Europe pulled level ... then the USA tore away again, with the wonderful Patrick Reed utterly irrepressible.
12.21am BST
So Europe, having suffered that nightmare session on Friday morning, battled their way back to parity ... only for the USA to tear away again. It’s almost as though they were teasing the visitors. But after some stunning play from Phil Mickelson, JB Holmes, Ryan Moore and Matt Kuchar, a nightmare yip by Phil Mickelson, and a genuinely stellar display by the outstanding Patrick Reed, the USA take a three-shot lead going into tomorrow’s singles. They just need to win five of the 12 rubbers to get their hands on the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008. Whatever happens tomorrow, it’s going to be memorable. Wherever your loyalties lie, you’ll make sure to join us, won’t you? Singles start just after 11am local time, 5pm in the UK. See you tomorrow!
Related: Rory McIlroy leads the fight to keep Europe’s Ryder Cup hopes alive
Related: Darren Clarke: Europe have won Ryder Cup from a worse position
12.15am BST
It just looks like delaying the inevitable. Neither Stenson nor Rose go close with their tee shots, while that man Patrick Reed caresses his over the flag to 12 feet. Spieth, who hasn’t really needed to do much today, dumps his tee shot in the water. So it’s down to Reed. And Reed is more than enough for Europe. Stenson’s birdie effort from 25 feet, snaking down the green, is tremendous, but it somehow stays out on the left lip. Reed can’t convert his ninth birdie of the afternoon, but that’s a 2&1 win and one of the great individual Ryder Cup performances. Patrick Reed, ladies and gentlemen!
2&1 Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (F)
12.09am BST
But rather incredibly, there’s still life in the final match! Patrick Reed has a 15-foot putt for his eagle; Henrik Stenson is just off the green in two. The crowd chant Patrick Reed’s name, over and again. He waves his hands in the air. And so Stenson trundles in a downhill chip from the fringe! It spooks Reed, who leaves his putt high on the right, and the match move on to 17! Europe are desperate for anything they can get now. A half-point here would be so precious for Europe. But we’re still in pipe-dream territory, for the US pair are still two up with two to play, for all the drama that’s just unfolded.
2UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (16)
12.03am BST
Nope! Shades of Craig Stadler at the Belfry in 1985! What an appalling yip! And an unwelcome place in Ryder Cup history for Lee Westwood. The USA win the final match by one hole, and the victory came gift-wrapped by Westwood. Willett provided the finger as he tied the bow.
1UP Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood (F)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (15)
11.59pm BST
Every half point counts, and now it’s fairly clear that Willett and Westwood desperately need something going up 18. They might get it, too, with Moore sending his ball through the back of the green, then chunking the chip coming back. Holmes makes his par. But Westwood, who really does owe Europe and his captain for the pick, knocks his second to three feet. Willett is within 12 feet, too. Two chances for a birdie and a precious half point, then! Willett lets his putt race by the hole. So it’s down to Westwood. Can he make the short putt and halve the match?
11.56pm BST
It’s Garcia versus Mickelson on 17. They’re both six feet from the flag, facing birdie putts. Garcia makes his, which forces Mickelson to make his if he wants to close out the match here. And it was always going in the middle! That’s a 2&1 victory, and the home side takes the overall lead again!
1UP Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood (17)
2&1 Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (F)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (15)
11.50pm BST
This is a simply amazing response to letting that lead slip by Patrick Reed! After what happened this morning, the young man would have been forgiven for crumbling. But he’s just carded back-to-back birdies to take this match away from Europe! He’s made seven birdies today! The performance of the week, without question. He’s an amazing player. Compare and contrast the dismal efforts of Willett and Westwood on 17; with one man in the water and another 20 feet from the flag, they both bogeyed to hand the hole, and perhaps the match, to their opponents. The USA are putting the pedal to the metal, and as things stand they’ll go into tomorrow’s singles in a very dominant position. It’s no more than they deserve for this comprehensive afternoon display.
1UP Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood (17)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (16)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (15)
11.46pm BST
There’s already drama going on at 17, of course. Holmes got wet, while Moore found the back of the green, tickling a 20-footer to within one turn of dropping for a sensational birdie. But it’s just par. Willett has a chip from the side of the green to win the hole; he duffs it, leaving his ball ten feet short, and he can’t make the putt. Which leaves Westwood with a downhill five-footer to halve the hole. He pushes it predictably to the right, and the USA are up in all three remaining rubbers! Even more so, now Reed has just birdied 15 to move the States dormie three in that match!
1UP Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood (17)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (16)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (15)
11.40pm BST
Sergio very nearly rakes in a 40-footer for eagle on 16. It doesn’t drop, which means Kuchar has a birdie putt to close out the match. But his 20-footer doesn’t go in, Europe win the hole, and everyone moves on to 17.
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (16)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (16)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (14)
11.35pm BST
Sheer brilliance from JB Holmes and Patrick Reed back there. They’re letting nothing slip, with the Europeans trying their damnedest to turn the scoreboard blue. Europe will be feeling a little concerned; as things stand, the home heroes will be taking a two-point lead into tomorrow’s singles, a format in which, historically, they get the upper hand more often than not.
