After another strong fourball showing at the 40th Ryder Cup, visitors USA had fought back to within a point of holders Europe at Gleneagles on day two.
The fourth session of the contest started with Europe 6.5-5.5 in front and they went on to equal yesterday's record-breaking foursome performance to go 10-6 ahead going into tomorrow's 12 singles matches.
Find out below how Paul McGinley's side dominated the afternoon session to move within four points of winning the famous competition once more.
Good afternoon everybody! How about that morning eh?! Europe started with a 5-3 lead but they've now been pegged back to 6.5-5.5 after, in truth, doing well to get one-and-a-half point out of the opening session.
Absolutely no time to waste, there's already one match out on the course and the second is about to get going at the raucous opening tee box.
Out on the course is the first match between Jamie Donaldson/Lee Westwood and Zach Johnson/Matt Kuchar. The Americans won the first hole thanks to an audacious chip-in from Johnson, but Team Europe have just levelled it up after the US found the drink at the par-5 2nd. All square after two.
The biggest roar of the afternoon so far is no doubt shortly after Ivor Robson declares "On the tee, Justin Rose!" The Englishman was simply immense this morning as he and Henrik Stenson won their third straight match in a birdie-fest against Kuchar and Bubba Watson.
There was a Ryder Cup-record 21 birdies in the match overall and 10 of those came in a row from Europe at holes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16! It was some of the best golf I've ever witnessed and Rose, in particular, seemingly couldn't miss on the green! This afternoon he is playing with Martin Kaymer as Stenson is taking a rest because of a dodgy back.
Whatever happens in this match, we will see at least one 100% record be extinguished. Rose has won all three of his matches, while American opponents and young rookies Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth are also unbeaten in their two games at Gleneagles.
After ending Ian Poulter's seven-game Ryder Cup winning streak in impressive fashion in yesterday's fourballs, Reed and Spieth fought back from two behind to hammer Bjorn and Kaymer, who is probably sick of the sight of them, 5&3 in this morning's fourballs.
The decision to omit in-form Reed and Spieth from yesterday afternoon's foursomes is one that US captain Tom Watson has been criticised for making. He hasn't made the same mistake again today, surprisingly leaving out Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson for both sessions today.
HERE COMES RORS! It's not surprising to see world number one McIlroy playing all five games at the Ryder Cup. He's actually yet to win after losing his opening match and halving his other two since. He played both matches with world number three Garcia yesterday before joining Ian Poulter in the fourballs this morning. This afternoon he is back with Garcia and they face Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan, who dealt with Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood 4&3 this morning.
It will be Furyk and Garcia teeing off on the odd-numbered holes in this match. Furyk pulls his into the left rough and Garcia follows him out there, but even though the Spaniard's drive is further left, he's actually gone so far left that he's avoided the really thick rough. Looks like McIlroy will have a nice lie.
JAMIE! Donaldson sinks a huge par putt at the 3rd to ensure that Team Europe doesn't fall behind in the top match.
Time for me to go and grab some lunch, but Darren Plant is on hand to guide you until my stomach can't take any more. Over to you, Daz...
Cheers Pascal! We are just about ready for the fourth and final foursome to get out onto the course. Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson will be keen to kick on from yesterday's success against Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, while Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Fowler are still looking for their first win after putting together three halves so far.
Over on the first green, McIlroy and Garcia have won the hole to edge ahead of Furyk and Mahan. Definitely not a "useless" start is it, Mr Faldo?
Basketball legend Michael Jordan has welcomed the final American pairing of Fowler and Walker onto the first tee. He makes Fowler look like a toddler.
SHOT! Donaldson and Westwood fell 1 DOWN on the fourth but Donaldson has just landed his approach on five to within two feet. We could be all square again in a few moments.
McIlroy and Garcia are on the green after two on the second and they hold the advantage over Furyk and Mahan who are in the greenside bunker. The European pairing look in confident mood so far.
After confirming their victory at the fifth, Donaldson and Westwood have arrived at the sixth with a little bit of momentum and Donaldson has sent his tee shot to within 12 feet of the hole. Kuchar's response is poor and Johnson will be playing the second out of the bunker.
