U.S. up 8-4 after Saturday morning

    Writing from Medinah, Illinois
    Saturday, September 29, 2012

    They’re known as Keegelson now, Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.
    And they’re the best couple on the course since Danny Noonan and Maggie the waitress.
    All this hugs-and-high fives duo did Saturday morning at Medinah Country Club is dust Lee Westwood and Luke Donald 7 and 6 in the alternate shot competition, known officially as “foursomes.”
    Seven and 6? That’s like an election in the 11th Ward. It’s no contest, and tied a Ryder Cup record for margin in an 18-hole team match.
    So how can American captain Davis Love III not play them again in the afternoon best-ball match? They’re 3-0, and account for 37.5 percent of America’s points through three of the five sessions in the 39th Ryder Cup Match.
    Keegleson – the nickname is courtesy of Golf Channel commentator Kelly Tilghman – combined for six birdies in the first 10 holes, building a 6-up lead. When Westwood and Donald bollixed up the par-4 12th, it was over, and the thousands encamped at the hole roared like they hadn’t roared all morning.
    Well, maybe it was as loud at the first hole when Ian Poulter and Bubba Watson each teed off with the crowd roaring, bringing the movie “Happy Gilmore” to life. And did so as skywriters flew overhead jotting out “Do it for Seve # Go Europe” and other sayings in the clear blue sky. It was sensory overload, and that was before the Americans held leads in all four matches for a time.
    By the time morning play was over, the U.S. held an 8-4 lead, which is commanding but not insurmountable. The Americans trailed by that margin in 1999 through three sessions and came back to win at The Country Club.
    But back to Keegleson. They got the afternoon off, with Love revealing he didn’t want anyone to play in all five matches, which could have meant as many as 90 holes over three days.
    So afternoon play begins without Keegleson, but with Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker together again for the umpteenth time, playing against Sergio Garcia and Donald. Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar are matched with Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie, Watson and Webb Simpson are playing Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari, and Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson face Rory McIlroy and Poulter.
    A full report tonight. Check Twitter @illinoisgolfer for updates when we’re not on the course.
    – Tim Cronin