11.30pm BST
Westwood bashes his ball out of sand at 16 to four feet; Holmes bashes his to two. Then Willett has a long look at his eagle, but doesn’t really hit it. He knocks in the four footer he leaves himself, though, and with Holmes’ putt conceded, that’s the hole halved in birdie! Meanwhile neither Rose nor Stenson can make their birdies on 14, but Reed can! They have arrested the downward momentum this time, and how they celebrate with relief! This is just wonderful to-and-fro match play. “Following Sky’s interview just now with Rory and Pieters, I think we may be on the brink of the latest major sporting scandal,” reports George Wright. “Europe have selected a brilliant golfing robot. Asked the obligatory question about how he was finding his first thrilling Ryder a Cup experience, the look on Rory’s face when Pieters deadpanned a ‘fine thank you’ was absolutely priceless!” There’s nothing quite like seeing a TV interviewer’s question treated with cool, calm disdain; Louis van Gaal looking poor old Geoff Shreeves up and down, all that.
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (16)
3UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (15)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (14)
11.22pm BST
So this has suddenly got very interesting indeed. A birdie for Phil Mickelson on 15, his team’s third in three holes. Martin Kaymer slides in a right-to-left 12-footer to halve the hole, but the Americans are dormie three now. Up on the par-five 16th, Willett is on the green in two, while Westwood and Holmes are in the sand to the right of the green having played the same number of shots. Moore, blessed with less power, is lucky not to find the water; his ball nestles in the thick stuff guarding the front of it. And back on 14, Reed goes closest with his approach; ten feet to Rose and Stenson’s 25. A couple of these matches could go any way. The Ryder Cup, ladies and gentlemen!
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (15)
3UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (15)
1UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (13)
11.15pm BST
You’ll notice that Reed and Spieth are now only just the one hole up. That’s because Justin Rose’s putter has suddenly got a little warmer, and he’s turned in a right-to-left breaker from 30 feet on the par-three 13th for birdie. Reed needs to chip in, and he chunks his effort. Reed and Spieth wouldn’t be human if they didn’t start to think about what happened to them this morning, when they shipped a four-hole lead. Their three-hole afternoon advantage has been whittled down to one. Can they respond and repel the comeback this time?
11.12pm BST
Koepka sends a fine tee shot at the par-three 17th sailing pin high, 15 feet to the left of the flag. Pieters is perhaps half the distance inside him. Koepka’s birdie putt thinks about dropping into the right-hand side of the cup, but it slips by the hole. Pieters calmly rolls his birdie putt in, and suddenly European nerves are settled! It’s a 3&1 win, and what a rookie Ryder Cup performance this is from 24-year-old Thomas Pieters! And after their nightmare start this week, Europe have hauled the USA back to parity, even if it’s only for a while!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3&1 (F)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (15)
3UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (14)
1UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (13)
11.07pm BST
Westwood’s second at 15 spins back off the front of the green. He’s got a slow uphill birdie putt, with a big right-to-left break. He gets the line, but doesn’t hit it. Willett lands his in the centre of the green, nearly spins it into the cup, but falls off the front too. He fails to hit his putt as well. Moore therefore has a chance from ten feet - and it horseshoes out! A let-off for Europe there. Moore holds his head in his hands.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (16)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (15)
3UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (14)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (12)
11.02pm BST
Kaymer responds to Mickelson’s attack at 14 with a fine approach of his own; he’s maybe a foot or so inside the American hero. Mickelson rattles in his birdie putt; Kaymer, out of sorts on the greens, lets his slither by. The US are three up and coasting in that game. Henrik Stenson finally makes a putt, his birdie effort on 12 pegging Reed and Spieth back to two up. But most of the tumult is on 16, where Pieters pars from the fringe, while Koepka takes two careful putts from distance for a birdie that further reduces Europe’s lead in that opening game! The nerves are clanging now!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (16)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (14)
3UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (14)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (12)
10.56pm BST
Lee Westwood sends his second at 14 to five feet. A wonderful approach, but he pulls the short putt he’s left himself, and the chance to grab a crucial lead for Europe flies by. As they vacate the green, Mickelson sends a spectacular second pin high to three feet. The third match looked too close to call ten minutes ago; now the USA are preparing to press their Footjoy firmly on European throats!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (15)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (14)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (13)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (11)
10.50pm BST
Matt Kuchar sinks the putt of the week on 13! A 60-foot rake with a big right-to-left turn right at the end, and it drops in the hole! Kuchar and Mickelson shake and shimmy their shoulders in the sexxxxx style, while Sergio is caught in the foreground shaking his head sadly. What a magnificent monster putt! Sergio tries to do something similar, but lightning isn’t striking twice. And another huge blow for Europe up on 16, as Rory finds his ball, in the middle of the fairway, with half of the mud in Minnesota on top of it. The result is grimly predictable for Europe, as his 4-iron goes helicoptering into the lake on the left. The crowd go wild. It’s down to Pieters versus Koepka; the latter on the par-five green in two, the former closer to the flag, but just off it in the first cut for three.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (15)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (13)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (13)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (11)
10.43pm BST
“Hey! Rose! You’re in the way!” There’s some eejit shouting through the silence as Henrik Stenson prepares to strike a putt on 11. Rose is almost hopping about with rage as he spins round to face the crowd with dagger eyes. But to be fair, Reed doesn’t look very pleased either, as he angrily gesticulates an unambiguous SHUT IT to his own supporters. Stenson misses his ten-footer; Reed, similarly put off, pushes his eight-foot chance to snatch the hole right of the cup. Well done, sir!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (15)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (13)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (12)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (11)
10.37pm BST
Koepka and Johnson aren’t giving this up yet! Pieters isn’t too far away from his putt to win the match, but doesn’t give the huge right-to-left break quite enough. Dustin knocks in his birdie putt, and Europe are now just three up with three to play!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (15)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (13)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (12)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (10)
10.34pm BST
Pieters finds the front of the green at 15, so he’ll at least get a putt from 20 feet for the match. Unless Koepka or Johnson do a Patrick Reed from back down the hole, of course. Koepka, from under a tree on the left, somehow fires his ball low, under branches and over water, onto the green, 30 feet from the flag. That insurance policy allows Dustin to attack, and he wedges to ten feet. A chance to extend the match. Meanwhile from the front of 12, Sergio curls a 40-foot right-to-left birdie putt through the shadows and into the cup! Only Mickelson can stop him winning the hole as a result, and he nearly rakes in a 35-footer of his own, but not quite. All those missed tiddlers, and then that! He has the good grace to wear a slightly disbelieving expression before breaking into a grin. And on 13, Willett can’t make his birdie putt, but Holmes certainly can; a brilliant two, and the second match is all square yet again!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 4UP (14)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (13)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (12)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (10)
10.28pm BST
McIlroy flays his drive at 15 out of bounds down the left. A punter living in a nearby house snaffles himself a lovely souvenir. More importantly in the overall picture, Lee Westwood pulls his tee shot at 13 into the drink. That leaves Willett on his own at the par three, in a match Europe can’t really afford to let slip. The Masters champ lands his ball pin high, but 20 feet away; JB Holmes sends his over the flag, and he’s in serious birdie range.
