The eagerly anticipated Reignwood Icons of Football kicked off this morning as Team England raced into an emphatic early lead, ending the opening fourballs session 17-3 ahead at Robinswood Golf Club.
Team World applied the early pressure, with Gabriel Batistuta and Gianfranco Zola beating John Terry and Theo Walcott 4-2 before Hamit Altintop and Nemanja Vidic kept the momentum going with a hard-fought 5-4 victory over Joe Hart and Phil Jones to put their team 3-0 up overall.
Paul Ince and Robbie Fowler were pegged back on the last –where double points are on offer - as David Ginola and Patrick Berger rescued a 4-4 draw, having been behind for the whole match. But the tide turned in dramatic fashion as the final three matches concluded. Lee Sharpe and Phil Jagielka were 5-1 victors over Carlos Tevez and Diego Forlan before the talented duo of Jimmy Bullard and Jermain Jenas put Nigel De Jong and Ronald De Boer to the sword with an eye watering 8-1 win. Former Man Utd teammates Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham rounded off the blistering comeback with a 7-1 triumph over Ruud Gullit and Luis Figo.
“I did not expect anything like this,” said crowd favourite Bullard. “I was at the Belfry a few years ago but this is another level, being inside the ropes, it’s unbelievable. The golf course is absolutely immaculate and just competing in an event of this magnitude, it’s a special feeling!”
Team World will be looking to fight back in this afternoon's crucial Alternate Shot session. Here are the pairings:
Session 2 Pairings:
Paul Ince & Robbie Fowler
Vs
Gabriel Batistuta & Carlos Tevez
Joe Hart & Phil Jones
Vs
Diego Forlan & Nemanja Vidić
John Terry & Jimmy Bullard
Vs
Hamit Altintop & Nigel De Jong
Theo Walcott & Jermaine Jenas
Vs
Gianfranco Zola & Patrik Berger
Phil Jagielka & Paul Scholes
Vs
Ronald de Boer & Ruud Gullit
Teddy Sheringham & Lee Sharpe
Vs
Luis Figo & David Ginola
