CHASKA, Minn. _ Remember that once dominant U.S. lead in the Ryder Cup?
Gone.
The Americans have picked up only 2.5 points since Friday morning's shutout over Europe in the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National in Chaska. With one session to play before Sunday's singles, the U.S. leads 6.5-5.5 and the grip is starting to slip.
The latest European momentum swing came Saturday morning in the foursomes matches. Rory McIlroy, once the new kid on the course, showed he is the clear leader of his side when he paired with Ryder Cup rookie Thomas Pieters for a 4 and 2 thrashing over Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.
McIlroy, who ended Friday with an emphatic eagle and gave the plus-sized crowd a bow, picked up right where he left off. He matched Mickelson's long birdie putt on No. 1 then struck when the Americans posted bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5 to go 3-up after five holes. Mickelson and Fowler showed some spark by winning back-to-back holes at the turn but then Pieters picked up some of McIlroy's magic.
The 24-year-old showed off a hot putter on the back nine, closing the match out with a birdie on the 16th hole.
Chris Wood reacted after making a put on 18 during the morning session of the Ryder Cup on Saturday.
It could have been a two-point lead for the U.S. if not for a mighty comeback over Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed from the Spanish duo of Sergio Garcia and Rafa Cabrera Bello.
Facing 4-down without a win walking to the 13th hole the Spaniards won holes 13, 15, 16 and 17 to get the match all square. The match only went to 18 because Spieth's birdie putt on 17 hung on the edge, refusing to let gravity do its job.
The U.S. picked up a point with Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka topping Henrik Stenson and Matt Fitzpatrick 3 and 2. The Americans won the first hole, and never trailed in the match despite being wickedly wild off the tee.
In the week's most even match, Justin Rose and Chris Wood broke through on the seventh hole to take a 1-up lead on Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson. The Euros picked up a point when the match finished by that score.