10.21pm BST
A birdie effort for Sergio on 11. It’s a fine putt from 25 feet, but it suddenly kinks to the left at the very last turn, and the US remain two holes up. Sergio spins and smiles an anguished smile. Meanwhile better news for Europe on 14, where Rory cracks a 383-yard drive down the track. A 383-yard drive! He’s in prime position to make a birdie that’ll win the hole, but his team-mate Pieters gets there first, and he doesn’t even need to putt out. Europe are dormie four in the opening rubber!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 4UP (14)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (12)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (11)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (10)
10.18pm BST
Stenson and Rose seem incapable of making headway into Reed and Spieth’s lead; there’s no spark. But they’re trying. Rose attempts to chip in from the side of 10, having gone pin high but slightly right of the green, but his bump and run stays out to the right. Stenson has a look at a fairly straight 35-foot uphill putt, but it’s always high on the right. They both seriously overcook their efforts, too. Reed and Spieth have done nothing on the hole, but Stenson needs all his mettle to knock in a four-foot par saver to salvage a half. Something will have to happen there soon, or that match is a write-off for Europe, Patrick Reed’s brilliant four-hole spurt having blown them away.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (13)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (11)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (10)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (10)
10.10pm BST
Koepka is closest off the tee on the par-three 13th. A wonderful tee shot straight at the flag, ten feet shy. Pieters is perhaps another six feet behind him, and rattles in his birdie putt. That’s big if it stems the bleeding, stopping the loss of a third consecutive hole; it’s absolutely huge if Koepka pushes his putt to the right, and Europe go three up again. Rory again with the COME ONs. His vocal cords must look like a butcher’s window display.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (13)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (11)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (10)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (9)
10.04pm BST
Some pantomime amid the theatre. Holmes knocks in a 15-foot birdie putt on 11. It suddenly puts the pressure on Willett, who is half the distance inside him. He steps away from the shot when the breeze gets up, a move which encourages all manner of whistles, coos and boos from the home support. That Peter wants a clip round the lug. But you don’t win the Masters unless you’re made of the right stuff, and Willett holds himself together to knock his ball straight into the cup. Europe holding onto that lead by their fingernails.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (12)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (11)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (10)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (9)
9.58pm BST
A fine second into 9 by Rose, over the flag, stopping 12 feet past. He’ll have that for birdie after Spieth duffs a chip and Reed can’t chip in from off the left. But it’s got a huge right-to-left break, and he doesn’t give it enough. Rose’s putter has been stone cold all week. An opportunity for Europe missed, and the US take a three-hole lead to the turn. Micklelson rakes in a snaky 30-footer across 10, and the US move two clear in that match. And Dustin does indeed seal the deal on 12, and suddenly Europe are looking a bit shaky this afternoon. The next couple of hours are so crucial; the hosts have the edge right now.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (12)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (10)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (10)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (9)
9.49pm BST
Dustin Johnson turns up the heat in the first game! He clips his approach to six feet, a magnificent shot. Rory, from the middle of the fairway, hits a hot one through the green. The USA are in a very strong position on that hole, and should Dustin seal the deal to make it two in a row, European nerves will start jangling like a mid-80s music-magazine cover mount.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (11)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (10)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (9)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (8)
9.42pm BST
Rose’s par effort at 8 is pretty lame, really. A waft that drifts off in quite violent fashion to the right, a spectacular detour given the short distance to the hole. A complete misread, with a push thrown in. Reed pops in his birdie putt, and that’s four holes in a row for the USA in the final match! Reed mimes a bit of weightlifting, and screams a COME OOOONNNNN. He is buzzing. The crowd respond with quite a bit of volume of their own. Meanwhile there’s a dramatic turnaround on the 11th green, where McIlroy bumps a slightly fortunate wedge off a ridge by a bunker to five feet, then watches as Dustin gets up and down from a tricky lie in sand, before missing his short one. That’s a hole back for the USA. Maybe the comeback is on after all. Lee Westwood rakes a birdie putt across 10 and into the hole to regain the lead for Europe in match two, Danny Willett no longer required to knock in the four-footer he’d left himself with a fine approach. And there should be scoreboard movement in all four matches, but Garcia misses another eminently makeable putt, this time from eight feet on 9, and the US remain one shot in the lead there. This is some afternoon’s golf!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (11)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (10)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (9)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (8)
9.31pm BST
Patrick Reed is blistering hot at the moment! One quiet but powerful swish of his club, and a tee shot at 8 lands in the no-nonsense style, three feet from the flag! Jordan Spieth’s follow up, pin high to 12 feet, looks positively average in this crazy context. Reed is such a fun player to watch. Though he was arguably even better at Gleneagles, when he was taking on the entire away crowd all on his own - and winning. Rose fires his tee shot to eight feet; with Stenson nowhere close, stopping the force of nature that is Reed will be down to Rose.
