Europe 14-9 USA

Europe 14-8 USA

Fitzpatrick to go first. His ball is properly tangled up in the rough, though by all accounts Homa’s lie is even worse. He considers a long chip towards the flag positioned at the back-left of the green, water lurking behind. That siren song again. He bumps a glorious wedge from 60 yards to 18 feet. And it’s serious advantage Europe now, because Homa’s lie is so appalling that he opts to take an unplayable, no doubt worried about getting a flier that would send his ball into the water … or the rough snagging his hosel and the ball staying put. He’s made his decision, and he’ll be chipping four into the green. What drama here! Meanwhile par is enough for Nicolai Hojgaard on 14 to reduce his arrears with Xander Schauffele by half.

Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (17)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (16)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (13)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 1UP (14)
Lowry v Spieth 1UP (12)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (12)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (11)
Europe 14-7 USA

Max Homa and Matt Fitzpatrick, both hitting into 18 from the centre of the fairway. It’s a spiritual re-run of the 16th tee, as both carve their shots into the thick rough to the right. The water on the left singing its siren song. The 2023 Ryder Cup could be decided in short order … but if Fitzpatrick doesn’t snatch half a point here, we could be waiting a while longer to find out what’s what.

A bit of breathing space at the bottom of the order again! Bob MacIntyre birdies 11, Tommy Fleetwood birdies 12, and the anchor matches are taking care of business right now. Europe are so close now, and yet it’s also true that the American dream is far from dead! The Ryder Cup, ladies and gentlemen, right here, right now.

Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (17)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (15)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (13)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 2UP (13)
Lowry v Spieth 1UP (12)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (12)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (11)
Europe 14-7 USA

… so that means Europe are at least guaranteed the tie. They’re on the brink. But they still need a half point for the win, because a tie would mean the Americans retain the trophy. Where will that precious point come from? Matt Fitzpatrick, maybe? He trades pars with Max Homa at 17, and they’ll be heading down the last. If last year’s US Open champion wins the hole, he’ll secure the Ryder Cup for Europe!

Europe 14-7 USA

Brian Harman claws a hole back from Tyrrell Hatton on 15. Rickie Fowler does likewise against Tommy Fleetwood at 11. And Wyndham Clark continues to wind in Bob MacIntyre, winning another hole at 10. This is really in the balance now, and though the projected score is currently 16-12 to Europe, all three of Europe’s leads are tissue-paper thin. A miracle that would statistically surpass Europe’s famous efforts in Medinah 11 years ago is very much a live possibility!

Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (16)
2UP Hatton v Harman (15)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (15)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (13)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 2UP (12)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (10)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (11)
1UP MacIntyre v Clark (10)
Europe 13-7 USA

This looks like going right down to the wire. It was always going to be like this, right? Matt Fitzpatrick gets away with a big mistake on 16. He carves his tee shot into the drink … only for Max Homa to follow him in! Homa wedges significantly closer from the dropzone, but can’t convert the six-foot putt for the win and they move on to 17 with Fitzpatrick still just the one down.

Europe 13-7 USA

Europe 12-7 USA

“Slightly heavy.” Justin Rose analyses his own tee shot at the par-three 17th. But it gets over the bunker at the front. Patrick Cantlay meanwhile uses the camber to the right of the green to gather his ball into its centre. They’ll both have a look at birdie from 30 feet or so. Meanwhile back on 16, Rory McIlroy’s long chip across the green stops ten feet short. Sam Burns chips to kick-in distance from the swale at the back, and when McIlroy fails to sink his putt, they head off to 17, the match extended.

Rose v Cantlay 1UP (16)
2UP McIlroy v Burns (16)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (15)
3UP Hatton v Harman (14)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (14)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (12)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 1UP (11)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (10)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (10)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (9)
Europe 12-6 USA

Tommy Fleetwood follows his chip-in birdie at 9 by firing his second into 10 from 190 yards to eight feet. In goes the putt, and suddenly there’s some crucial separation for Europe in the penultimate rubber … because these matches, and with it the outcome of the Ryder Cup, are firmly in the balance!

Rose v Cantlay 1UP (16)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (15)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (14)
3UP Hatton v Harman (14)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (13)
Straka v Thomas 1UP (11)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 1UP (11)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (10)
2UP Fleetwood v Fowler (10)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (9)
Europe 12-6 USA

Justin Rose sends his tee shot left of 16. Patrick Cantlay drives the green. Cantlay goes close with his long birdie putt. Rose, having chipped down to 20 feet, needs to make the birdie putt. It’s pin-drop time. Silence before a roar greets a putt rolled calmly into the hole, bang on its straight line and with dead weight. Rose flatly refusing to go away!

