Cabrera-Bello eyes Ryder Cup after sizzling start
Send a link to a friend
[August 19, 2016]
(Reuters) - Rafa Cabrera-Bello
boosted his Ryder Cup hopes with a sizzling start, earning a share
of the first-round lead with American Kevin Na at the Wyndham
Championship in North Carolina on Thursday.
The long-hitting Spaniard bagged an eagle and five birdies for a
seven-under-par 63 in the first round at Sedgefield Country Club in
Greensboro.
Cabrera-Bello and Na are two strokes ahead of a group of five that
includes Englishman Luke Donald, whose cause was helped by a
hole-in-one with a nine-iron from 163 yards at the par-three 16th.
American Jim Furyk, in his first round since carding a PGA
Tour-record 58 in the final round at the Travelers 11 days ago,
continued his machine-like ball-striking en route to a 66. He has
hit 38 successive greens in regulation.
Cabrera-Bello received an invitation to play in Greensboro where he
arrived in good form, coming off a tie for fifth at the Olympic golf
in Rio.
As much as he enjoyed representing Spain, he also wants to be part
of the Europe team for the Ryder Cup in six weeks.
He is currently on the borderline of earning selection, with the top
nine players at the end of next week making the team automatically
before captain Darren Clarke adds three more picks.
"Last week... was the first time I was really not playing for
myself, just playing for my country and obviously it's a huge honor
but also big responsibility and I wanted to do good and I was
pleased with my result," Cabrera-Bello told reporters.
"I would have wanted to win a medal but given how it turned out it
was a very good week and coming into this week, I felt the game was
good."
World number 27 Cabrera-Bello said he decided to play in Greensboro
this week instead of the European Tour's Czech Masters, because the
stronger field offered more ranking points, and gave him a better
chance to improve his Ryder Cup position.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/081916PICS/sports75.jpg)
Rafa Cabrera Bello hits an approach shot on the 18th hole during the
first round of the 2016 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country
Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
"I also felt that it was going to be easier to travel South to North
(America) than from Rio to Czech Republic, jet lag-wise," the
32-year-old added.
Cabrera-Bello is hoping to continue the Spanish success in
Greensboro, where the late Seve Ballesteros won in 1978 and Sergio
Garcia also lifted the Sam Snead Cup in 2012.
"Obviously an honor for me if I have a chance to put my name on a
trophy where Seve and Sergio are also part of it," he said.
"Last tournament I won, two Spaniards had just won before me so if
that record helps me get a little bit of luck and being in
contention, then so be it, great."
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Larry
Fine/John O'Brien)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/19/images/ads/current/ldn_business_directory_small2_2016.png) |