Europe stand on the verge of Ryder Cup history at Bethpage Black following another outstanding performance on day 2, opening up a commanding seven-point lead over a deflated Team USA.
Luke Donald's superstars won both of Saturday's sessions 3-1, with Rory McIlroy extending his unbeaten run in the contest despite some fearful abuse from the raucous crowd throughout a one-sided Saturday in New York.
Overall score: USA 4.5-11.5 Europe
Match | USA | 1-3 | Europe |
|
1 | Bryson DeChambeau / Justin Thomas | lost to | Jon Rahm / Tyrrell Hatton | 4&3 |
2 | Scottie Scheffler / Russell Henley | lost to | Ludvig Aberg / Matt Fitzpatrick | 5&3 |
3 | Collin Morikawa / Harris English | lost to | Rory McIlroy / Tommy Fleetwood | 5&4 |
4 | Xander Schauffele / Patrick Cantlay | beat | Robert MacIntyre / Viktor Hovland | 2up |
Match | USA | 1.5-2.5 | Europe |
|
1 | Scottie Scheffler / JJ Spaun | lost to | Jon Rahm / Sepp Straka | 3&2 |
2 | Bryson DeChambeau / Ben Griffin | lost to | Tommy Fleetwood / Justin Rose | 1up |
3 | Cameron Young / Justin Thomas | beat | Ludvig Aberg / Rasmus Hojgaard | 6&5 |
4 | Patrick Cantlay / Sam Burns | tied with | Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry |
|
Match | USA | 1-3 | Europe |
|
1 | Bryson DeChambeau / Cameron Young | beat | Ludvig Aberg / Matt Fitzpatrick | 4&2 |
2 | Collin Morikawa / Harris English | lost to | Rory McIlroy / Tommy Fleetwood | 3&2 |
3 | Xander Schauffele / Patrick Cantlay | lost to | Jon Rahm / Tyrrell Hatton | 3&2 |
4 | Scottie Scheffler / Russell Henley | lost to | Robert MacIntyre / Viktor Hovland | 1up |
Match | USA | 1-3 | Europe |
|
1 | Justin Thomas / Cameron Young | lost to | Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry | 2up |
2 | Scottie Scheffler / Bryson DeChambeau | lost to | Justin Rose / Tommy Fleetwood | 3&2 |
3 | JJ Spaun / Xander Schauffele | beat | Jon Rahm / Sepp Straka | 1up |
4 | Patrick Cantlay / Sam Burns | lost to | Matt Fitzpatrick / Tyrrell Hatton | 1up |
Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood played some inspired golf in the afternoon fourballs as they took down Bryson DeChambeau and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who became first player since 1979 to lose four matches in the first four sessions at the Ryder Cup.
The last match of the day also went Europe's way, with Tyrrell Hatton finding form down the stretch having been brought in as a late replacement for Viktor Hovland, who is a concern for Sunday's singles as he struggles with a neck injury.
When Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick edged out Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns at the last, it ensured that Europe will need just three points from Sunday's 12 singles to clinch the first away victory in the showpiece since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012.
Saturday Foursomes: USA 1-3 Europe
DeChambeau managed to get his first win of the week alongside Cameron Young in the top match, but that was the lone highlight for Team USA as Europe claimed another 3-1 win in the session.
McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood held off a late fightback from Harris English and Collin Morikawa to win 3&2, while Jon Rahm and Hatton won their fifth match together.
The unstoppable LIV Golf pairing also won 3&2 in a high-quality battle against Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, with Rahm pulling off a number of sensational shots along the way.
Scheffler and Russell Henley lost out to Bob MacIntyre and Hovland after a titanic battle in the final foursomes of this contest.
Saturday Fourballs: USA 1-3 Europe
McIlroy and Lowry defied the constant abuse from the crowd to hold off Justin Thomas and Cameron Young in a match marred by the unsavoury scenes from outside the ropes.
