Open champion Darren Clarke asked to stand down as Simon Dyson stood tall to stake his claims for possible Ryder Cup selection as GB & I cruised to near certain victory in the Vivendi Seve Trophy at St. Nom-la-Breteche.
Paul McGinley’s men powered through the Saturday morning ‘Greensomes’ to stretch their lead by four points.
Darren Clarke agrees to stand down after he and David Horsey halved their 'Greensome' match. (Photo - Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ie)
Then with Clarke strangely on the sidelines, they won the afternoon ‘Foursomes’ with Dyson chipping-in for eagle at the 17th for he and Jamie Donaldson to help Europe go five points ahead at 11 ½ to 6 ½ over the Continental Europe team.
Yorkshire born Dyson, who won last week’s KLM Open, is undefeated in competition in France.
“Ever since The Open I have been playing well,” said Dyson.
“I won in Ireland and then again last week in Holland, so all the extra work I have been putting into my game is paying off.
“Also it’s just great that people are starting to know who I am, and they’re standing up and taking notice of me.”
Clarke stood aside after he and David Horsey were 2up mid-way yesterday (SAT) morning but ended up halving their match with the Swede pair of Peter Hanson and Alex Noren.
World No. 2 Lee Westwood then teamed with Horsey to win their afternoon encounter 4 & 3.
It was just two months ago, Clarke captured golf’s oldest Major at Royal St. George’s but in his first Vivendi Seve Trophy event in nine years, Clarke has contributed just half-a-point in three matches.
“I volunteered to stand down and I’ve played enough of these matches to know when it’s right not to be playing,” said Clarke.
“I just haven’t been the races, just not at the races this week.”
Earlier, McGinley’s bold move in pairing the World No. 2 ranked Westwood with rookie Scott Jamieson for the morning ‘Greensome’ paid handsome dividends with the GB & I being 5up at the turn.
Westwood and Scott then closed out their match 4 & 3 against the Spanish duo of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal.
“It was great experience playing alongside the No. 2 in the world, and the way Lee drove the ball I can see why he is No. 2 in the world,” said Jamieson.
“Golf is so much an easier game when you’re 300-yards down the middle of the fairway all the time.”
And Westwood, who have never met the Glaswegian before the event, was singing Jamieson’s praise.
“Scott did really well as hit a lot of good shots, and some great iron shots,” said Westwood.
“Between Scot and myself, we just kept grinding away at them, and when he needed to, Scott holed some great putts including that 35-footer at the ninth that put up 5 up.
“So we fitted in well and he’s acquainted himself well in team golf.”
And McGinley, who put his faith in the current World No. 163 ranked Jamieson, was just as pleased.
Raphael Jacquelin and his two sons. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It will be an invaluable experience for Scott, as he played really well, and it was his best golf of the tournament playing alongside Lee, said McGinley.
“That’s going to do his career a whole lot of good.”
All 20 players will be action today for the Singles and with McGinley’s side needing three points to retain the title and deliver GB & I its sixth straight win in seven matches.
McGinley will lead with his strength for the Singles with Westwood out first against Thomas Bjorn and then he’s purposely spaced his top-guns among the rookies.
“I haven’t go gun-ho for the Singles and not top-loaded it,” he said.
“So I’ve gone for a mix of experience as with Westwood, Clarke at No. 5 and Poulter at No. 8.
“I’ve spread those players out around the lesser experienced players, and hopefully that will deliver us victory.”
McGinley, who will firm as 2014 European Ryder Cup captain, is now needing to only win three points for him retain the title and deliver GB & I it’s sixth straight win in seven matches.