Back to the second and Mahan and Furyk can only make bogey to allow McIlroy and Garcia to immediately move two ahead.
McDowell and Dubuisson have played two gorgeous shots to leave the Northern Irishman with an eight-footer for birdie. Over at the third, Kaymer has a putt for a one-shot lead. Is it starting to go Europe's way already?
McDowell failed to capitalise but Kaymer did and he and Rose are 1 UP after three. Over at the sixth, Kuchar has missed his par putt, allowing Donaldson and Westwood to sneak in front.
On that note, I will pass back over to Pascal for the remainder of the afternoon.
Cheers Dazza! So as things stand there's plenty of blue on board. Are we going to see a repeat of yesterday, where America edged the first session before Europe roared back in the foursomes?
Mahan is HUNTING the win at number three and his par putt drops to earn a hole back against Garcia and McIlroy. Europe's marquee duo are pegged back to 1 Up.
UPDATE! Plenty to update you on from the last few minutes. The second match is back to all square as Kaymer misses a par putt before Walker misses a tiddler on the second green to gift Dubuisson and McDowell a 1 Up lead in the anchor match. To the top game, where Johnson misses the chance to bring it back to all square. Summary below:
Donaldson/Westwood 1 Up thru 7 Johnson/Kuchar
Kaymer/Rose A/S thru 4 Reed/Spieth
Garcia/McIlroy 1 Up thru 3 Furyk/Mahan
Dubuisson/McDowell 1 Up thru 2 Fowler/Walker
Poor from both pairs at the 5th, which has been living up to its status as the hardest hole on the course this week. Kaymer and Reed both miss par putts so the match stays all square.
DUFF! We have our worst shot of the week as Walker completely FATS his approach at the 3rd after Dubuisson struck a beauty to a few feet. Europe about to go 2 Up in the bottom match.
Fowler might be a spring chicken, but Walker is 35 and making his debut at the Ryder Cup. He doesn't know just how much mental energy is required and is looking a little jaded in this session.
KUUUUUUUUCCCHHHHH bellow the American fans at the eighth green as Kuchar rolls home a birdie putt. The top match is back to all square.
Fowler and Walker unsportingly make McDowell hole out from about eight feet when he and Dubuisson had two putts for the win. Dubuisson sticks a beauty on the long par-3 4th right over the flag. Take that! USA respond with an ever better one that ends up pin-high.
A bogey 4 at the 6th for Kaymer and Rose, so in-form Reed and Spieth are now 1 Up in the second match.
McDowell's birdie try from that Dubuisson tee shot is just too high of the hole. Fowler is closer and his putt somehow slides past the edge of the cup. Europe still 2 Up.
Up to the 6th, where McIlroy has just curled in a beautiful tee shot at the downhill par 3. Mahan's is just off the back, but still in a decent position.
FURYK knows that McIlroy is close and holes from off the back. Pressure now on Garcia, who makes no mistake. A half in birdie twos and Europe stay 1 Up.
Spieth and Reed appear to be unstoppable in Scotland! They're now 2 Up on Kaymer and Rose after Spieth coolly found the hole for a second straight birdie at the 7th.
Donaldson and Westwood look to be much more comfortable playing foursomes than fourballs. The former sinks the birdie putt at nine to put them back in front going into the back nine.
Want a recap on the front nine in that first match? Of course you do. Our 'At The Turn' update is here.
By the way, the best shot in that nine came from Johnson on the first hole when he chipped in from the fringe. Here's a great photo of the moment the ball lipped in.
Donaldson/Westwood 1 Up thru 9 Johnson/Kuchar
Kaymer/Rose 2 Down thru 7 Reed/Spieth
Garcia/McIlroy 1 Up thru 6 Furyk/Mahan
Dubuisson/McDowell 2 Up thru 4 Fowler/Walker
So it's Europe up in three, USA up in one. As things stand, tomorrow's singles would start with Europe holding a 9.5-6.5 lead.
Another hole to Europe in the final match as Dubuisson taps home. Him and McDowell now 3 Up. Fowler and Walker do look a little spent. Another poor decision from Watson to play them after 54 hard holes already?
