USA 11-5 Europe
That’s the end of another long day, and another painful one for Europe. They’re staring down the barrel now, and although nobody ever takes anything for granted in the Ryder Cup, they’ll need to improve on the Miracle of Medinah if they’re to keep hold of their trophy ... and this team have never looked capable of anything like that. Pity poor Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, though, who have been clocking up the points in what looks a futile if admirable effort. Thanks for reading this blog. Hope to see you tomorrow for the USA procession!
USA 11-5 Europe
Fleetwood nearly trundles in a chip; Hovland nearly drains his long birdie putt. But it’s too little, too late, and they pick up DeChambeau’s marker. Easy in the end, though that end came quickly with a four-hole salvo.
3&1 Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (F)
USA 11-5 Europe
They’re extremely unlikely to even get that half now. DeChambeau lashes a sensational tee shot at 17 pin high to six feet. “Golf shot!” says Butch Harmon on Sky, and he knows a thing or two about it. Hovland finds the fringe on the other side of the green, but this looks done and dusted. Let’s be honest, this Ryder Cup is done and dusted. Europe simply don’t have the collective firepower to launch any sort of comeback. Although Simon McMahon has a plan: “Can Rahm and Garcia do the speed golf thing and play six singles each tomorrow?” Is it too late to announce Simon as a vice-captain, Padraig?
A huge moment for the USA on 16. Birdie for Scheffler, and it puts his team dormie two. The minimum requirement for Europe this session - a 3-1 win - isn’t going to happen. Even if Hovland and Fleetwood win the last two holes of the only match still out there, Europe will have to overcome a record second-day deficit if they’re to retain or win the 2020 Ryder Cup.
2UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (16)
USA 10-5 Europe
USA 10-5 Europe
The irrepressible Morikawa birdies 15. McIlroy, who has offered precisely nothing this afternoon, can’t make his 15-footer for birdie of his own, and hands are offered. A rout. Johnson and Morikawa beat McIlroy and Poulter 4&3.
1UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (15)
4&3 Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (14)
USA 10-5 Europe
USA 9-5 Europe
Almost immediately, another point for Europe! Koepka’s attempt to win the hole with birdie at 17 slides by the right of the cup from 15 feet. Both Rahm, who had also found the dancefloor from the tee, and Garcia, who had chipped up close from the fringe, are effectively in for par, so Koepka whips off his cap and offers his hand. Rahm and Garcia beat Koepka and Spieth 2&1.
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2&1 (F)
1UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (15)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (14)
USA 9-5 Europe
USA 9-4 Europe
It’s Finau’s turn, but English can opt to go first, and he tidies up for his par. Lowry needs to make his putt from 12 feet to secure a precious point for Europe ... and he pours it straight into the cup! He yelps in delight; poor English, who pushed him to the limit there, bows his head. What a par from Lowry, though, up and down from distance! Never give up, kids. Lowry and Hatton beat Finau and English 1UP.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (F)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (16)
1UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (15)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (14)
USA 9-4 Europe
Finau’s wedge int0 18 digs its heels in as it lands on the green. No good. Hatton’s splash out of sand is no good either, duffed out into the fringe. It looks like everything will depend on Lowry and English. English does the Todd Hamilton at the 2004 Open thing, nudging his ball to three feet with a fairway wood. Hatton then goes again, but his chip trundles wide right. So much depends on Lowry’s putt now.
Lowry does his level best to keep himself in the hole at 18. He’s forced to take his medicine having driven into sand, and lays up. But his wedge in lands pin high, and he’ll have a 12-foot look to salvage his par, and most likely, the point. Hatton still has a chance to get up and down from the sand, of course ... while Finau could hole out from 50 yards or so and English has his chance from the fringe at the back. Would you rule out anything? You wouldn’t rule out anything, would you.
Finau is short of 18 in two. Much may depend on English, who arrows a long iron from the semi-rough over the flag and onto the fringe at the back of the green. That’s cranked up the stress on Hatton, who from the centre of the fairway finds himself in the position he was yesterday. He sent a heatseeker at the flag then; this time he pulls his second into the bunker on the left. He’ll have a clean lie, but with Lowry also out of position, this is advantage USA ... and if they nick a half point, it could be a killer blow!
Rahm has a 30-footer that snakes this way and that. It gently sways right, then left, then in! What a putt, and what a time to make it! Garcia throws his arms open in disbelief as the pair celebrate. Spieth nearly drains his effort from the fringe, but it doesn’t drop, and Europe are dormie two. Incidentally, Poulter and Morikawa have just traded up-and-down birdies from distance on 14. A couple of sensational wedges which are something of an afterthought right now with everything else going on!
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (17)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (16)
1UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (15)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (14)
USA 9-3 Europe
Ah, Sergio is stuck on a bank out on the right. He clips a gentle wedge over the flag to 12 feet. Rahm hits an average sand shot to 30 feet, and this will be a putting competition from distance, everyone having struggled their way up the hole. Meanwhile over on 15, Scheffler curls in a big left-to-right swinger from 15 feet for the win, blows out his cheeks in a WOW, chest bumps with DeChambeau, and the US hit the front after back-to-back birdies!
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (17)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (15)
1UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (15)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (14)
USA 9-3 Europe
“I didn’t even believe you could hit it!” Sergio seems in awe of Koepka’s smash out of an appalling position up against the lip of a bunker and behind a hedge that finds the centre of the green. Koepka doesn’t seem too sure how he did it either. Still no sign of where Sergio’s ball is, but we know Spieth is down by Lake Michigan. Spieth does what Spieth does, sending a chip 40 yards up the bank, over the flag, and stopping it in the fringe, 15 feet from the hole.
Neither Koepka nor Spieth cover themselves in glory with their seconds into the par-five 16th. Both way left. Rahm however is in sand on the left, and is only able to hoick his second to the other side of the fairway. Where’s Sergio? More on that soon. Meanwhile back on 17, English is only able to fly his chip up from the bottom of the bank and over the green. His next chip stops six feet short. Bogey is the best he can do. Finau is left with a chance to win the hole ... and he picks the right line, but doesn’t give the putt quite enough juice. Hatton tidies up for a half, and Europe are guaranteed at least half a point from the lead match.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (17)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (15)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (14)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (13)
USA 9-3 Europe
It’s Lowry’s turn at 17, but he’s in such a preposterous spot, his ball hanging off the back of the bank, Hatton elects to putt first. He misses his birdie attempt on the right, and grimaces in anguish. A couple of feet left in that, so Lowry takes an unplayable and tries to chip in. Nope. Over to the Americans.
Finau sends a forensic strike towards the flag at 17. The ball nevertheless rolls an awkward distance past the hole. Maybe 20 feet past. English up next, and he sends his tee shot down the cliff to the left of the green. Hatton sends a high 6-iron 12 feet short, which is doubly good news for Europe because Lowry’s effort topples off the back and instead of falling down the bank, snags in the grass halfway up it! That’ll be quite the test. Meanwhile on 14, Fleetwood looks in prime position for birdie and the win, 12 feet from the flag, but DeChambeau then gets up and down from 80 yards for a three of his own. It spooks Fleetwood into missing, and that’s a classic matchplay smash-and-grab, right there! This session is too close to call. The chance of any sort of drama tomorrow depends on the next hour’s play ... like the USA care about that, of course.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (16)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (15)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (14)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (13)
USA 9-3 Europe
Some big moments coming up here. English’s chip from the back of 16 rolls past the flag. Lowry cradles his eagle putt to kick-in distance. Birdie conceded. Over to Finau, who strokes in from 12 feet to tie the hole. Meanwhile on 16, Spieth doesn’t quite hit his birdie putt, which dies off to the right at the end. Rahm tidies up, and Europe hit the lead in match two again!