On 15, Sam Burns and Rory McIlroy trade laser-focused approaches, then staunch birdie putts. That’s a world-class exchange, so much moxie. Europe are dormie three. Ludvig Aberg carelessly wedges his tee shot over the back of 13 and hands back the hole he’d just picked up from Brooks Koepka. Three down now, holes are running out for the young Swede.

Rose v Cantlay 1UP (15)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (15)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (14)
3UP Hatton v Harman (13)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (13)
Straka v Thomas 1UP (11)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 1UP (10)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (9)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (9)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (8)
Europe 12-6 USA

Tyrrell Hatton missed an opportunity to go three up on Brian Harman at 12. He doesn’t pass up the one he has from ten feet at 13. He goes three up. Meanwhile Tommy Fleetwood holes a long bunker shot across 9, and he hits the turn one up against Rickie Fowler!

Justin Rose refuses to lie down! He rams in a straight 12-foot birdie effort on 15, and Patrick Cantlay’s lead is back to just the one. A huge outpouring of emotion as he spins through 180 degrees to punch the air and scream his delight! Meanwhile birdie for Ludvig Aberg on 12 and that’s another reduced US lead.

Rose v Cantlay 1UP (15)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (14)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (13)
2UP Hatton v Harman (12)
Aberg v Koepka 2UP (12)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (10)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (9)
Lowry v Spieth 1UP (9)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (8)
3UP MacIntyre v Clark (7)
Europe 12-6 USA

Europe 12-6 USA

Scottie Scheffler’s wedge at 18 comes out hot. It rolls past the flag, positioned back left of the green, and for a second looks like trundling all the way into the water behind. But it stops short on the bank. Over to Jon Rahm, who has a putt for the win and to halve the match … though realistically, given its from 90 feet, over two ridges, he’ll just be looking to get close and hope Scheffler doesn’t chip in.

A potential turning point in the Fitzpatrick-Homa match on 13? Homa has a four-foot downhill putt for the win. He prods at it with great uncertainty, the ball dribbling apologetically to the right of the cup. He’s still one hole to the good, but with holes running out, a two-hole lead would have put Fitzpatrick under all sorts of pressure. Meanwhile Tyrrell Hatton misses from six feet at 12. The putt wold have put him three up.

Rahm v Scheffler 1UP (17)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (14)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (13)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (13)
2UP Hatton v Harman (12)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (11)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (9)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (9)
Lowry v Spieth 1UP (8)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (8)
3UP MacIntyre v Clark (7)
Europe 11½-5½ USA

It’ll be huge if Jon Rahm can snatch half a point off Scottie Scheffler. And it’s advantage Europe on 18, as Scheffler’s drive finds the thick stuff down the right. Rahm in the centre of the fairway. Scheffler pulls a fairway wood from his bag anyway. He lashes it out of the oomska towards a bunker guarding the front right of the green. It doesn’t go in. His ball nestles in the thick rough again, but looks to have sat up nicely. Rahm responds by crashing his second into the front of the green. Advantage Europe certainly, but Scheffler is exactly where Cantlay found himself yesterday, and look what happened there!

“First match taking on significant psychological importance.” Simon McMahon there, who can speak for me. “Gonna be very hard for the USA to win if Scheffler doesn’t, I think. Though, of course, this being the Ryder Cup, anything could happen. Europe hoping that cometh the hour, cometh the Rahm.” The pair trade pars on 17 – Scheffler’s putt to see out the match from 20 feet sliding by – and they’re off up 18 now. Meanwhile bogey for Justin Rose at 14, and having done so much hard work to rein in Patrick Cantlay, the American’s lead is two again. To be fair, I have no idea how Cantlay’s brilliant 40-foot birdie putt didn’t drop, the ball balancing on a dimple right by the edge, so that’s the deserved outcome if we’re being honest with ourselves.

Rahm v Scheffler 1UP (17)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (14)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (13)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (12)
2UP Hatton v Harman (11)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (11)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (9)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (9)
Lowry v Spieth 1UP (8)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (8)
3UP MacIntyre v Clark (7)
Europe 11½-5½ USA

Birdie for Sam Burns at the par-three 13th, and the World Matchplay champion isn’t finished yet. Rory misses from eight feet and the lead is back to three. Meanwhile his compatriot Shane Lowry rakes one in from the edge of 7 and once again he wheels away in arm-waving excitement. On that subject, turns out there was no diktat to keep everything on the down-low, according to Viktor Hovland, who was asked about it by Sky. So Shane has the freedom to cavort all he likes. He just needs to keep winning holes.

