A pep talk from Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal helped Continental Europe’s Jean Van de Velde inspire his team in clawing their way back into the Vivendi Seve Trophy at Saint Nom-la-Breteche.
Van de Velde’s Europeans won the Fourball’s 3 ½ to 1 ½ to now trail a point behind with GB & I leading 5 ½ to 4 ½.
Continental Europe in joyful mood after winning the second day 'fourballs'. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The Frenchman admitted he got his ‘backside kicked’ on day one but with Olazabal’s words of encouragement ringing in his ears, the Continental’s took it right to the GB & I side on day two.
Olazabal, who is overseeing the biennial encounter, spoke with Van de Velde for 45-minutes after the Continental’s opening day drubbing, and then again for nearly 30-minutes ahead of a team dinner.
“Jose Maria said to me last night to move my backside,” said Van de Velde.
“So my team came out with conviction, in a different mood, but if I’m not mistaken, we are still behind, but less than the first day.
“But tonight we are a happier bunch.”
The Continental team turned the event around firstly with the Swedish duo of Peter Hanson and Alex Noren winning 5 & 3 against Ian Poulter and Robert Rock.
Thomas Bjorn and Raphael Jacquelin happy to get a draw in their match. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
In-form Dane Thomas Bjorn teamed with French hero Raphael Jacquelin to come back from being 3 down after eight holes and then win 14, 15 and 16 before squaring the match against Simon Dyson and Jamie Donaldson with pars at the last.
The all-Worksop pair of Lee Westwood and Mark Foster exacted revenge for losing on Thursday and handed out a 5 & 3 drubbing to Dane Anders Hansen and Italian Francesco Molinari.
Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal birdied three holes in succession in a 3 & 2 defeat of Open Champion, Darren Clarke and England’s David Horsey.
All players then gathered around the 18th with Jamieson and Fisher one down and needing to win the last.
But when Manassero putted to tap-in distance the match was conceded for a 2up Continental success.
However GB & I captain, Paul McGinley while admitting he lost the second round battle is yet to concede the war to Van de Velde.
he Continental team turned the event around firstly with the Swedish duo of Peter Hanson and Alex Noren winning 5 & 3 against Ian Poulter and Robert Rock.
Pablo Larrazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez delighted after their victory over Darren Clarke and David Horsey. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
In-form Dane Thomas Bjorn teamed with French hero Raphael Jacquelin to come back from being 3 down after eight holes and then win 14, 15 and 16 before squaring the match against Simon Dyson and Jamie Donaldson with pars at the last.
The all-Worksop pair of Lee Westwood and Mark Foster exacted revenge for losing on Thursday and handed out a 5 & 3 drubbing to Dane Anders Hansen and Italian Francesco Molinari.
Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal birdied three holes in succession in a 3 & 2 defeat of Open Champion, Darren Clarke and England’s David Horsey.
All players then gathered around the 18th with Jamieson and Fisher one down and needing to win the last.
But when Manassero putted to tap-in distance the match was conceded for a 2up Continental success.
“We lost the series, which was disappointing, but that’s what happens in golf,” said McGinley.
“But it’s not the end of the world. I tried to put in context, saying if we were playing in an individual tournament, we shot 62 on Thursday, shot 72 today, but we’re still leading the tournament.
“And we haven’t played for a third of the points yet. So there is a long way to go.”
