Quick start critical for Team USA on Sunday at Ryder Cup

GUYANCOURT, France — In 1999, Ben Crenshaw waggled his finger and left us with one thought: “I have a good feeling about this.”

In 2012, Jose Maria Olazabal invoked the spirit of his deceased dear friend Seve Ballesteros while asking, “Why not tomorrow?”

On Saturday night at Le Golf National, with his U.S. team needing a similar kind of miracle to retain the Ryder Cup, Jim Furyk made one simple request of his team.

“Make some magic.”

Unfortunately, the only magic the Americans have produced in the first two days is a few disappearing acts, including the most experienced player in Ryder Cup history (Phil Mickelson, who has played just 14 holes and did not appear in either session Saturday) and Captain America (Patrick Reed, who has yet to find his mojo this week and sat out both Foursomes matches).

To be fair, the blame for the 10-6 deficit the U.S. now faces entering Sunday’s 12 Singles matches should not be placed entirely on their shoulders. You could even argue that the first two days has not been so much about the Americans’ shortcoming, but the terrific display of golf being played by the Europeans on a course in which they are more familiar — and perhaps more suited — to succeed.

“We’ve been outplayed,” Furyk said. “I don’t think there’s a guy in my team room would argue with me. Right now, they have played better golf, and we have to be able to do just that tomorrow.”

It’s improbable but certainly not impossible. The 10-6 deficit is the same that Crenshaw’s U.S. team faced in 1999 at The Country Club in Brookline, and his team rallied to win 8.5 of the 12 points in Singles. And it’s the same that Olazabal’s European squad faced just six years ago at Medinah before responding with a similar win of 8.5 points.

Furyk was there both times — in fact, he played Sergio Garcia on both Sundays, winning in 1999, losing in 2012 — and his memories of those weekends are among the most vivid in his golfing career. On Crenshaw’s declaration that U.S. was destined to win (“I remember every damn word of it”) and on Europe’s dramatic rally (“One of the worst days of my career. I remember it probably even better, to be honest with you”).

If nothing else, it’s given him the blueprint for that rally — load up with your top players on Sunday, gain some early momentum, shake up the confidence of the other team, and hope that the final matches actually will have some significance.

To that end, he’s leading with Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, THE PLAYERS Championship winner Webb Simpson and Tiger Woods as his first four players starting at 12:05 p.m. local time (6:05 a.m. ET). Thomas, Koepka, and Simpson are among the few Americans who have been on the winning side this week. And while Woods is 0-3-0, he’s still Tiger.

They will face off against Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Jon Rahm, respectively, and it’s imperative that the American get started quickly. In 1999, the Americans won the first six matches; in 2012, the Europeans won the first five. A slow start would mean a quick death.

“Early wins tomorrow go a long way,” said Jordan Spieth, who is slotted to go out seventh against Ryder Cup rookie Thorbjorn Olesen, who sat out all of Saturday.

Of course, the Europeans know this too. Unlike Furyk, Europe’s Captain Thomas Bjorn wasn’t a player at either event, but he was a vice-captain under Olazabal in 2012. And he did play for Europe in 1997 when the Ryder Cup was held in continental Europe for the first time at Valderrama in Spain. The Europeans led by five points entering Sunday but had to sweat out a one-point win when the Americans won seven matches and halved two others.

“History will show me and everybody on that team that this is not over,” Bjorn said. “That’s what it’s all about. You go full bore tomorrow. Get out there and do all the right things, and this not over till you’ve got the points on the board.”

The Americans showed in 1999 it was possible to overcome a huge deficit. The Europeans showed in 2012 it was possible to do it on enemy territory. But the simple truth is that this outcome is much closer to being over than being a nail-biter.

Europe just need 4.5 points to reclaim the Cup, and they have the two hottest players this week in Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood. That partnership won all four of their matches, the first time that’s been achieved by a European pair. Bjorn has Fleetwood going out fifth against U.S. Ryder Cup rookie Tony Finau, while Molinari will face Mickelson in the ninth match.

Perhaps the biggest advantage for the U.S. on Sunday is that Molinari and Fleetwood will have different tee times.

“It’s been absolutely amazing,” Molinari said of his partnership. “It won’t be easy tomorrow to be separated.”

The Open champion has been the most spectacular performer this week but he knows not to take anything for granted.

“They’re obviously 12 great players,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy. But we’re doing it properly. We’re doing it the right way.”

Meanwhile, Furyk hopes to do it the Crenshaw way. In fact, the former Captain is here this week, having played an exhibition match involving other previous Ryder Cup captains a few days ago.

Furyk doesn’t have to imitate Crenshaw. He could simply have Crenshaw himself give another passionate declaration about fate.

Or as Furyk put it, “If he wants to wave a finger, he’s more than invited.”