9.25pm BST
It’s three holes in a row for Reed and Spieth! The latter had driven into the water at 7, so it was up to his partner, and Reed didn’t disappoint. He knocked his second close, and was never missing the putt. JB Holmes, meanwhile, ripped a huge drive down 9, wedged to a couple of feet, and tapped in for a birdie that brings the second match level again. The US team were looking a little bedraggled a while back; now they’re beginning to slowly turn the scoreboard around!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 4UP (10)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (9)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (8)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (7)
9.21pm BST
McIlroy clips a fine wedge into 10, setting himself up with a birdie chance from ten feet. But he’ll have to make it, because Koepka has eased a delightful one to 18 inches. That’s conceded. It deserves to win the hole, really, but it doesn’t, because McIlroy rolls his putt straight into the cup, and lets rip a blood-curdling COME OOOOOOOONNNNN then a couple more COME ONs which qualify as restrained by comparison but certainly wouldn’t be acceptable in a library. That’s denied Koepka and Johnson the sniff of a comeback. Or at least put it on hold. Back on 8, Kaymer - who has contributed next to nothing so far this week - fires his tee shot straight at the flag. He’s got an uphill eight footer to win the hole, but he pushes it out right. That’s dismal. He’s been as poor a captain’s pick as Pieters has been fine.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 4UP (10)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (8)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (8)
1UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (6)
9.07pm BST
Sergio clips a wedge from 50 yards to 12 inches at 7. Even he’s not missing that; it’s conceded, and that halves Mickelson and Kuchar’s lead; the USA are just one up. That’s the least he could do after those missed tiddlers. Imagine how many majors Sergio would have won if he never had to use his putter! Meanwhile Koepka can’t deny McIlroy at 9; Rory taps in for a brilliant birdie and Europe are four up at the turn in that match.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 4UP (9)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (8)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (7)
1UP Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson (6)
9.04pm BST
Patrick Reed will see Rory’s stunner, and upgrade it to stupendous! From the middle of the 6th fairway, Reed lands his wedge 15 feet past the pin. The ball bites, jumps up and down a couple of times, spins backwards, and makes its sweet old way into the cup! An eagle from the fairway! What a way to win a hole! Which, incidentally, it’s the 100th Reed and Spieth have played together in this competition! Two holes in a row, and these young geniuses have shaken off their mid-day torpor, all right!
8.59pm BST
A stunner from Rory McIlroy on 9. He’s banged a drive down the middle of the fairway, then launched a short iron straight at the flag. “Be good.” It is good. It lands three feet shy of the cup, and bites. Not quite dead, but close. Brooks Koepka, on in regulation but 25 feet away, will need to do something nice with his putter, you’d imagine. (Dustin and Pieters have been faffing about.)
8.54pm BST
Yes, Sergio’s head is addled. He pitches to four feet on the par-five 6th, and has that to win the hole. But he misses another short one, high on the left, a pull. Europe remain two down in that match, and Sergio wears a drained, haunted expression. That’s three terrible yips today. He needs to put those behind him. He’s not very good at putting things behind him, though, is he. Po’ Sergio. Po’ Sergio’s a-cold. Meanwhile a crazy moment for Danny Willett down 7. He’s in the rough down the right, and his second takes a flyer. It’s off into the drink, but hits something hard in the hazard betwixt hole and water, launches miles into the air, and somehow spins back into the rough by the left of the green. Turns out, though, that he needn’t have used up a precious scrap of outrageous luck. Holmes and Moore had got wet earlier anyway, and on the green his partner Westwood rattles home a birdie putt from 40 feet. The hole’s Europe’s. Westwood walks off the green ten feet tall. Willett is merely chuckling.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (8)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood 1UP (7)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (6)
Reed/Spieth A/S Rose/Stenson (5)
8.47pm BST
Nobody goes particularly close with their tee shots in the opening match at the par-three 8th. Pieters is faced with a 50-foot uphill putt; for a minute he thinks he’s drained it, and moves his putter north to celebrate it, but is forced to pretend to scratch the back of his head pretty darn quick. Dustin has a look from similar distance, then misses his par putt. Koepka races his 25-footer across the green and five past the hole. He can’t make the one coming back. That gives Pieters a chance to clean up for par and the hole. Europe are three up. But the glamour pairing have pulled themselves out of their tailspin in the last match; a birdie for Patrick Reed on 5 brings that match all level. And maybe Reed and Spieth are finally out of a funk that started maybe three hours ago, and cost the USA a point this afternoon? Meanwhile Moore, Holmes, Willett and Westwood have been put on the clock. And the time pressure has forced both of the Americans to wing their tee shots into the water at 7.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (8)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (6)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (5)
Reed/Spieth A/S Rose/Stenson (5)
8.37pm BST
It’s still all square in the second match. Ryan Moore, who proved his match-play moxie last weekend by pushing Rory McIlroy all the way at the Tour Championship, pops in for birdie at 6; Lee Westwood, who missed a couple of daft ones from Sergio Range yesterday, matches his score by making a knee-knocking five-footer. The atmosphere at Hazeltine is beginning to bubble up nicely, with a few drinks having been taken, and the crowds slipping into Boisterous Mode. Magnificent fun. All part of the Ryder Cup circus.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (7)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (6)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (5)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (4)
8.30pm BST
