VERSAILLES, France, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Briton Mark Fosterrealised a burning ambition on Thursday but his debut forBritain and Ireland in the Seve Trophy went much like hisEuropean Tour season.
His first chance to play professionally with clubmate andworld number two Lee Westwood ended in a one-hole defeat byItaly’s Francesco Molinari and Dane Anders Hansen of ContinentalEurope.
The 36-year-old Foster played amateur golf with Westwood outof the Worksop club and both players turned pro in the mid-90s.
But their careers have since taken totally different paths,with Westwood briefly reaching the top of the rankings andearning 22 million pounds more than his fellow Englishman, whois 126th in the world.
Foster’s debut in matchplay team golf should have been ared-letter day but it all turned sour, just as several chancesto add to his sole tour win in 2003 have this year, right at thedeath.
One-up with four holes to go, the English pair lost the 15thand from there 2010 Ryder Cup player Molinari and twice EuropeanPGA champion Hansen would not be shaken. A 15-foot birdie puttby Molinari on the last cancelled out Westwood’s birdie toclinch the continentals’ only point.
“We were going well but I presume that is what team golf islike,” Foster told Reuters.
“I played my part with three good birdies but I just didn’tputt well and missed four chances to win holes.
“it was a good experience playing with Lee at last as a proand I hope I’ll get more chances. I know he’s hit the highs,while my career has never taken off so well, but I won’t mindbeing a late starter.”
Foster got his wish when Britain and Ireland captain PaulMcGinley kept him with Westwood for Friday’s second round offourballs.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)