Curtis Cup/Final Day: If the clock could have been stopped at 3.40 yesterday afternoon, a different history would have been written. At that point Britain and Ireland led the United States here in the final singles series of the Curtis Cup by 3½ matches to 2½, the precise margin needed for overall victory. And, had B & I won, all the great cups - Ryder, Solheim, Walker and Curtis - would have resided on this side of the Atlantic.
But the clock, as clocks do, ticked on, and the Americans, as American golfers tend to, responded to the pressure. Reading's Shelley McKevitt, who had been two up, lost to a fiercely determined Liz Janangelo by one hole, and Bearsted's Danielle Masters, one up after 13, lost to Annie Thurman, also by one hole, and with them went the winning margin.
The US, the holders, needed only a draw to retain the cup; instead they won 10-8. Emma Duggleby, Ireland's Claire Coughlan and Anne Laing were the best home players with three points from four matches; Thurman was the best American, also with three points.
Everyone wanted to see that mixture of languid power, of grace and imperiousness that is Michelle Wie. But to a large extent we were disappointed.
The 14-year-old American hit enough in the way of wonderful shots to show why hardened coaches, and cold-eyed agents, fight to get their hands on her, but for the most part she looked a bit bewildered.
The hard, bouncy links conditions were a great leveller, reducing, Wie to a three-wood or less off the tee, and the Hawaiian also looked distinctly uncomfortable in the foursomes.
It was obviously the first time in her golfing life that she did not have total control of the ball she was playing, and, rather like Tiger Woods, she did not appreciate it.
She lost both foursomes but won both singles, yesterday defeating the maths teacher Nicola Timmins by 6 and 5.
Golf is said to be a game of triangles, and of the leverage created by them in the swing, but Wie, probably subconsciously, is a professor on the subject whereas Timmins is still stuck on simple sums. Yesterday Wie was three under and four up at the turn, and then took the match completely away from Timmins at the 11th where, after a 320-yard drive, she covered the remaining 55 yards with a pitch to six inches. Timmins had a 30-footer for a half and a lone voice implored, "C'mon Nicky, tap it in," but she didn't and two holes later was done for.
Wie will benefit from this experience of literally foreign conditions, finding out that golf can be played on the ground as well as in the air. She will also have gathered some memories, such as seeing her first member of the Lancashire constabulary. Spotting a friend in the gallery, she rushed over and said, all teenage enthusiasm: "Did you see that policeman with the big hat?"
DAY TWO RESULTS - Foursomes: E Duggleby, S McKevitt (Eng) bt E Blasberg, S Huarte (US) 2 and 1, A Thurman, B Lang (US) bt N Timmins, D Masters (Eng) 5 and 4, A Laing (Sco), C Coughla(Ire) bt M Wie, L Janangelo (US) 3 and 2. Singles: Duggleby lost to P Creamer 3 and 2, Laing bt J Park 3 and 1, S McKevitt lost to Janangelo 1 hole, Timmins lost to Wie 6 and 5, Coughlan bt Lang 2 holes, Masters lost to Thurman 1 hole.
Final Result: Brit & Irl 8 US 10