Pieters three-putts from close range. That’s a terrible mess. But no matter! From the back of the green, McIlroy - who had got his partner to finish up first - rolls his birdie putt into the cup from 25 feet! Johnson and Koepka would have been hopeful of a win; now they need to make one of their putts for a half. Dustin sees his from 15 feet slide by, but Koepka makes no mistake, slotting his straight into the cup, a brilliant pressure putt. For the second hole in a row, Europe have denied their opponents after watching them go closest with their wedge. Better news for the States on 5; Garcia is in fact just off the back of the green, and he chips close for his birdie. But Kuchar gets up and down from a tight spot to the left, holing out from 20 feet, and that’s a half that’ll feel like a win in the wake of their drives!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (7)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (5)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (5)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (4)
8.23pm BST
Pieters is a confident young chap. On 7, Koepka wedges brilliantly to ten feet. So Pieters asks him to walk up to the green and mark his ball before he has a go himself. He fancies going close. Which, in fairness, he does, though not as close as Koepka. McIlroy and Johnson are on the green in regulation too, but neither are too close to the flag. Meanwhile back on the driveable par-four 5th, Mickelson flays his tee shot miles right, Kuchar way to the left. That opens the door a wee bit for Sergio, who finds it easier to get the ball on a green from 352 yards than he does into a cup from 24 inches. Europe need a momentum shifter in the third match; could this be a chance?
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (6)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (5)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (4)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (3)
8.15pm BST
Oh Sergio! He missed a tiddler on 11 earlier today, and now he’s yipped a godawful putt to the right of the hole at 4 from little more than two feet. That’s abysmal, and Europe will hope that doesn’t mangle his head this afternoon, because his playing partner Martin Kaymer has appeared woefully out of form this week.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (6)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (5)
2UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (4)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (3)
8.09pm BST
Four feet for Pieters, but it’s already a big putt in the context of the match. If he somehow denies Dustin, after the big man’s majestic wedge, it’ll give Europe a boost. And of course keep them two holes clear. And in it goes. The hole halved. No fuss, no emotion. He quietly bends down to pick up Dustin’s marker and tosses it gently towards his opponent, calm as you like. A picture of insouciance.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (6)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (4)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (3)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (2)
8.03pm BST
A stunning wedge into the monster par-five 6th by Dustin, who sends his ball screeching to a stop right by the flag. It’s not conceded, but in effect it’s a gimme. Rory responds by thinning an awful chip of his own straight through the green. It’s all down to Pieters, who wedges to five feet. Under normal circumstances, that would look exceptional; but Dustin’s just done that.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (5)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (4)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (3)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (2)
7.59pm BST
Moore can’t make his ten footer at 4. That leaves Willett with a chance to make the first mark in match two, but his putt from eight feet is always staying high on the left. Back on 3, Mickelson finds himself down a large slope to the left of the green. He chips up and sends his ball rolling serenely across 50 feet of dancefloor before stopping dead at the hole. Birdie. Sergio still has a chance to halve the hole, and 99 times out of 100 his 12-footer would drop. But it navigates the entire circumference of the cup at a comically slow speed, and resolutely refuses to drop! You’ll not see that too often, and instead of looking gutted, Sergio bursts into genuine laughter. That was very odd. Sergio unlucky, but Mickelson’s chip up was so good, it deserved reward. The US go one up.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (5)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (4)
1UP Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia (3)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (2)
7.53pm BST
The standard of golf right now is off the scale, especially when you consider the pressure everyone’s operating under. Do they put beta blockers in the water in Minnesota? Spieth finds the middle of the 2nd, pin high, 12 feet from the flag, and rolls the putt straight into the cup for birdie. But Stenson’s matched him shot for shot there, and rolls in his eight-footer to halve the hole. Meanwhile Willett and Moore have peppered the flag at the par-three 4th; birdie chances coming up.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (5)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (3)
Mickelson/Kuchar A/S Kaymer/Garcia (2)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (2)
7.48pm BST
Pieters drives the green at the short par-four 5th. First up, McIlroy gets up and down from the fringe to make birdie, and give his partner a free run at the putt for eagle. It’s a gentle left-to-right slider from 20 feet, and it’s always heading for the hole. The American pair don’t even get chance to putt for their birdies! Europe off to a flyer in the opening match.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 2UP (5)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (3)
Mickelson/Kuchar A/S Kaymer/Garcia (2)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (1)
7.44pm BST
It’s been some start to the second match. Willett looked to have won the second hole with a wonder chip-in from down the bank, but Holmes denied him with a fine birdie putt. Now the boot’s on the other foot at 3, as Holmes gets up and down from a bunker for birdie, only to see Willett trundle in a 12-footer to halve the hole. They’re all square; both JB and the Masters champion look in the mood right now!
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 1UP (4)
Holmes/Moore A/S Willett/Westwood (3)
Mickelson/Kuchar A/S Kaymer/Garcia (2)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (1)
7.40pm BST
Thanks to Gregg there. A couple of daft putts on 4, here. First Pieters hits his six-foot birdie effort way too hard, negating the break. Then Koepka prods with great uncertainty at a three-footer, and the tiddler horseshoes out. Chances spurned; Europe remain a hole up. On 2, Garcia knocks his second close; that’s a certain birdie. But Kuchar drains a 30-footer first, and Sergio can only secure a half. Then in the final match, Stenson’s birdie from long range spooks both Reed and Spieth, who both miss from inside 15 feet; are they still reeling from their awful collapse this morning?