After a brilliant Westwood chip from an awful downhill lie, Donaldson makes no mistake with the short putt to win the hole. Europe go 2 Up in the top match.
I'm can't be the only one wondering at the moment why Victor Dubuisson has only played one match! He's on fire at the moment and just carved in a gorgeous approach at the par-3 6th. Are the US about to go 4 Down after six holes?
4 UP! McDowell loves those little putts and he makes no mistake after that delicious approach from Vic. Three birdies in six holes, which for foursomes is magnificent.
Birdies from both Europe and America at the 11th after two lovely approaches by Donaldson and Kuchar. Zach and Lee make no mistake. Europe still 2 Up.
To the 8th and Garcia, who has been put in the right-hand fairway bunker by McIlroy. The Spaniard digs it out and that's in the heart of the green, right near the ball of Furyk and Mahan. Good recovery.
Mistake from Reed at the 9th as he misses a simple putt to halve the hole. His and Spieth's lead back to 1 Up going into the back nine.
All smiles at the moment for Europe's duo in the third match after Garcia holed an important par putt to halve the 8th.
MISS! Rose, who didn't miss a thing all morning, has just pushed a short birdie putt at the par-3 10th. Moments after Reed and Spieth had gifted them a shot at the 9th, the Europeans give the shot back. USA back to 2 Up.
Speaking of Westwood, he and Donaldson are still 2 Up after 12. Kuchar's chip just missed going straight in. That would have cut the deficit in two.
Tremendous whack with the long-iron by McIlroy at the 9th. He slams it into the heart of the green and it looks like he and Garcia will be going 2 Up at the turn with Mahan and Furyk forced to lay up in two.
Mahan and Furyk get away with a half at the 9th as Mahan finds the cup with a 12-foot birdie putt. McIlroy/Garcia 1 Up at the turn.
5 UP! McDowell and Dubuisson are now five holes in front after another shambles from Fowler and Walker at the 8th. They took two shots to get out of the fairway bunker and never stood a chance. Should these two have played more than two matches over the first two days?
Halves in three in the McIlroy match at 10 as Rory rattles home a pressure par putt after being put under pressure by Mahan.
UPDATE!
Donaldson/Westwood 2 Up thru 13 Johnson/Kuchar
Kaymer/Rose 2 Down thru 11 Reed/Spieth
Garcia/McIlroy 1 Up thru 10 Furyk/Mahan
Dubuisson/McDowell 5 Up thru 8 Fowler/Walker
EAGLE! Incredible tee shot at the short par-4 14th by Kuchar and guess what? That's an EAGLE TWO for the USA as Johnson makes the putt from the back fringe. Donaldson and Westwood pegged back in the top match.
A messy, messy hole from Reed and Spieth at the 12th so Kaymer and Rose are back to just 1 Down. Remember, Rose is trying to become the first European ever to win five points in one Ryder Cup. He's got three from three so far.
Oh Sergio! Terrible putt from the Spaniard after a lovely McIlroy approach at 11 - he didn't even get it to the hole from inside 10 feet.
And Mahan taps home for the half on 11. He and Furyk just about hanging on in the third match.
A chance for a first win for Walker and Fowler, but the former misses with an easy putt at the 9th. They're FIVE DOWN at the turn!
Va Va VOOM! Dubuisson loves the par 3s at Gleneagles! He's just arced in a gorgeous approach at the 10th to a couple of inches. Fair play to Walker, he puts it just as close and that is good-good. Two birdies, wonderful stuff.
We have an American nickname for the final European pair:
Quick update on the first two matches: Donaldson has just tapped in for a half at the 15th and he and Westwood still lead by 1 Up. Kaymer had the chance to level the second game, but missed at the 13th.
Europe probably should go 2 Up in the 12th, but Garcia and McIlroy play the hole just as poorly as Furyk and Mahan. Every hole since the 4th has been halved in that match.
FINALLY a win for Fowler and Walker as they reduce the deficit to four at the 11th.
Reed and Spieth stay 1 Up as Kaymer again misses the chance to level it up on the 14th green. Rose running out of time to keep his winning streak going. At this rate, Reed and Spieth will go 3-0 for the event.
