Sports briefs
U.S. trails
in Ryder Cup
Three matches in the books, three red points on the board, and Tiger Woods was still on the golf course.
This was exactly the start the Americans wanted in the Ryder Cup.
And then Europe finished even better.
Four hours later, the cheers at Le Golf National ramped up to a feverish pitch as Europe swept all four matches Friday afternoon for a 5-3. It was the first time Europe swept a session since 1989, and the first time ever at the Ryder Cup in foursomes.
Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood were the only Europeans to play both matches, and they won them both. They combined for five birdies over their last seven holes to polish off Woods and Patrick Reed and salvage something from a morning that belonged to the Americans. They took down Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in the afternoon.
The change was noticeable in the body language.
The Americans walked tall and had reason to feel as though nothing could go wrong, especially Tony Finau. It was his amazing fortune that turned the tide in the morning. He and Brooks Koepka were 1 down to Justin Rose and Jon Rahm on the par-3 16th when Finau’s 8-iron appeared headed for the water. Instead, it landed on the 12-inch wide boards that frame the green, soared into the air as the gallery gasped, and plopped down 3 feet from the hole.
They wound up winning on the 18th when Rose hit into the water, the only time Finau and Koepka led all match.
In the afternoon, the mood changed in the mild air and freshening wind. Spieth was shaking his head after all those putts that dropped in the morning slid by the edge of the cup in the afternoon.
“You see a change in body language,” U.S. captain Jim Furyk said. “I’m sure the Europeans’ body language significantly changed to all smiles and boisterous and hugs and high-fives, and I’m sure the looks on some of my players were not quite the happiest, and dead opposite this morning.”
The Americans are trying to end 25 years of losing the Ryder Cup in Europe.
Men’s cross country
W&J’s Grant McCarthy won by more than a minute and Parker Laughlin came in fourth place as the Presidents hosted the annual Washington & Jefferson Invitational at Mingo Creek Park Friday afternoon.
Because course conditions were wet, W&J had only four competitors, which did not leave the Presidents eligible for the team title. Fairmont State finished first with Westminster second.
McCarthy bested the second- and third-place finishers from Fairmont State by 64 and 88 seconds, respectively, with a time of 28:54.43. Laughlin was fourth in 30:41.34.
Steelers’ DeCastro, Gilbert set to return
PITTSBURGH – It looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers will return the starting right side of their offensive line for a home divisional rivalry meeting with the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night.
Starting right guard David DeCastro and right tackle Marcus Gilbert both practiced in full this week after missing the team’s first win Monday at Tampa Bay because of injury.
“I feel really good,” DeCastro said. “I’m just looking forward to getting back out there.”
DeCastro broke a bone in his right hand during the season opener at Cleveland and missed the previous two games against Kansas City and Tampa Bay. Gilbert missed Monday’s game against the Buccaneers with a hamstring injury. Both were full participants in practice this week.