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 1UP (4)
Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood (2)
Mickelson/Kuchar A/S Kaymer/Garcia (2)
Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson 1UP (1)
7.31pm BST
The final fourballs match is under way with four fine drives and absolutely no wobbles off the tee. It’s a high calibre matchup between Reed and Spieth and Rose and Stenson, whose dodgy knee was rested this morning. Oh, and speaking of being rested, Scott Murray is back. So I will hand back to the main man. Enjoy the golf!
7.28pm BST
Up on the 1st green, Sergio punches the air as Kaymer makes sure he doesn’t have to putt by halving the hole for him. He showed fantastic powers of recovery there having landed his tee shot in the sand. Meanwhile, Holmes holes a monster birdie putt to deny Willett and Europe a point on the 2nd. Oh this afternoon is going to be good all right. While, ahead of them on the 3rd, it’s birdies all round to leave Europe 1Up in that one.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 1UP (3)
7.23pm BST
Well, Willett has just gone and silenced the boo-boys in emphatic style! Having missed the green with his second shot on the 2nd, he has a chip over a little hillock and down on to the putting surface. He takes a little look at it and shows feather-fingered touch with a little dink, sending the ball on its merry way, where it bounces once and rolls up to the cup before dropping in to wild cheers! He clenches his fist and punches the air, displaying a wonderful smile. What a moment for the Masters champion! Is it enough to win the hole? We’ll see.
7.18pm BST
Did I say McIlroy might not have a disastrous lie? It’s bloody brilliant. His drive has carried almost 380 yards and landed just in front of a path on some flattened rough. He clatters his long-iron through a gap between some trees and lands it about 30 yards short of the green, almost carrying it over a little bunker. He’ll be very happy with that outcome. Koepka followed McIlroy to a similar location but his second shot is sliced way out to the right. Meanwhile, back on the 2nd Westwood has dug his second shot out of the sand and found the green. While, on the 1st Kuchar an García have gone pin-hunting. Kuchar landing his second a few feet from the pin, García just a little further away. The hole could be halved on a pair of birdies. Fine strokes, both.
7.10pm BST
Just moments after putting Europe 1up in the first match, the adrenaline gets to McIlroy and his drive on the monstrous 3rd goes whistling past the spectators on the left, hopping up off a stone path and dropping out of sight. Mind you, the terrain out there is very likely well trodden. So his lie might not be disastrous. Back on the 1st. Mickelson and Kuchar get their match under way against Garcia and Kaymer. Garcia’s been in fine fist-pumping form so far in this tournament. Of the four drives only Kaymer’s is iffy, taking a course out right and skidding into a huge bunker. He may well have to rely on his Spanish playing partner to half this hole. Mickelson has the best line into the pin.
7.03pm BST
On the 2nd, Pieters misses the green and gives himself a difficult chip from the lush semi-rough. His stroke lacks belief, though, and the balls catches the whispy stuff and slows down on the way to the flag. McIlroy’s approach finds the front of the 2nd green and it will be down to him to try to win this hole. He has a 20-footer uphill with a little left to right break on it. He gives it some juice, the line looks good … because it is good. Plop! In it goes. A birdie! Dustin Johnson to answer. He can’t. Europe 1up in the first match. Back on the 1st Willett finds the green with a wonderfully improvised iron off the semi-rough while stood in the bunker. Westwood, plays a regulation approach into the green as do Holmes and Moore. But Westwood’s putting is awry and it’s up to Willett to halve teh hole after two fine efforts with his putter.
Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters 1UP (2)
6.53pm BST
Back on the 1st the second match gets off to raucous start. The reason? US fans’ favourite Danny Willett has emerged to tee off with Lee Westwood in their fourballs match against JB Holmes and Ryan Moore. If he felt nervous about sticking his head above the parapet again after absorbing a good deal of abuse yesterday, it shows. He sends his tee shot careering out to the left where it nestles in some wiry stuff an inch away from a bunker. That makes his second shot a particularly tricky one. Over to you Lee. How he needs to up his game after his poor showing yesterday morning. Both Holmes and Moore find the fairway safely enough.
6.48pm BST
McIlroy has made a very cool start to the afternoon’s fourballs. His driver was a monster, leaving him with a short wedge into the pin. He shows lovely touch as he lofts his approach past the flag, spinning it back to within 15ft to set up a fine birdie chance and put a little bit of early pressure on the US pairing. Koepka attempts to salvage something from this hole with a chip from the fringe. It’s good but not good enough. Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson’s approach has left him 30ft away from the pin. He pushes his putt along the undulating green and it’s got the line … but is agonisingly short. Pieters, from off the back of the green, goes just as close. So McIlroy, from 15ft, to win the hole for Europe. He gives it some juice to secure the line … but it misses to the left. The hole is halved.
Koepka/D Johnson A/S McIlroy/Pieters (1)
6.36pm BST
Hello, Gregg here. Scott’s just scooted away to get some bread and water. I’ll keep you updated as best I can while he’s away. And I tell you what … this Ryder Cup is relentless isn’t it? The first match of the fourballs is already under way at Hazeltine. McIlroy and Pieters have clattered drives down the 1st. As has Dustin Johnson. But Brooks Koepka has set himself up for an adventure having walloped his tee-shot out into the rough stuff out to the left as he did this morning.
