Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson and pal Chris Wood at war over Battle of Britain
US Open competitors are sharing a house this week but have the battle lines drawn up ahead of crunch Euro clash
PALS Chris Wood and Jamie Donaldson will be at war today as they watch England and Wales scrap it out at the Euros.
They are renting a house together ahead of the US Open — but have set up their own borders ahead of the Battle of Britain.
Welshman Donaldson was the man who clinched Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles, while Wood put himself in line for a first crack at the Yanks in September with his brilliant BMW PGA victory at Wentworth.
They would love to team up against the Americans at Hazeltine. But there will be no love lost ahead of them teeing off today in Pittsburgh.
Wood explained: “Jamie and I have been mates for years but he knows he is going to get bucket loads of stick while the match is on — and afterwards when I rub it in about an England victory!
“It’s great that we both have afternoon tee times in the first round. The six-hour time difference between here and France means we can watch the match at nine in the morning and then just concentrate on teeing off.
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“It’s not a case of us taking our eyes of the ball — the golf ball that is!
“It can be difficult to fill the time before a late start, so this match is a really welcome distraction.
“Although one of us, probably Jamie, might not feel quite so enthusiastic about it after the final whistle.
“We may be good friends and housemates this week — but there is no question of either of us being happy to see England and Wales draw.
“England need a win even more than the Welsh do after the first set of results and I’ve no doubt they’ll get it.
“I’m tipping us to win 2-1 — and Jamie can take it out on the golf course.”
But Donaldson hit back: “Chris has got it all wrong, I reckon we’ll win 1-0, with Gareth Bale doing the trick for us.
“The banter has been non-stop this week. We’ve had a little bet on the outcome, with the loser buying dinner.
“There are five of us in the house, our two managers and one of Woody’s mates, so I’ll be outnumbered. But I’ll make enough noise to compensate.
“And once the match is over, it’s straight down to business because we’re here for the US Open — it is a very big deal for all of us.”