WESTWOOD taps home on the 16th after an excellent shot from Donaldson and Europe's lead pair are now 2 Up with two to play.
Westwood puts his tee shot at the par-3 17th in the bunker. Still, it will take a monumental effort from Johnson and Kuchar to earn a half-point. Lee and Jamie certainly enjoy the foursome format.
WESTWOOD AND DONALDSON WIN! Johnson and Kuchar can't win the 17th and that's the first point of the session for Europe. They're now 7.5-5.5 ahed. That point also means that Westwood now has more in his career than the great Seve Ballesteros. What an achievement.
The third match is now at the drivable par-4 14th and Mahan has wildly sliced it absolutely miles right. McIlroy heads that way too, but it's nowhere near as far and in the greenside bunker.
How big could this be?! Reed's par putt from the front of the 15th somehow goes past the hole and now America are winning none of the matches. Rose and Kaymer back to all square in the top match left now.
Great chip from Mahan to give him and Furyk a chance to scrape a half at the 14th, but McIlroy has a short putt to put Europe 2 Up.
UPDATE! And Rory makes no mistake. Here's the latest:
Donaldson/Westwood won 2&1 Johnson/Kuchar
Kaymer/Rose A/S thru 15 Reed/Spieth
Garcia/McIlroy 2 Up thru 14 Furyk/Mahan
Dubuisson/McDowell 5 Up thru 13 Fowler/Walker
You'll notice that Big Mac and French Fry are back to 5 Up in the bottom match. That's because Walker has just missed yet another easy peasy putt from close range. He should not be out there this afternoon.
All the tension is on the 16th green at the moment. Spieth has a putt to win the hole but it doesn't break as much as he thought and now Kaymer must hole from six feet after a poor first putt from Rose.
OH! HUGE, HUGE drama as Kaymer's putt rolls past, but then Reed, who has been brilliant with the putter so far at Gleneagles, somehow lips out his putt to win the hole. They stay all square going to the par-3 17th.
POINT FOR EUROPE! This one had been coming for a long time: Dubuisson and McDowell take down Fowler and Walker 5&4 - the same scoreline that they won by yesterday. Four-under-par for 14 holes, an excellent foursome score.
To the 17th, where Rose hit a poor tee shot just short of the bunker before Reed got a little lucky but hit his effort quite close. Kaymer has just played a good chip from a tough spot, but Rose now has to hole otherwise it will be 1 Down, one to play for Europe.
By the way, it's now Europe 8.5-5.5 USA. But you already know that because you've got our live scores page open in a new tab, right?
ROSE MISSES and Reed/Spieth take a one-hole lead up the last.
To the par-5 16th, where both McIlroy and Mahan have driven off the fairway. Furyk hacks a lay-up out of the fairway bunker before Garcia goes for it with the wood out of the rough and plays a decent shot into the bunker just in front of the green. A win for Europe on this hole will secure a 3&2 win and McIlroy and Garcia's first full point.
"Get in that bunker" Spieth tells his ball as he doesn't want it to sit down in the rough. It was a poor shot from the fairway, but he's got the result he wanted as it's in the trap on 18. Over to you, Justin...
Rose is also in the bunker. One ball is in a terrible lie up against the lie, the other is perfect in the sand.
And the ball up against the lip is... AMERICA'S! A real chance now for Europe to salvage a half-point. Reed will play first and he can't even aim at the flag from the lie that he has.
MCILROY AND GARCIA WIN! Europe is now 9.5-5.5 in front after the world numbers one and three record a 3&2 victory.
EUROPE SECURE A HALF! Europe will take a 10-6 lead into the Sunday singles session after Rose nervelessly holes the putt on 18 to secure a half.
That all sounds good and well, but remember, 10-6 is the same advantage that Team USA had over Europe at Medinah two years ago. We all know what happened there...
Rose was over the moon with that putt and so he should be, what a day he's had! He might not have the chance to go 5-0 in this year's contest, but he can go 4-1-0, which is some score.
If you're only just joining us and want to read up on each individual match today, head to our golf results page.
