This And That From 2012 Ryder Cup Friday

A thrilling day of Ryder Cup golf that featured a bit of something for everyone, confirming the place of match play, team play and no rough as the best things in golf. The U.S.A. takes a 5-3 lead into Saturday's play.

Doug Ferguson's game story leads with Keegan Bradley and his amazing Friday performance partnered with Phil Mickelson.

Gene Wojciechowski on Bradley's sticking "a very large needle into Team Europe's balloon."

Alan Shipnuck talked to the significant others to better understand the Keegan-Phil bond.

Amy Mickelson shared that confidence. "At one point Jillian said, 'Oh, I'm sorry, Phil's in the trees.' I said, 'He's used to it, he'll be fine.'"

Adam Schupak of Golfweek--btw, it's so moving to see him back on the masthead!--has the money quote from Keegan's girlfriend on the bromance: “They look at each other like they are in love."

Dave Kindred analyzes the ass slap.

We saw the Dufner fist-bump. Then we saw Mickelson slap Keegan's ass and we loved it all because we've seen a zillion sweaty, dirty baseball players do it out of habit but here, in golf, where everything is manicured, it's the last thing we expect to see. Would Hogan slap Snead's ass? Nicklaus Watson's? Woods Mickelson's?

As for Tiger, Lee Trevino would have sat him down after the morning play. But Lee also reminds us he lost the one time he was captain. Bob Harig with the details.

Harig also on Davis Love benching Woods Saturday is all about Tiger being a gimpy geezer not wanting to play anyone five matches.

"We just felt like we didn't want anybody to have to play five matches on this golf course," Love said. "It's a big, long golf course. It's tough. And exactly what we said was going to happen happened to one of our best teams. They played very well this afternoon, and just happened to get beat on the last hole."

Jeff Rude isn't so keen on the idea of benching Woods but otherwise loves Love's moves.

James Corrigan on Captain Olazabal's moves.

Olazábal’s selection for the afternoon session was inevitably questioned as he dropped Ian Poulter after the Englishman, in partnership with Justin Rose, had beaten Woods and Steve Stricker in the morning foursomes 2&1. But nobody should deny America’s excellence in the fourballs.

The Guardian's Ewan Murray on Nicolas Colsaerts and the round of his life. Murray also notes the key decision by Captain Olazabal to pre-determine his afternoon lineup to get everyone on the course Friday.

With that in mind, it seemed curious that Olazábal omitted García, Luke Donald and, particularly, Ian Poulter from yesterday afternoon's play. Even more notable is the fact that call appeared to be premeditated, made before cognisance of the foursomes had been taken.

Randall Mell with the American perspective on the amazing Colsaerts.

Martin Samuel thinks Rory McIlroy looked mentally exhausted late in the morning session and definitely in the afternoon.

Derek Lawrenson's Daily Mail game story also includes some stellar Getty Images from the day.