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (16)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (15)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (13)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (12)
USA 9-3 Europe
Sergio sends his approach over the flag ... and just over the back of the green. Over to Rahm, who claps a world-number-one effort to six feet! Huge putts coming up, and with Spieth to go first, he’ll have the chance to land one of those classic matchplay blows. Unless Sergio or Brooks intervene from further out, of course, but, you get the gist.
Lowry and English are both on the par-five 16th in regulation. Well, English may have just toppled off the back into the collar, which is a little harsh given he’d probably played the better shot of the two, Lowry only just squeaking over the bank at the front but rolling pin high to 30 feet. Meanwhile back on 15, Spieth draws a gorgeous second to 12 feet, forcing Garcia and Rahm into action. Can they respond?
Hole halved in three at 12, though - and please remember Europe will be clutching at every available straw - DJ yipped a tiddler for the par, forcing Morikawa to then mop up. A seed of doubt in the big man going forward? With McIlroy and Poulter three down and offering next to nothing by way of counter-attack, they’ll take anything.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (15)
Koepka/Spieth A/S Rahm/Garcia (14)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (12)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (12)
USA 9-3 Europe
Garcia is this close to draining a 30-foot right-to-left slider on 14 for birdie. Great putt. The only problem is, Koepka was a couple of inches inside him, and has been able to go to school on his work. He learns the line ... but doesn’t give it enough welly! The match remains tied. The tension is palpable, despite America’s six-point lead!
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (15)
Koepka/Spieth A/S Rahm/Garcia (14)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (12)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (11)
USA 9-3 Europe
Scheffler, having missed short right of 12, and with an awful lie, does well to lob up to the fringe at the back of the green. DeChambeau, down the bank at the back, flies the green, finds a pot bunker on the other side, and picks up. Neither Fleetwood nor Hovland look like making their medium-length birdie putts, leaving the door ajar for Scheffler to nick a half from the fringe, but the American’s putt never looks like dropping. Europe take the lead again.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (14)
Koepka/Spieth A/S Rahm/Garcia (13)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (12)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (11)
USA 9-3 Europe
Neither Scheffler nor DeChambeau can find the green at the par-three 12th. Both Fleetwood and Hovland find the dancefloor, but they’re not particularly close. Still, advantage Europe. Meanwhile up on 13, Garcia and Rahm take turns to guide chips in for birdie from the fringe. Nope. Over to Koepka, who having blootered a monster drive down the track, sets himself up with a 12-footer for birdie. No problem. It goes straight in, and the US are on a roll in this second match. Having been three down through 7, they’re back to all square. Europe, who need a minimum of three points in this session to have any realistic chance of pulling things around tomorrow - 10-6 the record singles comebacks of 1999 and 2012 - need to dig deep now.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (14)
Koepka/Spieth A/S Rahm/Garcia (13)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (11)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (10)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
English knocks his second into 14 dead. It means either Lowry or Hatton will have to sink birdie putts from the best part of 40 feet to halve the hole and keep hold of the lead they’ve had since the 3rd hole. Lowry’s stops apologetically short ... but Hatton sends a carpe-diem tramliner into the centre of the cup at warp speed! What a putt! Europe keep their noses in front ... just. How big could that be? So much depends on the next couple of hours. Sunday depends on the next couple of hours.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (14)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (12)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (11)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (10)
USA 9-3 Europe
Fleetwood needs to sink a 15-foot par putt on 11 to halve the hole. So much is in the balance now, with Europe teetering on the brink. He absolutely rattles it into the back of the cup. A sign that Fleetwood has decided to come out swinging.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (13)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (12)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (11)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (10)
USA 9-3 Europe
Poulter clanks a chip off the flag from 70 yards at 10. It nearly drops for eagle ... but doesn’t, and that ends up costing Europe, because Morikawa screws his second to kick-in distance as well. A share of the spoils, but for a second, if Poulter’s eye-bulging celebration was anything to go by, Europe thought they’d reduced their arrears.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (13)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (12)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (10)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (10)
USA 9-3 Europe
The US are coming right at Europe now, with extreme prejudice. If Europe don’t get their act together, and quick, this Ryder Cup will be all over bar the shouting, of which there will be plenty with these fully lubricated and understandably giddy patrons. Perhaps they’ll get some succour from the massive let-off they’ve just had at 12, Spieth’s birdie putt threatening to drop, popping back up, looping the loop, a full 360, and somehow staying up stubbornly on the lip. Pace did for that, though he hit it so straight and true it’s a wonder that it didn’t topple in. Awful luck for Spieth.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (13)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (12)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (10)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (9)
USA 9-3 Europe
Absolute bedlam at the par-three 12th, as Spieth sends his tee shot to ten feet, while both Garcia and Rahm dunk their efforts in the bunker to the right. The door flapping open here. The Spaniards were three up not so long ago; there’s a fair chance they’ll be hauled back to all square soon, with a third loss in five. Meanwhile on 13, Hatton and Lowry send distinctly average approaches into the green from pole position; Finau trundles in a putt from the fringe, and the US win their first hole in the opening match.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (13)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (11)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (10)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (9)
USA 9-3 Europe
I’d neglected to mention DeChambeau on 10. That’s because he’d pulled his drive miles left, then nearly sent his chip up over the other side of the green. Well, more fool me. He drains the 30-footer for birdie he leaves himself, and it’s enough to win the hole, neither Fleetwood nor Hovland getting up and down from 20 yards or so. Hovland had a brief run-in with a photographer before chunking a chip; he’ll need to simmer down after that blow.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 2UP (12)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (11)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (10)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (9)
USA 9-3 Europe
Rahm is this close to chipping in from the side of 11. He’ll have to settle for par, but it’s enough for the half. Scheffler also goes very close with his wedge, opening it up wide and tossing a Mickelsonesque lob to three feet from a tricky position down a bank at 10. He’ll surely make birdie, so it’s over to Hovland and Fleetwood, who are both chipping in from 20 yards or so.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 2UP (12)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (11)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (9)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (8)
USA 9-3 Europe
Finau nearly holes out from the fringe at the side of 12. That clears the way for Hatton to win the hole, but his birdie putt breaks to the right on its final turn and the chance to go three holes clear passes by.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 2UP (12)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (10)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (9)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (8)
USA 9-3 Europe
Hovland knocks in his birdie putt at 9, and deservedly puts Europe in the lead as the players hit the turn. Hatton pearls his tee shot at 12 pin high to ten feet, and with Finau right and English left, is in pole position at the par-three. But Europe are now three down now in the final match, with McIlroy and Poulter quite frankly all over the shop at 8. They’ve both been extremely disappointing this week, and neither man gives the impression he’s likely to spark into life soon.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 2UP (11)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (10)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (9)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (8)
USA 9-3 Europe
Another fine approach by Tyrrell Hatton, and this time he gets the opportunity to putt. Having sent his second at 10 over the flag to 12 feet, he strokes in for birdie, one of those putts that was always dropping from the moment it left the face ... and suddenly Europe are two up in the lead match! But it’s a winning birdie for Koepka at the 10th, Rahm’s effort having lipped out on the left from ten feet.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 2UP (11)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (10)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (8)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (7)
USA 9-3 Europe
DeChambeau sends his second straight across the fairway and into the hazard down the right. Fleetwood also flashes into bother, over the back, so when Scheffler finds the back fringe of the green with his awkward approach over a tree, the pressure is turned up on Hovland. The young Norwegian responds in real style, though, carefully landing his second pin high, leaving a six-footer for birdie! That’s quite magnificent, and a real chance for Europe to claim a second hole in a row.
