A thrilling comeback from Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello fuelled Europe’s continuing battle back from their opening morning deficit and cut the USA’s lead to one point in the 41st Ryder Cup.
The pivotal third session went Europe’s way at the death when the final foursome of the morning turned from a sure point for Davis Love’s US team into a salvage job.
The lead US pairing of Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed had again played sublimely together to be six-under through 12 holes against the Spaniards, who themselves had played tidily to keep the margin to four down with six to play.
However the young Texan duo suddenly hit the wall, and their lead had evaporated by the 17th, Reed having to hole a testing putt on the final hole to ensure the point wasn’t lost.
The half point allowed Europe to win the session and draw to within a point – just 24 hours after the USA had flown out to a 4-0 lead after their whitewash of the opening set of foursomes.
Earlier Europe’s top man Rory McIlroy had again played superbly with Blegian rookie Thomas Pieters for a 4 and 2 victory over Phil Mickelson and Rockie Fowler, while Justin Rose and Chris Wood had just about held on to a one-hole victory over Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson.
The other foursome meant that the US were able to retain their overall lead, Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka rather riding their luck over the piece against Henrik Stenson and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
But there was no question the Spaniards’ comeback – although only worth half a point – had turned the momentum of the match back in Europe’s favour. After the situation seemed almost hopeless, it felt like a win rather than just a half.
European captain Darren Clarke was thrilled with the way his team responded and the Spaniards’ battling qualities.
“Every other team member is trying to do the same thing,” he said. “To have that heart and that belief, to hang in there and come back from a near impossible position was a huge boost for the team.
“It was unbelievable matchplay, ebbs and flows all over the place. This event gets you like no other tournament does.”
Spieth and Reed, backed by a vocal and at times hostile crowd, stormed out of the blocks with three birdies on the first three holes, and the Spanish duo had done well not to be overwhelmed.
When Garcia missed a short putt for par at the 11th to go four down, it seemed only a matter of time, but the Americans were suddenly drained of energy with three successive bogeys halving their lead from the 13th.
At 16 Garcia’s ten foot birdie putt brought the margin down to just one up to the US and then at 17 there was even greater drama.
Spieth’s birdie putt from down the green of the short lakeside hole hung on the edge of the cup but didn’t drop, and then Cabrera Bello putted from just off the edge of the green and holed it to square the match.
Finally at the last the Spaniards made a solid four while the Americans had to get up and down from the back of the green to preserve a half point and their lead for the afternoon play.
