United States Is on the Rocks

They have become the stars of the Ryder Cup, this unusual duo of a Spanish sensation and a Swedish cartoon character.

They are Sergio Garcia and Jesper Parnevik. They’ve played together four times and are 3-0-1, accounting for roughly a third of Europe’s 10 points.

As good as Colin Montgomerie has been--and even the loudest Monty heckler would have to admit he has been every bit the team leader Europe expected him to be--the kid and the kooky guy have been even better.

One is a teenager playing in his first Ryder Cup. The other is a bit flaky off the course, a tad inconsistent on it.

The latter would be Parnevik, who hit a cold streak that cost him the 1998 British Open, but has been on fire on the greens at the Country Club.

He made so many big putts Saturday that when one finally didn’t fall a fan tuning into his radio blurted out, “Jesper Parnevik missed a putt? Jesper Parnevik missed a putt?”

Hard to believe.

It didn’t happen very often.

You won’t see two golfers like these on the golf course very often, either. They’re quite a sight together. Sergio takes in the course with those big brown eyes, wide with wonder, and is ready to burst into a run or share a hug at a moment’s notice. Parnevik is a string bean topped by a hat with a flipped-up visor. He likes to smile a lot.

He’s had plenty of reasons lately.

The combination is clicking. The mojo is working.

If Parnevik hits a bad approach or second shot, Garcia cleans up with his chip shots or work around the greens. When Garcia sets everything up right, Parnevik finishes it off.

“Every time I need him, he’s right there,” Parnevik said. “Every time he needs to hit a good shot, he does it. Like on 14 today [when Garcia holed a chip shot]. He’s playing great. He’s doing everything he has to do. You can’t ask for anything more.”

Well, European captain Mark James would be among those who think Parnevik has provided even more.

“Sergio’s a big, big talent, but I have to pay tribute to Jesper because Jesper’s the perfect foil,” James said. “He’s a very, very clever guy, Jesper. And he knows exactly how to play with Sergio and when to let him loose and when to reign him in.”

Garcia shows his emotion out there. That’s why the galleries love him, calling his name and prompting him to flash the peace sign in response.

And this course is perfect for him because it has plenty of blind shots that lead to his signature sprints down the fairway to check on his ball’s location.

Garcia loves celebrating with and firing up his partner, either with shaking fists or bear hugs that lift Parnevik off the ground.

Sometimes they’re a little too friendly. They seem to chat and plot and discuss every shot, causing some grumbles that they slow play. Perhaps it’s a strategy the Americans should adopt.

So how did James arrive at the great idea to pair Garcia and Parnevik? He listened.

“They wanted to play with each other,” James said. “And if they feel comfortable with each other and tell me they want to play, the least I can do, really, is give them a chance.”

What they’ve given him in return is the performance of the tournament.

“I can’t feel better than I’m feeling right now,” Garcia said.

It was a dream day for Garcia. Shake hands with Michael Jordan in the morning. Spend the rest of the day hitting golf balls around a classically beautiful course. Win important matches.

Yes, we’ll count that afternoon match he halved by drilling a birdie putt on 18 as a win.

A refreshed Davis Love III and a revitalized David Duval led 1-up going into the final hole. America’s Phil Mickelson and Tom Lehman already had defeated Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke to win the first afternoon match.

The United States had to win the three afternoon matches to get back in the competition. Garcia stopped them in their tracks by nailing a seven-foot putt and halving the match. He snatched half a point from the Americans and gave his European team half a point, adding up to a one-point swing.

Justin Leonard and Hal Sutton had to settle for a halved match with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal, and Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie beat Tiger Woods and Steve Pate.

And now the Ryder Cup is over. With its 10-6 lead, all Europe has to do is go 4-8 in today’s singles matches. Even an 0-4-8 performance would suffice.

It’s thanks in large part to Garcia, the kid with “El Nino” printed on his shoes.

Shouldn’t he stop having so much fun? Shouldn’t he buckle and succumb to this intense Ryder Cup pressure everyone else talks about?

“Everyone thinks he’s just a rookie,” Parnevik said. “He’s been around a long time. There are no problems this week.”

Garcia played in his first major championship as a 16-year-old at the 1996 British Open and won a professional tournament in Spain in 1997.

Then again, unlike the other Ryder Cup players who walk off the course to the waiting arms of their wives or girlfriends, Garcia runs to hug his mother.

He sure had plenty of practice hugging Parnevik, which provided one more example of how they fit together so well.

“[Parnevik’s] a pretty good weight, so Sergio can lift him up,” James said.

Hoisting the Ryder Cup this afternoon should be no challenge at all.

J.A. Adande can be reached at his e-mail address: j.a.adande@latimes.com.