DeChambeau seems a bit flustered at the minute. He took a couple of shots to get out of a bunker on the 8th, and now he’s sent a hysterical hook deep into the gallery down the left of 9. Scheffler is wide right meanwhile, so there might be a slight chink of light around the frame of the door for Fleetwood and Hovland here.
Shane Lowry is a popular player in the US, though that’s not stopping him yelling his COMEONEFFINGCOMEON celebrations at the gallery here! He rattles in a straight 20-foot birdie putt on 10 for his birdie ... but English was much closer, in Hatton County, and he rolls in his six-footer to halve the hole. Meanwhile on 9, neither Spieth nor Garcia can find the hole with their birdie chances, and that is that. And everything’s swinging this way and that, because on 8, Scheffler stabs very nervously at a three-footer to tie the hole, and Hovland’s par is enough to bring the match back to all-square.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (10)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (9)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (8)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (7)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
Rahm allows himself to be rattled by some cat-calls from the gallery. He sends his approach at 9 into the sand to the right of the green, and this is now looking like a Spieth v Sergio putt-out. Hatton meanwhile screws his approach at 10 to eight feet, while on 7, McIlroy makes a six-foot par putt, but in doing so gives Morikawa a perfect read of his birdie chance. In it goes, and the U-S-A chants ring across the course, ringing loudest perhaps in the lugs of McIlroy and Poulter, who are under the cosh now.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (9)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (8)
1UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (7)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (7)
USA 9-3 Europe
In the face of a 30mph wind, Spieth sends his approach into 9 pin high. Perfectly judged. Europe need a response here as well. The crowd are beginning to sense the tide turning back in their direction, as it has been for most of the week, and the volume is rising. So Sergio responds! He whistles his iron straight at the flag, and will have a closer look at birdie. Chances are this will be all down to Spieth, in fact, because Koepka tugs his second into a juniper bush. He wears the look of a man who could do with a stiff gin.
Morikawa crunches a delicious iron at 7 pin high to eight feet. The pressure on Europe now. McIlroy finds the green, albeit not particularly close to the hole, while Poulter is in sand to the right. Poulter splashes out to ten feet, but with McIlroy facing a 20-footer for his birdie, the Europeans may have to rely on Morikawa missing his putt.
Morikawa doesn’t even need to putt for eagle at 6. DJ makes birdie, neither McIlroy nor Poulter can roll in their 15-footers, and the hole is conceded. Meanwhile Koepka steers in his 12-foot right-to-left curler on 8 to reduce the USA’s arrears by a third. And on 7, Hovland and Fleetwood take turns to miss par putts from eight feet, and Scheffler tidies up to hit the front. A few holes went Europe’s way back there; now the tide seems to be turning back a little. A big few minutes for the USA.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (9)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (8)
1UP Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland (7)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (6)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
The US are in the box seat at 8. Koepka and Spieth pepper the flag, two good looks at birdie from ten feet coming up. Rahm is only just on the front of the huge green, while Sergio is just off the side. The hosts need something to happen in this second match; it could be about to happen soon.
Collin Morikawa pearls a drive at 6 that’s not a million miles away from his effective deal-sealer at the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park. A bit more of a right-to-left swing as it enters the green - see Harris English an hour ago - but it’s in the same ballpark. It puts him very much in pole position as the US look to bounce back after Poulter’s putt.
Scottie Scheffler pours in a 20-foot right-to-left swinger on 6 for birdie. But Hovland is up to the task of following him in. He holes out from 12 feet and the third match remains all square.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (8)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 3UP (7)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (6)
Johnson/Morikawa A/S McIlroy/Poulter (5)
USA 9-3 Europe
Dustin Johnson nearly rolls in a 20-footer of his own, but it’s Poulter’s hole! The final match is all square again. Up on 8, Lowry tidies up for a two-putt par from distance, enough to scramble a half. And on 7, Rahm piles the pressure on Spieth’s birdie putt by rolling in a 30-footer, and celebrating accordingly. Spieth pulls it left, spooked by a classic matchplay sucker punch! It’s doubly irritating for the USA because Koepka nearly holed his monster birdie putt minutes earlier, only for the ball to pop out instead of dropping. All good for Europe right now, but there’s a long, long, long, long, long, long, long way to go if they’re to give themselves even a sniff of a chance in the singles tomorrow.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (8)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 3UP (7)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (5)
Johnson/Morikawa A/S McIlroy/Poulter (5)
USA 9-3 Europe
Another sensational shot by Spieth, who uses the camber on the left-hand side of the 7th green to gather his ball to 12 feet. Garcia and Rahm have putts, but from nowhere near as close. Back on 5, Poulter drains a 30-foot birdie putt from the back of the green. He screams. His eyes bulge. Shades of Saturday at Medinah? No, let’s not even go there, not least because that’s not even won the hole yet.
So having given Spieth the big build up, he yips the short birdie putt he’s earned for himself. Apologies to Jordan and the USA for tempting the gods of golf like that. A big miss, because it means Sergio can tidy up for par and the half, maintaining Europe’s two-hole lead in the second match.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (7)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (6)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (5)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (4)
USA 9-3 Europe
Spieth flays a hopeless drive way left of 6. He’s on a bare lie, and has to fly his ball over sand and rough, then trundle it through a ravine. No problem! He bundles it up from 80 yards to six feet. This guy is the heir to Seve, make no mistake. The bother he finds himself in, the way he extricates himself from it! Oh, and speaking of golfing alchemy, DeChambeau rattles in the longest birdie putt of the four on 5, and match three is back to all square.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (7)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (5)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (5)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (4)
USA 9-3 Europe
Finau and Lowry take turns to tickle 40-foot birdie putts down the slippery green at 7. Both go close. A half in par. Back on 5, DeChambeau punches his third onto the green, his backswing hindered by that shrub. He’s left with a mid-range look at birdie, but Fleetwood, Hovland and Scheffler are all closer. Putting competition coming up!
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (7)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (5)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (4)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (4)
USA 9-3 Europe
To highlight how strong the wind is right now: Bryson DeChambeau has just given his driver the full monty on 5, yet his ball only went 262 yards. He hit a 417-yard tee shot here yesterday. Adding insult to insult, he sends his second towards a bush, and a sour look spreads across his grid.
