubhouse before his afternoon foursomes match with J.B. Holmes, the security guard manning the gate stopped him and asked for his credentials. Weekley, wearing a blue U.S. Ryder Cup jacket, raised out his arms and pulled out his team shirt before looking at reporters for some help. The guard, embarrassed, let Weekley pass while a handful of Weekley supporters laughed.
The Associated Press