A number of unruly spectators were removed from the property, while McIlroy refused to putt on the 6th green until order had been restored in the galleries, forcing officials to bring in a battalion of state troopers to stifle the troublemakers.
But Lowry was fired up and took the Irishmen 2 ahead when he eagled the 4th and birdied the 5th, while McIlroy stepped up on the back nine in match of incredible tension.
Rose was also inspired in match 2, the quality of which can be explained by Scheffler and DeChambeau being a combined 9-under par for 16 holes and losing 3&2!
Rose was also involved in an altercation with DeChambeau's caddie, Greg Bodine, on the 15th green which escalated into a blazing row involving players, caddies and vice-captains en route to the 16th tee.
A clean sweep of the fourballs looked on the cards until JJ Spaun birdied 17 and 18 to earn him and Schauffele a 1up victory over Rahm and Sepp Straka, with Rahm losing his first match in fourballs or foursomes since 2018.
But the day finished on yet another high note for the visitors with Hatton making birdies at the final four holes against Cantlay and Sam Burns, and after he and Fitzpatrick peppered the pin at the 18th, they snatched Europe's sixth win of another memorable day.
Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay v Tyrrell Hatton/Matt Fitzpatrick 1UP (11)
Cantlay has a good opportunity to level the bottom match after a nice, floated approach the the left edge at 11, but he mis-reads the putt and Europe escape with a tie.
Justin Thomas/Cameron Young A/S Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (13)
Another 20-footer misses the target from McIlroy, leaving the door open for Young from similar distance.
It's a great chance to put some red on the board, but he leaves it short!
Rory saves par from 4 feet, and we're still all square
Scottie Scheffler/Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose 2UP (12)
DeChambeau grazes the left lip from 20 feet, and Fleetwood pops in his putt for birdie and the win.
What a performance from the English aces.
JJ Spaun/Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka 1UP (11)
It's a cardinal sin to lose a hole to par in fourballs, and Straka and Rahm both have testing par putts on the 11th.
But Straka holds his nerve to maintain the lead in match 3
Scottie Scheffler/Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose 1UP (12)
Rose wasn't best pleased to be labelled "Grandpa" by someone in the crowd, so he nails another towering iron to 3 feet at the 12th. He might not need to putt though, as Fleetwood is only a couple of feet further away.
Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay v Tyrrell Hatton/Matt Fitzpatrick 1UP (10)
Where did that come from?
Burns sinks a birdie putt from 35 feet, and he's denied the win as Fitzpatrick follows him in from similar range.
There's life in match 4 yet.
Justin Thomas/Cameron Young A/S Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (12)
McIlroy hasn't had much to shout about this afternoon, I'm actually pretty sure he hasn't made a birdie yet.
He's got an outside chance of one for a win at the 12th, and it's a dead straight putt, but he thought it would break from the left.
JJ Spaun/Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka 1UP (10)
Europe are favourites to increase their lead in match 3, but Rahm and Straka are putting for a tie after Spaun drains a monster from over 40 feet.
The European pair can't find a putt to match, and their lead is halved.
Scottie Scheffler/Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose 1UP (11)
Bryson is going bananas on the 11th green after binning a 12-footer for the win. Europe are still 1 up, but the American pair suddenly have momentum.
Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay v Tyrrell Hatton/Matt Fitzpatrick 1UP (9)
The runs of ties in match 4 comes to an end, and blue is the colour again.
Fitzpatrick has been superb from tee to green but went out with a cold putter.
But the short stick will feel a little warmer after he made a welcome birdie on the 9th to take the lead.
Justin Thomas/Cameron Young A/S Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (11)
Lowry needs to keep his cool to scramble a half at the 11th after McIlroy three-putted for bogey.
The Irishman almost chipped in, and the look he gave the unruly crowd after making a 4-footer for the tie was priceless.
McIlroy, meanwhile, looks spent - emotionally and physically. Let's hope he can find some magic down the stretch.