6.28pm BST
... pops it in. Never any doubt. Eh? But it bears repeating: Reed and Spieth had that match in the bag. It’s going to be very interesting watching their progress this afternoon. But after this morning’s efforts, Europe peg the USA back by another point. The fourballs promise to be immense.
Reed/Spieth A/S Garcia/Cabrera Bello (F)
6.26pm BST
Patrick Reed rolls his six footer into the centre of the cup! What a marvellous up and down. That leaves Sergio with this tricky tiddler. Remember 11? He’ll be thinking about it, for sure. He steps up, and ...
6.25pm BST
Cabrera Bello’s putt is a left-to-right downhill slider. After a good, long think, he gives the putt a decent clatter. It slips by the right of the flag, and stops three feet after. That’s going to give Sergio the shivers. Spieth squirts his chip out to six feet; Reed will be concerned too, but while he’s twice the distance away, he’ll not be half as shaky as Sergio.
6.21pm BST
Reed sends the second USA shot just off the back right of the green. It’s not far from the pin at all, but sat down in quite thick rough. It’ll be a tricky little downhill chip with not much green to play with. Sergio then finds the heart of the green. That’s a little timid from the centre of the fairway; Europe are a good 40 feet away from the hole. Could we be about to witness the events of the 17th green in reverse?
6.18pm BST
Cabrera Bello creams his drive at 18 down the centre of the fairway. Spieth hoicks his straight right. That’s where Johnson and Rose faced tricky second shots a few minutes ago. As the evidence of their efforts show, anything could happen here. What Reed does next could have serious implications for this year’s Ryder Cup, one way or another. This match was all over an hour ago. This is a ridiculous situation for the young American pair to find themselves in.
6.13pm BST
Oh Jordan Spieth! What a magnificent putt he strokes across the 17th green. It’s a gentle right-to-left slider from maybe 30, not 20, feet. It looks perfectly judged, but somehow it dies at the end and sits teetering on the right-side lip. How on earth did that not drop? How on earth? Couldn’t be closer. So dreadfully unfortunate. And then, naturally, Cabrera Bello whips the flag out of the hole, lines up his chip from 12 feet to the left of the cup, and trundles it in! From four down, Europe have hauled themselves level! This is astonishing! This - this - is the Ryder Cup.
Reed/Spieth A/S Garcia/Cabrera Bello (17)
6.10pm BST
Wood cozies a brilliant putt up to three inches; that’s a gimme and the hole in half. And with it, the match for Europe. Justin Rose made that a lot harder than it should have been, but there it is!
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 1UP (F)
1UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (16)
6.08pm BST
Sergio misses the 17th green with his tee shot! But he’s not far from the flag, just in the first cut. That’s not disastrous. But Patrick Reed, stepping up to the plate, applies a little pressure by firing his tee shot straight at the flag, the ball stopping 20 feet short. They’re further from the flag, but on the dancefloor. Meanwhile all Walker can do from off the back of 18, tucked up near the stand, is whistle his chip 18 feet past the flag. Wood will have a 30 footer for the match.
6.05pm BST
Reed fails to hit his 15-foot right-to-left curler by an inch. Garcia has a much straighter, and shorter, putt, and he coaxes it straight into the hole! Europe were four down in this last match, and now there’s just one in it! Whatever happens, I wonder if this will have ramifications for the afternoon matches? Spieth and Reed are out again, and right now they appear to be fraying a little. Will they run out of steam later? Meanwhile up on 18, Zach Johnson sends a flyer through the green towards the stand, while Rose knocks his pin high. It’s very much advantage Europe in this last match.
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 1UP (17)
1UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (16)
6.01pm BST
Walker and Wood have both blasted their drives at 18 miles to the right. Nerves kicking in big style. Back on 16, Garcia and Reed lay up. Spieth wedges to 20 feet, which gives Cabrera Bello a little chink of light. He sends his ball to 10 feet, but the spin takes it back another five or so. A slight advantage to Europe, perhaps, but to be honest it’s all down to the hottest putter.
5.58pm BST
Here are the pairings for the afternoon fourballs:
12.30pm (6.30pm BST): Koepka/D Johnson v McIlroy/Pieters
12.45pm (6.45pm BST): Holmes/Moore v Willett/Westwood
1pm (7pm BST): Mickelson/Kuchar v Kaymer/Garcia
1.15pm (7.15pm BST): Reed/Spieth v Rose/Stenson
5.55pm BST
A beauty from Walker, who trundles his chip to within four feet. Wood has a putt for the match, but while he sets it off on the proper left-to-right line, he doesn’t hit it. It’s close enough to be conceded, but that’s just a par, and Zach Johnson taps in to take this up the last. Meanwhile down 16, Spieth and Cabrera Bello have both wanged their drives into the rough down the right.
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 1UP (17)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (15)
5.51pm BST
Rose, to be fair to him, gathers himself quickly. From contrite mode, he quickly switches to gameface. As Zach Johnson knocks his tee shot at the 180-yard par-three 17th long and right of the green, Rose finds the heart of the playing surface, and leaves his partner a 15-footer for birdie. Jimmy Walker has it all to do from the rough at the back.
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 1UP (16)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (15)
5.48pm BST
Stenson chips from the drop zone at 16 to eight feet, and a contrite-looking Rose strokes in the par putt. A fine save, but though they force Zach Johnson to make his putt, the best they could do, it’s not enough to halve the hole. Johnson doesn’t buckle under pressure, he taps home for birdie, and what a gift Justin Rose presented to Team USA there! Meanwhile on 15, Sergio lags his birdie putt up to a couple of inches, and that’s another hole back for Europe in the final game. These two matches looked completely over not so long ago. Now look!