Sad to say, English can’t convert for the eagle that outlandish tee shot deserved. Just the birdie, and it’s matched by Lowry, who celebrates the half in the usual vocal manner. The 2019 Open champ is well into this. Meanwhile everyone in match two has calmed down now. Koepka, Spieth, Rahm and Garcia take turn to underhit putts in the blustery wind, and everyone moves on, the Europeans still two holes up.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (6)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (5)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (4)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (3)
USA 9-3 Europe
We come in at the end of a row between Spieth and Rahm’s caddy on 5, as the Europeans try to work out where the Spaniard’s ball crossed into the drink. “I didn’t raise my voice,” insists Spieth, which suggests there’s been some shouting, maybe even a little effin’ and, who knows, jeffin’. There’s been a fair bit of old-fashioned debate this afternoon, a few nerves getting frayed. When the normally phlegmatic Spieth finds himself in the middle of a verbal brouhaha, you know everyone else is on a rolling boil.
Morikawa passes up a big opportunity to put the US two up in the final match. He whips his tee shot at 3 pin high to 12 feet or so, Hovland Country, but pulls the birdie putt a tad. McIlroy had a similar putt before Morikawa, giving him a read, but the Open champion couldn’t take advantage. Meanwhile on 4, Bryson knocks in a missable ten-footer for par and a half.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (5)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (4)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (4)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (3)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
One of the shots of the week at 6! Harris English drives the green at the 330-yard par four, the ball entering the front, the camber then taking his shot from left to right, gathering the ball to 11 feet! That’s sensational, and he acknowledges the roar of the gallery in his trademark style, with an understated regal wave.
For the third time this week, Rahm finds the water at 5. It’s with his drive this time, as opposed to the second shot, his foot slipping. Koepka might be in Lake Michigan too; if he’s not wet, he’ll be in some sort of bother. Spieth and Garcia’s tee shots are straight and dry.
Rahm makes one of the putts of the week at 4! A 40-foot rake that snakes left, then right, then a little bit back left again, rolling down the slope all the time. It puts a little bit of blue water between the world number one, his compatriot Sergio, and the top-drawer pairing of Koepka and Spieth (seven majors between them). If Padraig Harrington could press a button and take this session 3-1 right now, he’d be hammering it like a Konami Track & Field champion. Cutting-edge pop-culture references for the internet generation, right here.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (4)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (4)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (3)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (2)
USA 9-3 Europe
Golf can make the best of them look silly. DeChambeau’s long putt on 3 breaks miles to the left of the target, then trundles off the back and into the fringe. De-greened. Hovland rolls in his birdie putt, and Europe are up in three matches ... but down in one, because back on 2, DJ’s birdie puts the first splash of red on the board in this session. McIlroy had the chance of matching him, but lipped out from 12 feet.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (4)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (3)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland 1UP (3)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter (2)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
Advantage Europe on the par-three 3rd, Scheffler having pulled his tee shot into trouble down the left, DeChambeau leaving himself with a 60-foot birdie putt. Plenty of swing in that as well. Hovland, by comparison, is pin high, looking at an uphill birdie putt from ten feet.
The ridiculous to a different sort of ridiculous from Hatton on 4. He sends his second down the bank to the left of the green, then only manages to punch up into a bunker. Then he sends his sand shot across the green and over the flag, landing six feet past before screwing back, missing the cup by the width of a dimple. What a four that would have been! Two putts for English for the win, then ... but with the increasingly high wind buffeting the players, and occasionally oscillating the ball, that’s easier said than done. He leaves his first well short, then tugs the second. A half, and Europe breathe again. Par meanwhile is enough for Rahm to take the hole at 3.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (4)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (3)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (2)
Johnson/Morikawa A/S McIlroy/Poulter (1)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
Poulter and McIlroy are both outside Johnson and Morikawa on the 1st green. Hats off to Poulter, then, for rattling in a birdie putt from the fringe at the back. That earns a half.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (3)
Koepka/Spieth A/S Rahm/Garcia (2)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (1)
Johnson/Morikawa A/S McIlroy/Poulter (1)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
Hovland pulls a short birdie putt left of 1. That allows DeChambeau to tidy up for a half, which he does from close range. He then drops his putter and lays it on the ground, measuring out the length of the putt, looking at the Europeans with laser daggers. He clearly thinks he shouldn’t have been asked to make that one, though using a putter with an elongated shaft to make his point might not be the best idea. Meanwhile up on 2, Spieth creams his second into the green to ten feet, and makes the eagle putt to level up the second match. It’s going to be quite the afternoon all right.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (3)
Koepka/Spieth A/S Rahm/Garcia (2)
Scheffler/DeChambeau A/S Fleetwood/Hovland (1)
Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
The wind is beginning to pick up ... and much of it is at Shane Lowry’s back! Finau, from the front of the monster green at 3, rolls a fine right-to-left breaker from 60 feet to four. That should save America’s par, with English wet ... but Lowry rolls his birdie putt straight in from the fringe at the back, and it’s a birdie-birdie-birdie start for the big Irishman, who celebrates with a roar of great depth and feeling. Gauntlet down in style! To be fair, the Europeans have little to lose.
Finau/English v Lowry/Hatton 1UP (3)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (1)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland
Johnson/Morikawa v McIlroy/Poulter
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
It’s been a good Ryder Cup for Spain, if not Europe. Rahm and Garcia are at it again, too, the world number one and Europe’s leading points scorer (a low bar, admittedly) with a kick-in birdie at 1 to take the opening hole. Meanwhile trouble for the States at the par-three 3rd, English sending his ball into Lake Michigan, Finau stopping short. Lowry creams a lovely tee shot to 15 feet, and it’s advantage Europe there.
Finau/English A/S Lowry/Hatton (2)
Koepka/Spieth v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (1)
Scheffler/DeChambeau v Fleetwood/Hovland
USA 9-3 Europe
Steve Stricker is asked whether this is over already. You know the reply. Straight bat. “We’ve all seen what can happen in this event. It’s not over. Tomorrow is a big day and we’re not thinking that way at all.”
Here we go again, then! Europe needed a fast start this morning; they really need a fast start now. They need to take at least three points from this session. If they do that, they’d go into the Sunday singles trailing 10-6, which is the predicament they found themselves in at Medinah nine years ago. Yep, this is an exercise in straw clutching all right, but what are you gonna do? Shane Lowry has made an early statement, driving the 1st green on his way to birdie, then making another at 2. It’s only enough for halves, with Harris English matching him shot for shot, but small acorns, all that.
Finau/English A/S Lowry/Hatton (2)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
Day two fourballs
Here are the pairings for the afternoon fourballs (all times BST). I’ll be back in an hour to report on the early afternoon exchanges and everything thereafter.
- 6.26pm: Tony Finau / Harris English v Shane Lowry / Tyrrell Hatton
- 6.42pm: Brooks Koepka / Jordan Spieth v Jon Rahm / Sergio Garcia
- 6.58pm: Scottie Scheffler / Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood / Viktor Hovland
- 7.14pm: Dustin Johnson / Collin Morikawa v Ian Poulter / Rory McIlroy
In the meantime, some old-school entertainment...
Updated
USA 9-3 Europe
Fitzpatrick chips back up on 17, but only to 15 feet, and that won’t be enough for Europe either. Schauffele cradles one up, and hands are shaken. Another wonderful session for the USA is complete! Steve Stricker’s side only need five-and-a-half more points to win the Ryder Cup, and there are still two sessions to go!
