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Nick Faldo amazed at Ryder Cup quality

The level of play in the thrilling final holes of Ryder Cup matches on Saturday amazed even European captain Nick Faldo.

The final three contests of afternoon fourballs all came down to the 18th and featured bold shot making, near misses and enthralling putts diving into the cup, and the highest emotions seen in golf.

“I’m amazed,” said Faldo, whose team sliced a point of the U.S. lead on Saturday and trail the hosts 9-7 going into Sunday’s showdown of 12 singles matches.

The last two Ryder Cups have been lopsided romps for Europe, winners of three in a row and five from the last six.

Saturday’s competition was an exciting reminder of the high drama the Ryder Cup can produce.

“It seems like Ryder Cups kind of take things to another level,” the six-times major champion said.

“The putting and the shots have been amazing, everything. These guys are able to produce unbelievable stuff at times.

“Both teams I’m talking about. You look at the putts that Phil (Mickelson) was holing and Hunter Mahan and Justin Leonard, wow, Steve Stricker,” he said. “Pretty impressive.”

Faldo said the match play format had a lot to do with it.

“What the guys are able to do, you never see…pretty close to never. (And) you never see faces like that.

“When guys hole putts, the emotion, the sheer emotion of the faces, we don’t get in a regular tournament. The reactions we don’t get in a regular tournament. It’s completely different.

“In some cases, some of the shots we don’t get, as well. It’s match play. You go for everything just about.

“It is amazing.”