JJ Spaun/Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka 2UP (9)
Rahmbo has been a little quiet this afternoon, but he's just taken Europe into a 2up lead.
The Spaniard biffs a great approach in close at the 9th, and the putt for the win never looked like missing.
Scottie Scheffler/Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose 2UP (10)
Amazing scenes at the 10th, where Fleetwood hits a sweet approach to a couple of inches.
Scheffler is next, and his ball smacks into the bottom of the flagstick and cannons back off the green.
That's a tough break, and DeChambeau can't make a 20-footer for the half.
Europe go 2 up.
Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay A/S Tyrrell Hatton/Matt Fitzpatrick (8)
It seems like either Fitzpatrick and/or Hatton have had a putt to win every hole in the bottom match.
And it's no different at the 8th, where Fitzy shaves the edge for birdie once again.
Justin Thomas/Cameron Young A/S Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (10)
McIlroy hammers his best drive of the day miles down the 10th, but he tugs his second way left of the pin.
Lowry is out of the hole after a hooked drive, Rory two-putts for par, and Thomas and Young are unable to snatch the lead
JJ Spaun/Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka 1UP (8)
Schaffele scrambles a tie at the short 8th after a bad miss from Spaun. Europe stay 1up
Scottie Scheffler/Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose 1UP (9)
We're locked in for a birdie in match 2 with Scheffler and DeChambeau inside 10 feet and Fleetwood barely 5 feet away after a cracking second shot.
But all three putts miss the target, and Europe stay 1 up at the turn.
Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay A/S Tyrrell Hatton/Matt Fitzpatrick (7)
The English pair should be a couple of holes up by now, but another two chances from mid-range are passed up on the 7th, and Burns halves the hole with a solid par.
"I’ve had some issues with a neck injury on and off for the last two months. I took some painkillers on the 7th hole and then got some treatment from Matt Roberts, the physio, on the 10th tee box.
"It stayed the same for the remainder of the match after that. But I came in and rested up and got some more treatment and when I went back out onto the range, I tried hitting some shots trying to build up to the driver. I hit three or four hard ones and it just got worse.
"I didn’t want to risk it for the match in case it got worse and I couldn’t continue, especially in fourballs when you are hitting every shot.
"I had to pull out of the Travellers Championship earlier this year because of the same issue. I played two holes and then I had to pull out, so I didn’t want to do that. I’ve been struggling with it a little bit since then. Not as bad, but similar over the last few months.
"I’m going to get some treatment this afternoon and tonight and hopefully I will be ok for the singles tomorrow."
Justin Thomas/Cameron Young A/S Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (9)
Goodness me, there is now a huge police presence accompanying the top match.
You can't see the ropes for NYPD officers and state troopers, let's hope that calms things down a little.
JJ Spaun/Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka 1UP (7)
Rahm is looking a little jaded, unsurprising given his exploits this week.
But Sepp Straka has stepped up in a big way, and he has Luke Donald fist pumping on the 7th after a birdie puts the blues in front.
Justin Thomas/Cameron Young A/S Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (9)
Thomas is working hard to shut the crowd up every time McIlroy and Lowry are about to play, fair play to him.
And he gets a nice read from Rory on the 9th and bins one from 20 feet.
Lowry has 7 feet to stay in front, but it lips out on the left side. Cue the noise!
Scottie Scheffler/Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose 1UP
What was that about putts not dropping?
Bryson topped his from the back fringe, Scheffler comes up short, but Rose shows them how it's done.
That's another birdie for the old-timer, and it takes Europe into the lead
Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay A/S Tyrrell Hatton/Matt Fitzpatrick (6)
As we saw yesterday, we're now in a spell where just about everyone is struggling on the greens.
Hatton is the latest victim, he's got a great chance to win the 6th but he's allowed too much break.
JJ Spaun/Xander Schauffele A/S Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka (6)
Nice birdie at the 6th from Straka, who has been an excellent partner for Rahm this week.
Schauffele needs to hole from 6 feet to stay all square, and it disappears.