2&1 Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (F)
USA 9-3 Europe
Updated
USA 8-3 Europe
Long deliberations on 18, as Hovland finds out where he can drop. Eventually he swipes one of the shots of the day to three feet, but it’s not going to be enough to save the day. Spieth bumps up pin high, and the hole - and the match - is conceded. What a turnaround! The Europeans were three up after six! Thomas and Spieth beat Hovland and Wiesberger 2UP.
2UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (F)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (16)
USA 8-3 Europe
Thomas’s approach at 18 hangs in the air and lands 50 yards short of the green. It looks for a second like a chink of light for Europe, but Wiesberger - who has to go for it - pulls his long iron into Seven Mile Creek, snaking down the left of the hole. And more bad news for Europe, as Westwood’s tee shot at 17 disappears over the bank to the left. Cantlay finds the dancefloor with a lovely carpe-diem tee shot, and both matches look shoo-ins for the States now, and doomed enterprises for Europe. That could also be the case for Europe’s hopes of retaining their trophy, because unless something stunning happens this afternoon, the 43rd Ryder Cup Matches could end in a rout.
Cantlay’s left-to-right curler swings a couple of millimetres too far, shaving the edge of the hole and rolling past. A chance for Westwood to keep Europe alive ... and that’s what he does with a perfectly judged tickler! Europe are on the brink here - no team has trailed by six points after three sessions since the Europeans joined the party in 1979 - but my goodness they’re battling to stay in contention.
1UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (17)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (16)
USA 7-3 Europe
Hovland’s drive at 18 finds the semi-rough down the right. Spieth finds the fairway, though it’s not his longest. Advantage USA, though. Back on 15, Schauffele looks to close things out by wedging pin high to 15 feet. Fitzpatrick might be a little bit nearer, leaving a 12-foot left-to-right slider coming back. Westwood simply has to make it, as nothing but a win will do if Europe are to extend this match.
Neither of these two final matches are over quite yet, and Europe need all the scraps they can. Schauffele nearly sends his drive at 16 into Lake Michigan. Not quite, but he leaves Cantlay in thick nonsense and the FedEx champ is only able to bash out in frustration. Westwood mishits his hybrid in, though, so Europe are well short in two as well. And up on 17, Spieth’s whip up towards the green hits the grassy face of the bank, falling back into trouble. Thomas has a go too, his ball wafting apologetically back down towards his feet. They concede, and will head up the last just one hole up. Can Europe somehow salvage a precious half point?
1UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (17)
3UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (15)
USA 7-3 Europe
Thomas once again sends Spieth down that steep bank to the side of 17. Wiesberger replies by arrowing one of the shots of the day straight at the flag, leaving a 12-foot birdie putt. The door slightly open for a chance to at least take this one down the last. Such are the modest dreams of Europe right now.
2UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (16)
3UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (15)
USA 7-3 Europe
USA 7-3 Europe
DJ lags his long birdie putt at 17 up to three feet. Then Hatton very nearly drains his effort from the fringe at the back, but it shaves the lip. Morikawa tidies up, a half in par, and that’s the first - but not, I’ll be bound, the last - American point of the day! Johnson and Morikawa beat Casey and Hatton 2&1.
2&1 Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (F)
2UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (16)
3UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (15)
USA 7-3 Europe
... and it’s a huge putt on 16, Spieth doing justice to JT’s glorious long iron. In goes the eagle putt, and they’re dormie. See also: the final match, with Schauffele whipping his approach at 15 to 18 inches! It’s conceded, Westwood can’t rake in the long birdie putt he’s faced with, and the USA are gently pressing their Footjoys on the European neck. What a performance!
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (16)
2UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (16)
3UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (15)
USA 6-3 Europe
Hovland chips up nicely to ten feet, Europe’s third, but he’s just outside the second of Thomas. “Thanks for the read!” quips some yahoo in the crowd. Wiesberger curls in for the birdie, so at least the question is being asked of Spieth, who will be putting for eagle from seven feet. Meanwhile on 17, Morikawa and Casey both set up decent birdie half-chances for their partners. Huge putts coming up.
Something of a result for Europe on 16, in the circumstances. Casey chips up close and Hatton tidies up for par, and that’s a score that Johnson and Morikawa can only match. So they hang on by the skin of their teeth. But it’s dormie two. And it’ll soon be dormie two, surely, in the third match, with Europe in trouble off the tee at 16, and Thomas having replicated Sergio’s earlier pearler, closing in on eagle.
USA 6-3 Europe
Berger can’t get anywhere near with the long par putt he’s left with, and he picks up the European marker. A fine win for the Spanish pair, who were three down after three! All smiles ... though it could all mean very little unless one, possibly both, of the last two matches turn around soon. Rahm and Garcia beat Koepka and Berger 3&1.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 3&1 (F)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (15)
1UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (15)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (14)
USA 6-3 Europe
Updated
All of a sudden, this is beginning to turn ugly for Europe. Hovland pulls his drive at 16 down the hill to the left of the fairway. Further up the hole, Casey sends Hatton into bother down the same bank, and Hatton can’t find the green with his punch up. It looks as though that match will be chalked up in red colours in a few minutes. A little better news for Europe on 16, where Koepka fails to get over a hump on the right of the green. He leaves the ball a good 30 feet short, while Rahm rolls up to five feet. This one could be over soon, too.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (16)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (15)
1UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (15)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (13)
USA 6-2 Europe
Berger can’t chip in from the back of 16 for an outrageous birdie, and Europe do in deed win the hole as a result of Garcia’s genius. Dormie two. Sergio then finds the 17th green. Nowhere near the flag, but nowhere near danger on the left. Berger finds the fringe. And a crucial moment on 15, where Wiesberger leaves Hovland behind a bush. Hovland does well to punch back out onto the fairway, leaving Wiesberger the chance to wedge close ... but Hovland then misses the short par putt, and all of a sudden this scoreboard looks very unappealing to European eyes.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (16)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (15)
1UP Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger (15)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (13)
USA 6-2 Europe
A dismal approach by Hatton from the centre of the fairway at 15 ... then a poor putt by the same player ... and the momentum of that Casey hole-out on 14 is immediately arrested. That’s awfully scrappy, especially with holes running out. Meanwhile up on 16, Berger can only take his medicine and hack out from the sand ... and doesn’t find the fairway. Koepka will most likely have to hole out from distance to halve the hole, and he won’t get any control out of the rough. Sure enough, the ball bounds through the green, and Europe will soon be going two up with two to play.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (15)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (15)
Thomas/Spieth A/S Hovland/Wiesberger (14)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (13)
USA 6-2 Europe
Par is enough for Spieth and Thomas on 14. Match three all square. Much better news for Europe on the par-five 16th, though. Rahm blooters a drive down the left-hand side of the fairway. Then Sergio creams a fairway wood into the heart of the green, a gentle draw landing softly right by the pin, three feet left for eagle. He holds the pose, extremeluy pleased with his work, as well he should be. With Koepka having driven into the bunker, Europe have a serious advantage here!
