It is frightening to think just how much worse the 2021 Ryder Cup could have been for Europe had it not been for the partnership of Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm.
Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm won the only full European point of the opening day of the 2021 Ryder Cup, while they won both of their matches together on Saturday. While they both lost their singles matches, Garcia and Rahm still clinched three of Europe’s nine points while playing together.
Nevertheless, it was arguably one of the shots from an opponent which stole the show in the top match from Friday’s opening session at Whistling Straits.
Justin Thomas had put Jordan Spieth in all kinds of bother to the left of the 17th green. Spieth was forced to stand at something like a 45 degree angle with the ball at the bottom of a near-vertical slope on the short side of the green.
How Sergio Garcia reacted to Jordan Spieth’s miraculous recovery shot at the 2021 Ryder Cup
Spieth swung so hard at the ball that he almost ended up in Lake Michigan, with his momentum taking him flying down the hill. And yet, somehow, Spieth managed to hit the most miraculous shot to inside 15 feet.
Unfortunately for the Americans, Thomas’ missed putt led to a concession of the hole which gave Europe the 3&1 win. But it was no surprise to hear Garcia asked about Spieth’s shot in the interview immediately after winning.
“You saw me. I was clapping. I was truly afraid for him to hurt himself because of those wood logs that are there, and it was very close to the wall,” he said.
“So I was hoping that he wouldn’t hurt himself, but he hit an unbelievable shot. I didn’t think there was a chance he could get it on the green.”
The greatest shot of the 2021 Ryder Cup
It is obviously easier to say having not been the one to take the shot on, but it was potentially made slightly easier for Spieth because he had so few options with what he could do with the shot.
He probably could not see any of the flag when stood over – or alongside – the ball, and he was dealing with some incredibly thick rough. So clearly, there was no chance that he could afford to be delicate with the shot.
But that should take nothing away from one of the most incredible shots in Ryder Cup history. Most of us mortals would have either missed the ball entirely, or left it in that rough. Some may have been lucky enough to be able to make enough contact, but only to fire the ball well past the flag and off the other side of the green.
Spieth somehow left Thomas with an outstanding chance to make par. It was no surprise that Garcia felt compelled just to applaud what he witnessed.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