How the two days have gone when you look at the two different formats:
Fourballs: Europe 3-5 USA
Foursomes: Europe 7-1 USA
It's clear what the problem is for America. They played better in the more individually-focussed fourballs, but struggled to bond in pairs and didn't win a match outright over the two days in the shorter format. Some will point to the decisions and choices made by Watson, but ultimately it's down to the players and they haven't delivered in the afternoon.
However, Watson has seemingly made basic errors as the American skipper. He should not have played Bradley and Mickelson yesterday afternoon, but should have at least given them one game today. Playing Fowler/Walker was silly this afternoon, especially in the final match. It would have made so much more sense to play Bradley/Mickelson there.
I doubt that Watson will be cradling the Samuel Ryder trophy like this tomorrow.
When you compare Watson's choices to the more sensible, less impulsive decisions of McGinley, it's not hard to say who has captained better. Of course, about 95% of what matters happens on the fairways and greens, but that extra 5% can be a huge and has been over the last two days.
Watson will no doubt be reminding his players of what Europe achieved in the Miracle of Medinah. However, there is no momentum with the Americans like there was with Europe two years ago when Poulter produced that astonishing late-night Saturday display.
We should hear the order for tomorrow's singles soon and Watson will have to put out his best players as early as possible to get some red on the board. McGinley will counter with some of his stars too. Expect the likes of McIlroy and Rose somewhere around the fourth to seventh match I reckon.
Just in case you didn't know, all 12 players battle in one-on-one match play contests tomorrow, with tee times from 11.36am - 1.48pm.
@JustinRayGC tweets: "Spieth/Reed: 2 wins, 2.5 points. Rest of USA: 2 wins, 3.5 points" Yikes!
Has Graeme McDowell just accidentally revealed where he wants to go out in tomorrow's singles. This looks like it is supposed to be a direct message to someone else on Twitter, but he's just tweeted it publicly: "....need (think 4/5) and message you straight back. Much appreciated pal. Gmac"
Of course, it might mean nothing like that and he's just requesting how many pillows he wants on his bed tonight. Who knows. However, he has now deleted the tweet. If he is chosen to go out fourth or fifth then well, what do ya know!
The plot thickens:
American journalist @ShaneRyanHere has been blasting some of Watson's decisions on Twitter. He jokes: ""I put the boys in alphabetical order for singles for reasons that I'm not going to explain." #FutureTomWatsonQuotes"
INTERESTING! The president of the PGA of America has just tweeted this: "I propose we change format of PGA Junior League from Scramble to Foursomes. Might as well start figuring this out now. @pgaofamerica" It's clear that the Americans are not great at the alternate-shot format.
Plenty of reaction to another fantastic European afternoon at Gleneagles can be found on our Ryder Cup hub.
Westwood's point in the afternoon today saw him overtake the late, great Seve for most Ryder Cup points. Here's the top of the pile:
Faldo 25
Langer 24
Montgomerie 23.5
Casper 23.5
Lee Westwood 23
Palmer 23
Faldo 25
Langer 24
Montgomerie 23.5
Casper 23.5
Lee Westwood 23
Palmer 23
Watson's team talk tonight might just be the words "Brookline" and "Medinah" over and over again.
Billy Horschel, who is controversially not in the team after his sublime displays at the FedExCup, tweets his support for the players that are in Scotland: 'We have the right team, just have made too many bogeys and given holes to the Euros.'
BREAKING! THE SINGLES DRAW IS OUT! All 12 matches to follow...
SUNDAY SINGLES IN FULL:
McDowell vs. Spieth
Stenson vs. Reed
McIlroy vs. Fowler
Rose vs. Mahan
Gallacher vs. Mickelson
Kaymer vs. Watson
Bjorn vs. Kuchar
Garcia vs. Furyk
Poulter vs. Simpson
Donaldson vs. Bradley
Westwood vs. Walker
Dubuisson vs. Johnson
And with that, our live coverage of day two at the Ryder Cup comes to an end. Thanks for joining both me and Darren throughout the day. I'll be back tomorrow for the singles with a live commentary from 11am. See you then!
