Dallas recap: Water on 14th hole douse raging Fireballs’ chances in Dallas
CARROLLTON, Texas – The par-3 14th hole on Saturday wrote the epitaph on the chances of Fireballs GC in the Team Championship in Dallas, who were playing outstanding golf until then, and again on Sunday in the battle for positions in Tier II.
Captain Sergio Garcia’s team looked all set for a clean sweep against the all-Australian Ripper GC late into their match. Garcia and Ancer had bounced back after losing their first two holes in the foursomes against Cam Smith and Matt Jones, and both David Puig and Eugenio Chacarra were ahead in their singles against Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman respectively.
Puig was 2-up on Herbert after 14 holes, but the Australian won the next three holes to beat him. That stretch included the par-4 14th hole, where Puig found water on the 153-yard hole to fall behind for the first time.
The hole then proved to be the nemesis for Chacarra as well, as he also hit his tee shot into the water to fall into a tie with Leishman. That was the final hole for the match and Chacarra led 1-up at that stage. Leishman later won on the 19th with a par.
Fireballs then came out all guns blazing in Sunday’s strokeplay, tallying 14-under, which was the second best total of the day behind Stingers’ 15-under. The all-Spanish speaking team had come into the Team Championship ranked sixth, and they had to be satisfied with 6th place in the tournament. as well.
On Sunday, Garcia shot a 6-under 66, while Ancer came in with a 68 and Chacarra with a 69. Puig, despite two double bogeys, made enough birdies to finish on 1-under.
“Obviously, everyone was disappointed yesterday, but I’m so proud of them. They fought so hard all year. And this week was no different,” said Garcia, who finished third in the season-long Individual Standings.
“It comes down to little things in golf. So, I only have all the good things to say about all my teammates and the way they played, and the way they fought hard throughout the whole season. It would have been great to to be in the finals and play like we played.
“We were all playing against really good players, and nobody wanted to make a mistake, but it’s easy to do on this course.”
Despite winning the Team title in Andalucia and finishing second in back-to-back events in Singapore and Houston, Fireballs were still sixth in the season’s standings.
“I feel like we played better than than what we’ve finished. We've been around that sixth spot all year long, and that’s where we have finished. I guess it is what it is, but it feels like we definitely could have done a little bit better. We will give it a better try next year and see what we can do a little bit better to improve in the team standings,” said Garcia.
SEMI-FINALS - lost to Ripper GC 2-1
Results
Singles 1: Eugenio Chacarra lost to Marc Leishman 19th hole
Singles 2: David Puig lost to Lucas Herbert 1-up
Foursomes: Sergio Garcia/Abraham Ancer def. Cam Smith/Matt Jones 3&1
QUARTER-FINALS - beat Majesticks GC 3-0
Garcia’s surprising decision to send out the two youngest members of his team - Chacarra and Puig - and pair himself with Ancer for the foursomes, proved out to be the right one when they swept their match 3-0 against the experienced Majesticks.
Chacarra was taken to the 19th hole before prevailing against Henrik Stenson, while Puig took down one of his European idols, Ian Poulter, 3&2. Garcia and Ancer were 1-down after the first three holes, but never looked back after that.
Puig won his first two holes, and then made birdies on the 11th, 12th and 13th holes for three birdies and wins in a row, later said: “I knew it was going to be tough, and I knew it was going to be intense. As a European, growing up, watching him and everything he did in the Ryder Cup, he has been a hero of mine. Having him on the team was something and I am aware of everything he has accomplished in Medinah and all other places. All these things spur you on.
“I knew I needed to play good, put some pressure on him. I think for me, the main focus was getting off pretty good on the tee. I had a slight advantage there because I am a little longer. I started off pretty well and that helped.”
Results
Singles 1: Eugenio Chacarra def. Henrik Stenson 19th hole
Singles 2: David Puig def. Ian Poulter 3&2
Foursomes: Sergio Garcia/Abraham Ancer def. Lee Westwood/Sam Horsfield 2&1