Rahm v Scheffler 1UP (17)
Rose v Cantlay 1UP (13)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (13)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (11)
2UP Hatton v Harman (11)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (11)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (8)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (8)
Lowry v Spieth 1UP (8)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (7)
3UP MacIntyre v Clark (5)
Europe 11½-5½ USA

Europe 11½-5½ USA

This is really hotting up now. Rahm and Scheffler take turns to cream their tee shots at the short par-four 16th into greenside rough, then whip dainty chips to kick-in distance. Only the fifth hole they’ve tied today, and they’ve done this one in birdie. Meanwhile Viktor Hovland has a putt to win his match against Collin Morikawa from the fringe at 15, and lags to pick-up range. Over to Morikawa, who has a 12-footer left to continue the match.

Justin Rose is still alive all right! He steers in a snaky downhill 12-footer on 13, and he’s reduced Patrick Cantlay’s lead to one hole. Is Patty Ice melting in the white-hot heat of Singles Sunday? Ludvig Aberg certainly isn’t, as he rattles in a 15-footer on 10 that sees Brooks Koepka’s birdie effort and keeps the deficit to two holes.

Rahm v Scheffler 1UP (15)
3UP Hovland v Morikawa (14)
Rose v Cantlay 1UP (12)
4UP McIlroy v Burns (11)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (11)
1UP Hatton v Harman (10)
Aberg v Koepka 2UP (10)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (8)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (8)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (7)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (7)
3UP MacIntyre v Clark (5)

Scottie Scheffler sends his approach at 15 to 20 feet, makes the birdie putt, and this lead match continues to-ing and fro-ing in hysterical fashion. He wanders off with his arms spread wide, soaking up the acclaim from the American fans, who are making themselves heard. Their team are giving this a proper go, and that’s further illustrated by Collin Morikawa raking in a long one across 14 to give Viktor Hovland something to think about. Meanwhile a sensational eagle for Ludvig Aberg on 9, a laser-guided long iron from 272 yards setting up a six-footer. It’s all happening!

Rahm v Scheffler 1UP (15)
3UP Hovland v Morikawa (14)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (12)
4UP McIlroy v Burns (11)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 2UP (10)
1UP Hatton v Harman (10)
Aberg v Koepka 2UP (10)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (8)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (8)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (7)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (6)
3UP MacIntyre v Clark (5)

An outrageous escape for Brian Harman on 10! With Tyrrell Hatton in for par, he holes out from the rough, an ice-cool wedge that causes his opponent to slope off quietly seething. Meanwhile Wyndham Clark seriously overhits putts on 4 and 5, and suddenly he’s three down in the anchor match. And an uncharacteristically careless three-putt bogey for Patrick Cantlay on 12, and Justin Rose isn’t dead yet.

Shane Lowry didn’t get the memo about keeping celebrations to a minimum. Having reduced his arrears against Jordan Spieth to two holes with birdie at 6, he started beating his chest with great vigour, in the King Kong style. This means plenty all right. Meanwhile his fellow Irishman, Rory McIlroy, screeches a wedge to a halt four feet from the flag at 11, and after Sam Burns’ ten-foot birdie effort slips by on the low side, he tidies up to stretch his lead to four holes.

Rahm A/S Scheffler (14)
4UP Hovland v Morikawa (13)
Rose v Cantlay 3UP (11)
4UP McIlroy v Burns (11)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 2UP (10)
1UP Hatton v Harman (9)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (8)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (7)
Hojgaard v Schauffele 1UP (7)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (6)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (6)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (4)

Birdie for Patrick Cantlay at 11, and the hill Justin Rose has to climb just got even steeper. Meanwhile the lead match continues to swing hither and yon. Scottie Scheffler sticks his approach at 14 to 18 inches or so, and the birdie putt is conceded. Rahm can’t drain his long birdie effort, and the match is tied again. Only four halved holes in 14 between these two.

Rahm A/S Scheffler (14)
4UP Hovland v Morikawa (12)
Rose v Cantlay 3UP (11)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (10)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (9)
1UP Hatton v Harman (9)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (8)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (7)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (6)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (6)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (5)
2UP MacIntyre v Clark (4)

Par at 10 is enough for Rory McIlroy to immediately restore his three-hole cushion over Sam Burns. An uncharacteristically tentative par putt by Burns from ten feet there. Meanwhile Viktor Hovland nearly drains a long eagle putt at 12, but the two-footer he leaves himself for birdie is enough to go four up over Collin Morikawa. And birdie for Brian Harman at 9, and having been three down to Tyrrell Hatton after 5, his deficit is now just one hole. This is far from over yet.

