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“Fleetwood Mac” on fire as Europe calls the early tune – ARN News Centre
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PAUL ELLIS/ AFP
Europe picked up just where they left off by storming into an early lead in the Ryder Cup foursomes on Saturday, with crowd favourites Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy – dubbed Fleetwood Mac – winning the first three holes of the first match.
Unsurprisingly, European captain Luke Donald decided to use the same four foursomes combinations that swept the board 4-0 on Friday morning, and it was again looking a good policy after the early exchanges with Europe leading in two, level in one and down in one after the first hour’s action.
He did shuffle the order slightly, sending McIlroy, who won both his Friday matches, and Fleetwood out first, perhaps as part of a strategy to get the crowd firing early on, and how it paid off.
Unlike on Friday, opposite number Zach Johnson did not keep his gun pairing of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth kicking their heels until the afternoon, putting them out as his lead pair.
However, they were horribly off-beam early on as Fleetwood’s 35ft (11 m) putt on the second ignited the crowd.
The first three Americans pairings missed the first fairway from the tee, and a double bogey by world number one Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka gifted Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg the first. They surged on to win the next three to be four up after four.
If the crowd wasn’t pumped up enough already, the presence of Seve Ballesteros’s son Javier on the first tee as a huge poster of the Spanish superstar was rolled through the grandstand pushed them over the edge.
“Seve is an inspiration every time,” said Donald. “He was the ultimate European Ryder Cup player who made everyone else play better. He had so much passion for this event and wanted to win at all costs. We always respect Seve and he is a big part of the Ryder Cup for all of us.
The Americans know they need to start the fightback early if they are to have any chance of ending Europe’s 30-year unbeaten run at home.
Europe’s 6 ½-1 ½ overnight advantage equalled the record biggest day one lead, was the first time they have led after the first session since 2006 and had the U.S. reeling after failing to win a single match in a day for the first time.
The numbers already had people looking at the event’s biggest comebacks. No team has previously overcome more than a four-point disadvantage after a session. In the Miracle of Medinah in 2012 Europe trailed by six with two Saturday afternoon matches still playing, both of which they won to propel them to one of the greatest comebacks in sport.
Since then, however, big leads have generally led to big wins, most recently at Whistling Straits two years ago when the U.S. turned their 6-2 first-day lead into a crushing 19-9 victory.
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Tributes have poured in after the son of former Chelsea star Eddie Newton was found dead alongside his friend following a hike in the UAE, where temperatures soared to 50C.
Cassius Newton, 34, and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, were found by rescuers on July 18 after setting out on a hike in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region.
The pair, from Dorset and Essex respectively, both lived and worked in the UAE. Their bodies were discovered between 3km and 4km from their vehicle.
According to a report, Chelmsford area coroner Michelle Brown said their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest.
Cassius, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea midfielder and coach Eddie Newton, who spent more than a decade with the club.
His wife was in the UK when she became concerned after Cassius failed to contact her following the hike and reported him missing.
The two men had been living at a luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah.
Tributes after desert tragedy
Tributes poured in after the deaths.
Aran’s wife described him as “incredibly driven, hardworking and ambitious”, saying he had recently begun a new chapter in his career and was excited about the future.
Blackfield & Langley Football Club paid tribute to their former player, saying: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of former player Cassius Newton; our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
National League club Eastleigh, where Cassius had previously played, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
Chelsea connection
Cassius’ father Eddie Newton played for Chelsea from 1990 to 2001 and famously scored in the club’s 1997 FA Cup final victory.
The former midfielder also represented Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Oxford United and Barnet.
After retiring as a player, Newton moved into coaching, working as assistant manager at MK Dons and West Brom before returning to Chelsea.
He later served as assistant manager under Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benítez.
(With inputs from BBC, The Sun)
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