Koepka’s outrageous second from the Bunker Near The Drain saves par for the US. It doesn’t appear that there’s any ill feeling between the players, with Sergio and Brooks having what looks like a light-hearted chat as Rahm putts out for the half. In fact it did look like Sergio was going out to bat for Brooks when the big discussion was taking place with the referee; you’d have expected Koepka and Berger to tell him to chip off if that wasn’t the case. It’ll be interesting to hear their views afterwards, anyway. Meanwhile on 12, a precious hole is snaffled back by Europe, Fitzpatrick knocking his tee shot to five feet, Schauffele missing the green. It’s all to play for in every single match ... though of course the hosts have more room for error.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (15)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (14)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (13)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (12)
USA 6-2 Europe
Also to be filed under Some Shot: Paul Casey’s long-distance bunker shot at 14. A blind second from 107 yards, it sails serenely over the hill, lands softly on the front of the green, and rolls unerringly into the cup! Eagle two, and from four down, there’s just one hole in it! But while that match is turning in Europe’s direction, the final game is going the other way; Westwood’s hot second into 11 leads to a third loss in a row for Europe, a fourth in five holes. Big moment from Casey, though ... well, possibly, if Europe can somehow prise something out of this match.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (14)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (14)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (13)
3UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (11)
USA 6-2 Europe
All the momentum.@Paul_Casey holes out for eagle at No. 14.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 25, 2021
Casey/Hatton have won 3 of the last 4 holes. pic.twitter.com/TbV8g6Vhj7
Updated
Another referee turns up. Koepka is still adamant he could hit the drain outlet with his swing. Ref 2.0 is having none of it, and after some extended riffing - “If I break my wrist ...,” says Koepka, while team-mate Berger adds “This is some bullshit!” - they’re forced to play on. Neither of the Americans are particularly happy right now; in fact both of them appear to be on a rolling boil. Eventually Koepka gets on with it, and lashes a stunner onto the green. It would appear the referees were right ... and if Koepka was really worried about damaging his wrist, he could have taken a penalty drop ... but perhaps that episode has inspired him into some righteously outraged brilliance! Because that recovery was some shot.
A full and frank exchange of views between Brooks Koepka and the match official. Koepka, the American ball wedged in the lip of a bunker near a drain outlet on 15, wants relief. The referee doesn’t think the outlet will interfere with his swing. “Have you seen me hit a ball?!” laughs Koepka. Sergio comes over to put in his two cents. “Get outta there, Sergio!” screams a possibly partial patron. It’s all being conducted in good faith, it’s not Seve v Azinger or anything. A second opinion to follow.
A three-putt bogey for Johnson and Morikawa on 13. It’s a gift for Europe, who had to work hard for their par, Hatton having sent the approach into a bunker from the centre of the fairway, Casey nearly holing out from the sand. All of a sudden, a match that looked done and dusted is back in the balance.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (14)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (13)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (12)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (10)
USA 6-2 Europe
... but Europe can’t get out of dodge on 10. Fitzpatrick splashes out of the bunker to six feet, but Westwood prods a nervous putt wide right. Schauffele and Cantlay combine to get up and down, and that’s three holes in the last four for this street-fighting pairing.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (14)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (12)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (12)
2UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (10)
USA 6-2 Europe
Westwood asks Fitzpatrick to lay up to a specific distance at 10 ... then spins his approach back into a pot bunker. Europe may get away with the mistake, though, because Cantlay chunks his wedge. Europe won’t be getting away with Rahm’s mistake on 14, though; he skulls one straight over the green, Sergio can’t hole out a miracle par saver, and that’s a gift hole for Koepka and Berger.
A putting competition between Morikawa and Casey on 12. Morikawa’s birdie effort from 15 feet is uncharacteristically average. Casey has the chance to chip away some more at that big American lead, and it looks as though he’s made his 12 footer, but the ball shaves the right-hand lip, a dimple away from dropping. That would have asked a few questions of the US pair ... but holes are running out now for Casey and Hatton. Meanwhile Sergio flies the green at 14, though the ball doesn’t bound off the bank at the back. Rahm will have a chance to chip close, which is just as well seeing Berger is pin high with his second.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (13)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (12)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (11)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (9)
USA 6-2 Europe
Thomas, plugged in greenside sand to the right of the 11th, can only smash his ball into the face of the bunker. Spieth then has a go. He can’t get it out either, and they pick up. Having fought their way back level, the US pals immediately find themselves behind again,
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (13)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (11)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (11)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (9)
USA 6-2 Europe
Patrick Cantlay with a 20-foot birdie chance at 9. It’s no gimme, but with the Europeans not particularly close in three, the pressure’s off. He steers in the left-to-right curler, and the roars go up! For the first time since hole 2, the USA lead the final match. Meanwhile at 13, Koepka’s uncharacteristically average approach leaves his team with too much to do to save par. Rahm and Garcia, once three adrift, are now two up. And finally a bit of hope for Casey and Hatton, par enough for Europe on 11. Nothing is certain yet, with neither side quite managing to gather any collective momentum in this session.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 2UP (13)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (11)
Thomas/Spieth A/S Hovland/Wiesberger (10)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (9)
USA 6-2 Europe
One heck of a birdie for the USA on 10! Spieth’s drive nearly finds a bush down the right. Thomas has a shot, though, and punches into the front of the green. Spieth then lands a tramliner, and all the pressure is on Hovland, who had been in the box seat after Wiesberger’s chip to eight feet. The matchplay switcheroo is too much, and having been three down, Spieth and Thomas have hauled themselves level!
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (12)
4UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (10)
Thomas/Spieth A/S Hovland/Wiesberger (10)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (8)
USA 6-2 Europe
An outrageous half for the USA on 8! Schauffele and Cantlay are always out of position, hacking their way up the hole, from one patch of filth to the other. Then Schauffele lashes from thick oomska, behind a mound, blind, to six feet! It’d have been good enough just to find the green! Cantlay tidies up for one of the most dirty-wonderful pars you’ll ever see! What moxie. Remaining all square is their reward. Meanwhile Johnson dribbles a short chance to go five up on 10, while Rahm goes close at the par-three 12th, Sergio rolling in for birdie to hit the front for the first time in the lead match. To repeat: they were three down.
Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia 1UP (12)
4UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (10)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (9)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (8)
USA 6-2 Europe
Updated
Berger can’t take advantage of Koepka’s exceptional approach at 11, and Europe escape with a half. But on 9, Thomas and Spieth get up and down from the front, while Wiesberger blades a chip, then Hovland pulls a putt. A gift for the States, who have hauled their way back into match three in short order!
Koepka/Berger A/S Rahm/Garcia (11)
4UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (9)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (9)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (7)
USA 6-2 Europe
A putting competition on the par-three 7th. Schauffele drains his 25-foot left-to-right slider; Fitzpatrick’s effort refuses to turn at the last and stays out on the high side. It’s all square again! Meanwhile Koepka’s approach at 11 is well inside Rahm’s; advantage USA there. But some better news for Europe on 9, with the Americans well short in two after a wild Thomas drive that nestled on top of an anthill ... Hovland’s bang-average second looks for a second like finding the hazard to the right of the green, but holds in the fringe instead. So, y’know, good luck guessing how this session is going to end up, because while some of the play has been glorious, plenty more has been all over the shop. It’s great fun.
Koepka/Berger A/S Rahm/Garcia (10)
4UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (9)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (8)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (7)
USA 6-2 Europe
Updated
A huge putt by Brooks Koepka on 10! Garcia wedges his second to kick-in distance. A birdie is conceded. Koepka is still 15 feet away, but he sends a laser-guided putt straight into the centre of the cup. So crucial for the US, who would have lost three holes on the bounce otherwise. A momentum checker. And there’s another crucial moment on 8, where Hovland is so unfortunate not to see his 50-foot left-to-right swinger, coming up and over a mound, hit the flagstick and drop. Instead, it hits and somehow defies gravity. Hole tied.
