An eight is not great for USA

Team USA made eight birdies in better-ball or fourball competition on Saturday and shot -5 for the day. Three bogies in better-ball is unheard of for amateur hacks, and completely inconceivable for the world’s top professionals.

Well, strap on your saddle, cowboys, because Team RWB did not make any bogies. Somehow, someway, John Merrick made a triple-bogey 8 on the par five 15th hole and Nick Whatney COULD NOT BEAT IT !!!!!!

How in any deity’s name does a pro triple bogey a par five? Better yet, how does he collect the skin on the hole from his partner? Absolutely incredible. Too bad the top USA players weren’t in China this week to bail out the overmatched Merrick and Whatney. America’s less-than-dynamic duo finds itself tied for 22nd, 16 strokes below first and a mere 5 blows above last.

The stories at the top are exciting ones, with Rory McIlroy again under the best type of pressure as he works to make a name for himself. Sweden’s team of Karlsson and Stenson, fully clothed, and Italy’s brother duo of Molinari and Molinari nipping at the Irish’ heels. Too bad Team USA will finish early and watch from the sidelines.