Great Britain and Ireland looked to be losing their grip of the Seve Trophy midway through day two, as the Continental Europe side looked destined to extend their two point lead from the day before. However, Sam Torrance’s team should real heart to battle back in Paris to cut the deficit down to a single point ahead of the third day.
Torrance retained faith in the English pair of Simon Khan and Paul Casey, and he sent them out first on Friday against the Continental pair of Mikko Ilonen and Thorbjorn Olesen. It was a decision that would pay off for the 60-year-old Scot, as Casey and Khan sealed a 3 and 2 victory to give Great Britain and Ireland the ideal start.
However, the four other matches threatened to swing in the favour of the Continental side, who are looking to win the Seve Trophy for the first time since the inaugural edition 13 years ago. Nicolas Colsaerts and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano continued to combine well, having defeated Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren 5 and 3 on Thursday. Drawn against another Scottish pair in Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher, who had claimed GB&I’s only win in the opening day, Colsaerts and Castano would equal the biggest winning margin in the tournaments history by crushing the Scots 6 and 5.
Jamie Donaldson and Marc Warren did reduce the Continental’s lead after defeating the experience pair of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn. However, despite the efforts of the Welshman in particular, the final two matches on the course looked to be going in favour of the Continental’s.
There would be a late twist, however, with a spirited performance from Scott Jamieson, who was paired alongside the colourful Englishman David Lynn. Having found themselves two down with five holes to play, the British duo battled back against the strong Italian pairing of Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero. Standing on the 17th tee, Jamieson and Lynn were still down a hole, but won the penultimate hole to take the match down the 18th. With both captains and fellow team members looking on, Manassero missed from eight feet on the final green, allowing Jamieson the opportunity to hole from six feet to claim a dramatic victory.
Attention then turned to the final match on the course, with Tommy Fleetwood and Chris Wood valiantly battling back against the pairing of Joost Luiten and Gregory Bourdy. The European pair looked to be cruising towards a comfortable victory, having been 3 up after 14 holes. However, drama would ensue with an eagle from Wood taking the match down the final hole.
It would be agonising for the British side, though, as Fleetwood found himself with an opportunity from six feet to halve the match and put both sides level after the second day. However, he would not convert the putt, with Luiten and Bourdy claiming a narrow victory in the end.
It was a compelling afternoon’s play, with Great Britain and Ireland battling back to within one point of the Continental’s. Naturally, Sam Torrance was the happier of the two Captains, after his side claimed victory in the Friday session, and he reflected on what had been a thrilling day. “The golf that was played was beautiful; Jamie Donaldson was nine under on his own.
”I've pretty much got my mindset what I'm going to do with foursomes. Unfortunately I have to leave two players out but that's not going to be easy.”
In the end, Torrance left out Simon Khan and David Lynn from the morning session on Saturday. The omission of Khan will be particularly surprising, given his partnership with Casey, but the Irish Open champion will instead play alongside 2-year-old Tommy Fleetwood.
Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher remain together, and they will once again take on Nicolas Colsaerts and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in the first match out in the morning.
The impressive Jamie Donaldson and Marc Warren remain together, as they take on Joost Luiten and Gregory Bourdy in the second match of the first of two foursome sessions on Saturday.
Thomas Bjorn and Mikko Ilonen will sit out the morning for the Continental’s, with Thorbjorn Olesen paired with Francesco Molinari to take on Chris Wood and Scott Jamieson, with Matteo Manassero joining Miguel Angel Jimenez to go up against Casey and Fleetwood in the final match of the morning.
Continental Captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who oversaw Europe’s dramatic Ryder Cup victory last year, reflected on the day, and the changes he has made to his time for Saturday morning.
“There is just a fraction of disappointment. We let a point go with the Italians; they had the match under control until the very end.
”Overall 3 2 is not that bad - it's pretty much what we've said all along, these guys play great golf, and you have to be on your toes.
”When you play at this kind of level, it's decided on little things, and today was a good proof of that.
”I've left Thomas Bjorn and Mikko for tomorrow morning. Thomas I think is okay. He played well today but 36 holes tomorrow, it could be just a little too much in the sense that I want him fresh for Sunday.
“I kept two pairings the same way because they have done well so far, and I've had to rest another guy and in this case it was Mikko. But most probably he will be playing in the afternoon.”
Saturday Morning Foursomes
Nicolas Colsaerts & Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano v Stephen Gallacher & Paul Lawrie
Joost Luiten & Gregory Bourdy v Jamie Donaldson & Marc Warren
Thorbjorn Olesen & Francesco Molinari v Chris Wood & Scott Jamieson
Miguel Angel Jimenez & Matteo Manassero v Paul Casey & Tommy Fleetwood