Koepka/Berger A/S Rahm/Garcia (10)
4UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (9)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (8)
Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick 1UP (7)
USA 6-2 Europe
Big escape for the USA on 6. Cantlay’s blind approach flies over the green. Advantage Europe, who are on in regulation. But Schauffele swishes a chip up to kick-in distance. Fitzpatrick can’t make his birdie from 15 feet, and it’s a half. Then Schauffele and Cantlay, both frowning and irritated, chastise some over-eager punters who were giving the Europeans the bird in an unnecessarily loquacious style.
Koepka/Berger A/S Rahm/Garcia (9)
4UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (8)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (7)
Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick 1UP (6)
USA 6-2 Europe
Casey fluffs a chip in embarrassing fashion from the fringe at 8, the ball barely travelling 18 inches, and it’s another hole gone in the second match. This could be wrapped up in painfully quick fashion from the European perspective.
Koepka/Berger A/S Rahm/Garcia (9)
4UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (8)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (7)
Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick 1UP (5)
USA 6-2 Europe
Europe finally win a par-five hole! Schauffele can’t make his birdie putt at 5. Fitzpatrick holes his, and Europe lead in the final match. Meanwhile up on 9, Garcia bundles in a chip from 40 yards, and he punches the air with a guttural COMEON! Europe, three down after three, and again after five, have hauled themselves level by the turn! But it’s not all good news for Europe, as Thomas rolls in a 15-footer for a gallery-erupting par; it spooks Wiesberger, half the distance inside. He tugs his effort, and Thomas and Spieth reduce their arrears to two.
Koepka/Berger A/S Rahm/Garcia (9)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (7)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (7)
Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick 1UP (5)
USA 6-2 Europe
Sublime: Westwood nearly spinning in for eagle from the fairway at 5. Fitzpatrick will have a five-footer for birdie. Cantlay, a lot closer, can’t get inside. Slight advantage Europe, though if Schauffele sinks his putt, the pressure will be all on Europe. Meanwhile, the ridiculous: Hatton, who has been wonderful around the greens but is driving like a maniac, whistles his tee shot at 8 towards Lake Michigan. It snags in thick rough, but much good it does Europe, the grass strangling Casey’s hosel and sending the ball into a hazard even further right. Johnson and Morikawa are on in regulation, and they’ll be going four up in a couple of minutes.
Hovland and Wiesberger passed up a golden opportunity to go three up on the 5th, Spieth having found the drink halfway down the hole. But they’ve not let it affect them too much. Weisberger wedges to five feet from 115 yards on 6, and Hovland tidies up for a birdie that puts Europe in a comfortable position in match three ... for now.
1UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (8)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (7)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 3UP (6)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (4)
USA 6-2 Europe
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Hatton splashes magnificently to five feet from the awkward bunker at 7. That’s out of this world, but Casey passes up the opportunity to salvage the half, his putt horseshoeing out. He’s single-handedly gift-wrapped that hole to the US pair of Johnson and Morikawa, who go three up again. But it’s another hole for the Spanish duo in the lead match, as Berger sends his approach into sand, Koepka hits a very average bunker shot, and Garcia nails a missable eight-footer for the win.
1UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (8)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (7)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (5)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (4)
USA 6-2 Europe
Johnson can’t make his birdie putt from the fringe at the back of 6. Hatton tidies up for Europe’s, but only after his ball loops the loop around the rim. Casey guffaws loudly at the 360-degree gallery teaser, but he’s not smiling on the next tee box, after sending his ball into one of the dinky bunkers to the right of the green. Hatton will have an awkward stance. Johnson by contrast will have both of his shoes on the green, Morikawa having found the dancefloor, the pressure having been lifted by Casey’s error. Meanwhile Spieth and Thomas escape 5 with a half in par, the latter having busted his friend out of jail with a hail Mary approach to six feet.
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (7)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (6)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (5)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (4)
USA 6-2 Europe
Hatton’s wild off the tee again. Casey gets him out of a hole again. His approach at 6 lands ten feet from the flag. Morikawa’s second only just holds the fringe at the back. Meanwhile up on 7, Garcia and Berger take turns to miss very gettable par putts. Garcia didn’t hit his; Berger shoved his right. Both pairings will feel a little sick; both will also feel they’ve dodged a bullet. The first halved hole in the lead match!
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (7)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (5)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (4)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (3)
USA 6-2 Europe
Yep, Europe take the 3rd in the last match. Cantlay’s chip up from the front is no good, Schauffele can’t make the bogey putt to put any sort of pressure on Westwood, and in the end par beats double bogey. It’s all square again. In the meantime, Spieth tugs America’s second on the par-five 5th into the ice-cold briny. Hovland responds by laying up, albeit on a brave line that might have gone a little closer to the water than he intended. He wanders up the fairway with a cheeky smile.
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (6)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (5)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (4)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (3)
USA 6-2 Europe
Cantlay tugs his tee shot at 3 down the killer bank. Door’s ajar, but Westwood ludicrously does the same thing. He’s fortunate to snag in sand. Schauffele has the more difficult chip up, and like Rahm earlier, struggles to hold the green with his lob, the ball rolling off the front. Fitzpatrick splashes out from the bunker to eight feet, pretty good from that position. Advantage Europe.
The lead match continues to swing to-and-fro. Garcia nearly dunks his wedge into the cup, but the ball spins back ten feet. No matter, because Rahm makes the birdie putt anyway, and Europe snatch a hole back again. But on 5, Hatton continues to spray the ball around like a loon, finding a bush while attempting to lay up (!) and it’s another gift on this par five for the USA.
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (6)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (5)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (4)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 6-2 Europe
Cantlay absolutely creams a fairway wood into the front of the par-five 2nd. It’s enough for an eventual birdie and the win, though Westwood wasn’t a million miles away from stroking in a 25-footer that would have snatched a half from under American noses. But the States are now up in three of the four matches, and Europe need to find another gear quicksmart.
3UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (5)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (4)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (3)
1UP Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick (2)
USA 6-2 Europe
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A big break for Europe at 4. Hatton slices his drive into the wilds down the right, but flukes a good lie. Casey takes advantage by finding the back of the green with the second, leaving the ball almost inexplicably 15 feet from the flag. Two putts are enough for par, and with Johnson and Morikawa always out of position, it’s enough to snatch back a hole. But Rahm’s visit to the drink proves costly on 5, and par’s enough for Koepka and Berger. That’s poor from the world number one, who gift-wrapped an easy hole just after clawing one back.
3UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (5)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (4)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (3)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (1)
USA 6-2 Europe
Well, that’s my fault for building it up. Spieth can only fluff a wedge up the bank and onto the fringe. To be fair, it was an almost impossible situation - you’re basically dead if you go left of the green at 3 - and it’s hideously unfair to use Spieth’s work of art on 17 yesterday as an everyday metric. But, y’know, if you’re not allowed to get excited when watching a genius like Spieth at work, then what’s the point? Wiesberger had swished his tee shot to 12 feet, so when Thomas can’t hole out, it’s another hole to Europe.
