The main photo above shows Francesco Molinari hitting a fairway wood on the 2nd hole of the 'Session 3' four-balls in the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. Francesco was playing in partnership with elder brother Eduardo and the pair - who were the first brothers to play in the same Ryder Cup team since Bernard and Geoff Hunt competed in 1963 - can be seen together in the inset picture. Their first outing in Ryder Cup golf was to end in a 2 hole defeat to Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan but they then bounced back to gain a half point in 'Session 3' against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar. That half was earned when Francesco bravely holed from 3 feet for a birdie 4 at the 18th hole after he had hit a superb approach shot into the green. In the singles he had the misfortune to encounter an on-fire Tiger Woods who won the match 4&3 after covering holes 4-15 in 8 under par. All of this after Francesco's brace of birdies at the opening two holes had seen him go 2 up ! Graeme McDowell's heroics would ensure Europe won back the cup and although the younger Molinari only gained half a point from three outings his putt at 18 to earn that half was to prove very vital indeed.
Four-Balls (Session 1)
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer beat Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson (3&2)
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell halved Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher lost to Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (2 up)
Luke Donald/Padraig Harrington lost to Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton (3&2)
Foursomes (Session 2)
Miguel-A. Jimenez/Peter Hanson lost to Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (4&3)
E. Molinari/F. Molinari lost to Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan (2 up)
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer halved Jim Furyk/Rickie Fowler
Padraig Harrington/Ross Fisher beat Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson (3&2)
Ian Poulter/Luke Donald beat Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton (2&1)
Graeme McDowell/Rory McIlroy lost to Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar (1 up)
Foursomes (Session 3)
Luke Donald/Lee Westwood beat Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (6&5)
Graeme McDowell/Rory McIlroy beat Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan (3&1)
Four-Balls (Session 3)
Padraig Harrington/Ross Fisher beat Jim Furyk/Dustin Johnson (2&1)
Peter Hanson/Miguel-A. Jimenez beat Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton (2 up)
E. Molinari/F. Molinari halved Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
Ian Poulter/Martin Kaymer beat Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler (2&1)
Singles (Session 4)
Lee Westwood lost to Steve Stricker (2&1)
Rory McIlroy halved Stewart Cink
Luke Donald beat Jim Furyk (1 up)
Martin Kaymer lost to Dustin Johnson (6&4)
Ian Poulter beat Matt Kuchar (5&4)
Ross Fisher lost to Jeff Overton (3&2)
Miguel-A. Jimenez beat Bubba Watson (4&3)
Francesco Molinari lost to Tiger Woods (4&3)
Eduardo Molinari halved Rickie Fowler
Peter Hanson lost to Phil Mickelson (4&2)
Padraig Harrington lost to Zach Johnson (3&2)
Graeme McDowell beat Hunter Mahan (3&1)
EUROPE 14.5 beat USA 13.5