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 1UP (16)
2UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (15)
5.44pm BST
Spieth is behind a tree; Europe are on the 15th green in regulation. There’s little point in chipping out sideways, so Spieth fires low and hard through a gap in the woods, and tries to skim his ball across the water! Imagine the noise if that went close. As it is, the ball stays wet, and the Spanish duo now have a little hope. My guess is, they’ll regret that nonsense on the 11th green. But as I said, you never know.
5.40pm BST
What on earth was Justin Rose thinking about here?! He and Wood are two holes up going down 16. Walker and Johnson have laid up. So Rose decides to go for the green in two - and sends his fairway wood into a watery grave to the left. That is beyond stupid. Pointlessly aggressive, and Europe could pay a heavy price. Especially as Jimmy Walker has just sent America’s third shot to six feet. Oh Justin! Meanwhile a small chink of light for Garcia and Cabrera Bello back on 15, where Reed has flayed his drive into the woods down the left. They’ve bogeyed the last two holes; you never know.
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 2UP (15)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (14)
5.36pm BST
Rose and Johnson both have looks at birdie from the apron near the water at 15. Both go close; neither go in. It’s a half, and Europe are two up with three holes to play. In the final match, meanwhile, both pairings make an awful balls of 14. Garcia and Cabrera Bello struggle their way up the right-hand side of the hole, via wood and sand, while Spieth overcooks a greenside-bunker sand splash, and Reed misses the short one coming back. A half in bogey five. No good, but it’s less good for the Europeans, who are running out of holes.
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 2UP (15)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (14)
5.33pm BST
Stenson and Fitzpatrick can’t get up and down from the drop zone. With the US by the green in two, Snedeker then chipping up to four feet, it’s all over! The amazing, street-fighting American duo put the host’s first putt of the second day on the board. Four birdies in a row at the end blasted the Europeans away!
3&2 Snedeker/Koepka v Stenson/Fitzpatrick (F)
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 2UP (14)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (14)
5.25pm BST
It’s nearly the end of the road for Europe in the second match. From the centre of 16, young Matthew Fitzpatrick gets a bit quick, and sends his approach into the blue vagueness to the left of the green. Snedeker and Koepka, who have scrambled their way out of several potential disasters in a world-class fashion over the last few holes, are about to get their deserved reward.
2UP Snedeker/Koepka v Stenson/Fitzpatrick (15)
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 2UP (14)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (13)
5.21pm BST
Jimmy Walker drains a 25-footer across 14, and the third match isn’t over yet! The final one almost certainly is, though Europe finally get a little box of blue on that particular scorecard, taking advantage of Patrick Reed’s godawful skied, pulled tee shot at the par-three 13th. Suddenly that cock-up on 11, where they took three putts from ten feet, looks even more expensive than it did at the time.
2UP Snedeker/Koepka v Stenson/Fitzpatrick (15)
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 2UP (14)
3UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (13)
5.17pm BST
Mickelson finds the heart of the green. McIlroy lags up to three feet. Fowler can’t make the 15-footer he’s left with, and that’s a 4&2 victory for McIlroy and Pieters! They were in charge for most of that match, but boy did the Americans make them work for it.
Fowler/Mickelson v McIlroy/Pieters 4&2 (F)
2UP Snedeker/Koepka v Stenson/Fitzpatrick (15)
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 3UP (13)
4UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (12)
5.14pm BST
Mickelson, facing defeat, sends his drive at the par-five 16th behind trees down the right. Fowler can only chip out. Europe meanwhile reach the green in two big lashes. The time is nigh. Back on 15, the Snedeker-Koepka combination find another green in regulation from behind the trees. It’s Snedeker’s turn to thread one onto the putting surface, and now Koepka curls in a birdie putt from 25 feet! That is beyond preposterous, and yet genuinely brilliant! They should by rights have lost that hole; instead, with Fitzpatrick unable to reply with a 15-foot birdie chance of his own, they win it! The US are two up with three to play.
Fowler/Mickelson v McIlroy/Pieters 3UP (15)
2UP Snedeker/Koepka v Stenson/Fitzpatrick (15)
Walker/Z Johnson v Rose/Wood 3UP (13)
4UP Reed/Spieth v Garcia/Cabrera Bello (12)
5.08pm BST
Fowler chips to eight feet at 15, but it’s a futile gesture, because Pieters slides a 15-foot birdie effort straight into the cup, and Europe are dormie three in the first match! Wow, this back nine has been to-and-fro. Pieters punches the air in delight; there goes his usual super-cool demeanour! Meanwhile back on 14, it’s Snedeker’s turn to lose it in delight! Fitzpatrick had stuck a wedge stiff from 100 yards, Europe picking up for birdie. Koepka meanwhile was in the trees down the right. He finds a path out onto the front of the green, and Snedeker rattles in a 30-footer to scramble a half! This US pairing have been all over the place for the last half hour, but they’re giving away nothing! Such determination ! Elsewhere, Rose creams a beauty straight at the flag at the par-three 13th. A great chance for birdie from ten feet. Zach Johnson, forced to use a hybrid at a hole measuring 253 yards, knocks his tee shot to 15. Neither of their partners make the birdie putt, and then Johnson pulls a tiddler to gift Europe a crucial hole. And finally Spieth and Cabrera Bello trade 15-footers on 12 for a half. It’s all happening, and it’