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (4)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (3)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 2UP (3)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (1)
USA 6-2 Europe
For the second day in a row, Jon Rahm finds water from the centre of the par-five 5th fairway. The affronted look on his grid suggests he can’t believe what’s just happened, but he had notes. The hole might not be a lost cause quite yet, though, because Berger had found sand from the tee, and Koepka can’t get anywhere close with his second. Meanwhile on 3, Thomas sends his tee shot down Garcia’s Bank. This gives Spieth, the Seve de nos jours, the opportunity to create something ludicrous like that satellite-bothering lob from the side of the cliff at 17 yesterday. Here we go!
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The ice-cool putting of Bernd Wiesberger has been a rare plus point for Europe so far this week. He rolls in a 15-foot birdie effort on 2, and even though it’s not enough for a half - Thomas follows him in from similar distance seconds later - the Austrian’s sangfroid augurs well.
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (4)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (3)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (2)
Schauffele/Cantlay A/S Westwood/Fitzpatrick (1)
USA 6-2 Europe
Hatton does exceptionally well to whip up from no-man’s land on 3 to six feet. But it’s all in vain, because DJ has chipped in from the front. Three birdies out of three for Europe in the second match! A little shaft of light for the visitors in the lead match at 4, though, as Rahm gracefully bundles a chip to kick-in distance. Berger duffs one out of the sand, and Koepka can’t scramble the par from the fringe. USA just the two up now, and hopefully that’s calmed Sergio down a bit.
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (4)
3UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (3)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (1)
Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick
USA 6-2 Europe
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The door is ajar for Europe at the par-three 3rd, as Morikawa misclubs, his ball toppling back off the false front of the green. But Casey yanks his tee shot down into the hell Garcia plunged Rahm into. A huge error. And the pressure being relentlessly applied to Europe is threatening to break the aforementioned Sergio, who sends an awful approach at 4 towards a grassy knoll on the right. He gets a lucky break back onto the fairway, but he’s still short, and so growls like a wounded bear. Very loudly. He also considers burying the hosel of his club into the turf, but wisely opts against it. We’re not in This Is Difficult To Watch territory yet. But it ain’t easy.
Koepka nearly drains the putt on 3. He’s a bit disappointed not to make America’s third birdie in a row, but it’s more than enough for three holes in succession. It’s two birdies and holes out of two for DJ and Morikawa, too; they make four on 2 while Europe were always out of position from the get-go. But some resistance at last! Bernd Wiesberger crashes a drive down 1, Viktor Hovland chips to three feet, and Europe’s first birdie of the day is enough to take the hole from Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. It’s something. Europe need a lot more in the face of America’s brilliant birdie barrage, but it’s something.
3UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (3)
2UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (2)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger 1UP (1)
Schauffele/Cantlay v Westwood/Fitzpatrick
USA 6-2 Europe
Updated
Rahm has been left in an almost impossible position down the side of 2. He’s at the bottom of a bank, on the downslope of a grassy knoll, and shortsided to boot. He opens the face of his club as wide as it’ll go, and still can’t hold the green. The ball topples off the front, and Sergio isn’t able to chip in. Bogey, and with Casey fortunate not to whistle his lay-up from sand into some juniper bushes on 2, this is looking like the start of another long day for Europe.
Berger gives Koepka the chance to make it three birdies out of three, sending his tee shot over the flag at the par-three 3rd to ten feet. Garcia has to respond ... but pulls his effort into thick nonsense on the left. He’s on the downslope as well. And there’s more trouble for Europe at 2, with DJ crashing a drive down the middle of the par-five, and Hatton sending one into a bunker, ensuring Casey won’t be able to reach the green in two. Early days, of course it is, but Steve Stricker couldn’t have penned this any better in his dreams.
Casey can’t make the birdie putt on 1. It costs Europe, because Johnson had in fact wedged to 18 inches or so, and Morikawa’s not missing that. Meanwhile up on 2, Koepka lags his monster eagle putt to four feet, enough to eventually secure the birdie. Garcia can’t find the cup from 15 feet, and the fast start Europe desperately needed is USA’s!
2UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (2)
1UP Johnson/Morikawa v Casey/Hatton (1)
Thomas/Spieth v Hovland/Wiesberger
USA 6-2 Europe
Advantage to the USA on 2. The hosts are on the par-five green in two, while Europe are not particularly close in three. And back on 1, Hatton is slightly unfortunate that his wedge in doesn’t release towards the hole, stopping 12 feet short. Johnson shows him how it’s done by rolling America’s approach to three feet.
The second match takes to the tee. The small European contingent in the stand serenade Tyrrell Hatton with a song based on Black Lace’s 1984 top-ten smash Do The Conga, a track I suspect didn’t bother the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, and could therefore be making its Stateside debut right now. Hatton’s parter Paul Casey finds the semi-rough down the right, while Collin Morikawa, going around this morning with Dustin Johnson, drives into the first cut down the left. Off they go!
Europe need a fast start, but it’s the USA who get one. From the centre of the fairway, Koepka sends his wedge to six feet, then Berger steers in the right-to-left curler for birdie. Rahm could only fly the green from the fairway bunker, and Sergio’s chip never looked like dropping.
1UP Koepka/Berger v Rahm/Garcia (1)
USA 6-2 Europe
Friend of the blog David Tindall has kindly totted up yesterday’s points haul per player. It makes for grim reading if you’re from Europe and anywhere other than Spain.
- 2 - Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson
- 1.5 - Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm
- 1 - Daniel Berger, Harris English, Tony Finau, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Sergio Garcia
- 0.5 - Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland
- 0 - Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Bernd Wiesberger, Lee Westwood
Also Jordan Spieth should get a bonus point for that shot of borderline psychedelic brilliance on 17, sending the ball miles into the air while hanging onto the side of a cliff, landing it six feet from the pin, then finally defying gravity by putting on the brakes just before momentum threatened to dunk him in Lake Michigan. Quite the trip. But that’s another discussion altogether.
The first match turns up for work. Plenty of chanting from the bleachers, plenty of laughing on the tee. Lovely to see Padraig Harrington enjoying himself and sharing a joke with one-time foe Sergio Garcia. Tony Finau meanwhile rocks up to give Brooks Koepka some support, fist-bumping Henrik Stenson with one hand, a paper bag in the other. What’s in the bag? His breakfast, most likely. It’s early. PB&J with the crusts cut off? It’s Sergio, out with Jon Rahm, to tee off first ... and he yanks one straight into a bunker down the left. Daniel Berger, alternating with Brooks Koepka this morning, smokes one straight down the middle. Off they go, then!
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Good morning Kohler!
Welcome to our live coverage of the second day of the 2020 Ryder Cup. Here are the pairings for this morning’s foursomes (with all the tee times in BST):
1.05pm: Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger v Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia
1.21pm: Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa v Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton
1.37pm: Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth v Viktor Hovland and Bernd Weisberger
1.53pm: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay v Lee Westwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick
The USA were the bosses of Europe yesterday, and the visitors need a big performance now. Anything other than a fast start will land Padraig Harrington’s side in all sorts of bother, momentum doing a possibly fatal number on them. God speed to everyone in blue, good luck to Steve Stricker’s redmen as well, and may the best team win. It’s on!
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