Sutton must be purring with pleasure and anticipation, for Cink, who leads by five at 11 under par after a third-round 68 yesterday, is followed by three further members of the US team: Tiger Woods, David Toms and Chris DiMarco, all six under par.
On a course which is not dissimilar in character from Oakland Hills, Cink displayed exactly the qualities for which he was picked: straight driving and deadly putting. “I’ve made a lot of good putts,” Cink said. “I feel comfortable on the greens. I think of myself as one of those guys that every time they putt, it looks like it might go in. I miss short putts, but I accept that as something that happens.”
Cink is ranked number one in putting on the US Tour. And not far behind him, in those rankings as well as at Firestone, is the top American player, and most important Ryder Cup team member, Tiger Woods, who shot an even-par 70 yesterday. The importance of Woods for his team is both real and symbolic. His Cup record is woeful for a player of his talent — five wins in 15 matches — and he has never seemed to have embraced and really understood the character of the event.
After a lacklustre performance at the US PGA championship, Woods is finding his game. Danger brings out the best in him, and the danger was that he would lose his world No 1 ranking. Vijay Singh only has to finish ahead of him to take over at the top, while Ernie Els could have taken over with a top-three finish. But as Woods prospered, his rivals faltered. Els and Singh are both languishing towards the rear of the field of 75 players.
Like so many, Woods has the Ryder Cup in mind. “It’s going to be a fun week with our team, though not necessarily on the golf course, just in the locker room and hanging out together in the evenings,” he said when he arrived in Akron. It sounded positive, but those evenings will be a lot more fun if Woods delivers, and inspires his compatriots, on the field of play. It is no exaggeration to suggest that Woods’s form, and Sutton’s ability to get the best out of him, may be the critical factors.
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Sutton’s other captain’s choice, 50-year-old Jay Haas, stood at even par after a third-round 71. That may be regarded as further confirmation of the soundness of Sutton’s judgment, but the man who many thought ought to have been picked, Todd Hamilton, the Open champion, continued to impress. He is three under. Another disappointed American, Jerry Kelly, showed how fickle form can be with a 64. It was just the round to put before a Ryder Cup captain, but it came a week too late.
It wasn’t all gloom for the Europeans. Luke Donald gave Bernhard Langer’s Ryder Cup campaign a boost with an impeccable third-round 65, five under par. It took Donald from a place among the also-rans onto the leaderboard. But its real significance is that has surely secured his place in the team. Langer is an admirer of Donald, whose familiarity with American-style courses such as Oakland Hills, where the Ryder Cup will be contested next month.
He may yet qualify for the team automatically. If not, Langer can pick him with confidence. There was further encouraging news for the Europeans as Fredrik Jacobson returned a 68, a score matched by Darren Clarke and Paul Casey. Lee Westwood also showed he is back to very near his best. He has shot 69 three days running.
Colin Montgomerie, who would need a good finish to earn an automatic place in the team, has been steady and stood at level par at midway. He dropped a shot yesterday in completing the final two holes of his second round and dropped further shots as he finished with a 75 for his third round. At Whistling Straits, Montgomerie looked sorry for himself, and at Firestone, he has sounded sorry for himself, talking about the break-up of his marriage again, as if encounters with the press are therapeutic. “I can’t get my head round it and sleep is a real problem,” he said. “I’ve got a lot more time on my hands now, so I’m working out a lot and getting myself tired to help me sleep.” The Ryder Cup might be his salvation. “I’d like to play,” he said. “Two months ago, I don’t think that was the case.” Montgomerie should be told that a good cure for the blues, for low self-esteem and for insomnia is several glasses of champagne after winning the Ryder Cup. He is needed, and will probably be chosen.
Paul McGinley has been superb in his past few tournaments, making a determined effort to secure his place. After finishing at Whistling Straits with a tremendous last-round 69, McGinley forced himself into the top-10 in the European points table. He began poorly at Firestone but picked up three strokes against par as he reached the turn in his third round. McGinley hit a 69 and should retain his place.
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Joakim Haeggman, who is one of Langer’s assistants, still entertains a hope that he might make the team. After shooting 80 in the first round, he withdrew from the tournament. Before he left, he made sure the $25,000 guaranteed to every player at the World Golf Championship events would count towards his Ryder Cup points total. It will, which will hardly be solace to those, such as Ian Poulter, sitting at home without the chance to earn points because they failed to qualify for Firestone.
Sutton’s press conference at the start of the week, when he named his selections was most interesting in content and tone. Sutton was announced as “one of the most competitive players who has ever played the game” and it was revealed that when he had asked the officers of the US PGA what was wanted of him, he was told: “We wanna win.”
At first glance, it looks bad for Europe. Sutton has the better players, according to most criteria, including present form. “Our world-ranking total is pretty stout,“ he said. “We’re heavyweight contenders.” In those rankings, he has four from the top-10, eight from the top-20 and 12 from the top-50; Bernhard Langer, Europe’s captain, can call on only one, Padraig Harrington, from the top-10, three from the top-20 and six from the top-50.
Yet there is no reason for Europe to feel intimidated. Sutton may be talking a good, go-get-’em game but several of his team are not the kind to induce sleepless nights — even, or especially, for Montgomerie.
Final round, today, Sky Sports 2, 7.30pm