Sorry ROW, I came out with all barrels blazing and went 3 up after 6 holes. Slightly shell shocked to be honest against a player like Ross.
Then the lion woke up and gave this gazelle a good mauling I'm afraid.
Hole 1, halved with birdies. Decent start for both of us.
Hole 2, Ross misses the green left but plays a great recovery to within 3 feet or so. Then I sink a 20 something footer for the win.
Hole 3 we're both close and make birdie.
Right now I'm 3 under for 3. What the hell is going on?
Hole 4 and Ross finds the bunker on the left side of the green with his second shot, I'm just short but on the up slope. A lovely punch leaves a short par putt though. Ross hits out well but from the sand 5 yards away is as good as it gets. Another win for me.
Hole 5 and we both need 3 to get on, Ross having gone left and just short of the green and getting a nasty lie. Both have pretty long putts that end with 2 pars for a half.
Hole 6, one of my least favourite but I stick it to within a few feet and make birdie. Ross is slightly long and right, not nice but saves well and makes par. 3 up for ROW.
Hope 7,neither of us plays very well, pars for a half.
Hole 8 and Ross gets his approach spot on, a birdie and one back for Team USA.
Hole 9, we both hit good tee shots and half with birdies.
Hole 10 and the decline starts for me. Indecision over the second shot, take a wood and risk finishing in the dip that runs across the fairway? Take a 3 iron and leave a long approach? Take the wood, hit the down slope of that dip and the ball shoots forward and into the rough. My 3rd shot I'm too wary of going long and off the back, silly really, I have to go for it. I end up with a huge putt from well short, Ross with a short one and the win.
Hole 11 and I think I'm getting one back when I hit my approach to 3 feet from the hole. Ross is 7.9 feet away and makes it, halved with birdies again.
Hole 12 and I'm directly right of the hole, Ross right and long but a shorter putt. I aim an insane amount up the green and the ball trickles down to right beside the hole. Ross narrowly misses and we both have tap in pars.
Hole 13, I'm a bit long with my approach, Ross also but not quite as far. Even bigger break than the last hole and again the ball stops right beside the hole. Ross makes a superb putt though to go all square.
Hole 14 and my second shot lands just right of the hole, then the ball rolls off the green. Ross moves in for the kill with a super approach that leaves no doubt about the birdie. Now 1 under for ROW : (
Hole 15 and again I land fractionally right, also a bit long and off the damn green it goes. I had to take the risk as Ross' ball is sitting smugly very close to the hole. 2 down now. : ((
Hole 16 and we both get on in 2 leaving medium putts. Ross plays first and just misses. I play it solidly, the ball goes in just off centre, does a full 180 and back out. Looks like my luck has run out for the day.
Hole 17 and it's dormie. Both play good tee shots, both make birdie but Ross takes the win 2 up.
Very well played Ross, especially after going 3 down so early.
If only it had been a 9 hole match.......