The USA will carry a three-point advantage into the singles in the 41st Ryder Cup after Europe’s veterans couldn’t sustain the comeback on the second afternoon at Hazeltine.
After Europe had thrilling drawn to within a single point with a battling effort in the second set of foursomes, crowned Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello winning four holes in a row to get a half with Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, it seemed as if Europe had all the momentum.
Instead some questionable decisions by European captain Darren Clarke and the always likely reaction of the Americans meant the ebb and flow of the contest turned in the home side’s direction again.
Clarke surprisingly opted to break up the Spanish partnership that had given Europe hope and his decision to recall Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood, his two veteran wildcards, for the afternoon fourballs, backfired badly.
Kaymer was unable to produce much support for the stalwart Garcia as the pairing fell to their second defeat, while Westwood played better than he had on Friday only to have a nightmare on the greens.
Short putts at the 14th, 17th and crucially the 18th cost the man playing his tenth Ryder Cup and Danny Willett at least a half point they should have had against JB Holmes and Ryan Moore.
It meant that the fabulous performance of Thomas Pieters and Rory McIlroy – despite almost non-stop heckling and even abuse from the crowd which went way over the top – was the only point of the second fourballs and the US lead nine and a half points to six and a half for Sunday’s play.
That’s a point better off than Europe were before the Miracle at Medinah four years ago, but it’s asking a whole lot for lightning to strike twice, especially with a US team and crowd that sense their long wait for a Ryder Cup win is almost over.
The gap really should have been just two points but for a disaster for Westwood and Danny Willett on the final two holes. Both couldn’t get up and down from the fringe despite being closer to the pin than JB Holmes and lost the par three to a par, the first lead the Americans had enjoyed in the match.
It looked as if Westwood would rescue the half at 18 when he hit a magnificent approach within three feet, but nervously barely touched the hole with his birdie putt.
Love’s gambles, in contrast to Clarke’s paid off with Mickelson finally finding some form in the afternoon, and his decision to keep Reed and Spieth playing against his stated policy of resting players for one session before Sunday.
Singles draw (starts 17.04 UK time and then at 11 minute intervals, US players first)
P Reed vs R McIlroy; J Spieth v H Stenson; R Fowler v J Rose; J Walker v R Cabrera Bello; P Mickelson v S Garcia; R Moore v L Westwood; B Snedeker v A Sullivan; D Johnson v C Wood; B Koepka v D Willett; M Kuchar v M Kaymer; Z Johnson v M Fitzpatrick.