1UP Rahm v Scheffler (13)
4UP Hovland v Morikawa (12)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (10)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (10)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (9)
1UP Hatton v Harman (9)
Aberg v Koepka 3UP (8)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (7)
Hojgaard A/S Schauffele (6)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (6)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (5)
1UP MacIntyre v Clark (3)

Scheffler simply doesn’t have the confidence in his putting right now. He dribbles a weak birdie effort wide on the low side, and having already conceded Rahm’s putt, suffers a two-hole double-whammy in the shortest of orders. Europe lead the first match again. Meanwhile birdie for the USA’s star turn, Max Homa, on 9, and he’s turned things around quickly against Matt Fitzpatrick.

1UP Rahm v Scheffler (13)
3UP Hovland v Morikawa (11)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (10)
2UP McIlroy v Burns (9)
Fitzpatrick v Homa 1UP (9)
2UP Hatton v Harman (8)
Aberg v Koepka 2UP (7)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (6)
1UP Hojgaard v Schauffele (5)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (4)
Fleetwood A/S Fowler (4)
1UP MacIntyre v Clark (2)

Justin Rose gets up and down from the bottom of the swale at 10. Upon rolling in his ten-footer for par, he shushes someone in the crowd. Rose gets out of Dodge with a half, hanging onto Patrick Cantlay’s coat-tails. Meanwhile birdie for Rickie Fowler at 4 levels the penultimate match with Tommy Fleetwood. And in the lead match, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler take turns to throw darts at the flag on the par-three 13th. Rahm is super-close, a couple of feet away, so Scheffler will surely have to make the eight footer he’s left with.

Scottie Scheffler finds rough off the tee at the par-five 12th. He ends up requiring to make a 15-footer for his birdie, with Jon Rahm already in for his four. He steps away from the putt, causing the crowd to hoot and holler at him. Unsettled, he can’t make the putt, and the lead match is all square again. Meanwhile Bob MacIntyre puts a good roll on a 12-foot slider on 2, and he takes an early lead against the US Open champion Wyndham Clark in the anchor match.

Rahm A/S Scheffler (12)
3UP Hovland v Morikawa (11)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (9)
2UP McIlroy v Burns (9)
Fitzpatrick A/S Homa (8)
2UP Hatton v Harman (8)
Aberg v Koepka 2UP (7)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (6)
1UP Hojgaard v Schauffele (5)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (4)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (3)
1UP MacIntyre v Clark (2)

Here’s an illustration of how good Jon Rahm’s shot from the side of the creek at 10 was. Justin Rose, having sliced his tee shot into similar territory, has a much better lie, a much better stance, and can only force his ball halfway up the fairway. He’s in danger of letting match three slip away from him. But it’s a sixth birdie of the day for the irrepressible Viktor Hovland, who re-establishes his three-hole lead over Collin Morikawa.

Sam Burns sends a long-iron heatseeker to the 9th pin, from 263 yards to eight feet! One of the shots of the week. He’s not minded to miss his eagle putt, and Rory’s birdie isn’t enough. The world matchplay champion cuts McIlroy’s lead to two holes as they turn.

Rahm v Scheffler 1UP (11)
2UP Hovland v Morikawa (10)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (9)
2UP McIlroy v Burns (9)
Fitzpatrick A/S Homa (8)
2UP Hatton v Harman (7)
Aberg v Koepka 2UP (6)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (5)
2UP Hojgaard v Schauffele (4)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (4)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (2)
MacIntyre A/S Clark (1)

A second birdie for Jordan Spieth at 3, and Shane Lowry has work to do already. Spieth’s good buddy JT birdies 5 and he’s two up as well, against Sepp Straka. But better news for Europe back on 2 as Tommy Fleetwood flings a dart at the flag and tidies up for his birdie, to take an early lead against Rickie Fowler.

Rahm v Scheffler 1UP (11)
2UP Hovland v Morikawa (10)
Rose v Cantlay 2UP (9)
3UP McIlroy v Burns (8)
Fitzpatrick A/S Homa (8)
2UP Hatton v Harman (7)
Aberg v Koepka 2UP (6)
Straka v Thomas 2UP (5)
2UP Hojgaard v Schauffele (4)
Lowry v Spieth 2UP (4)
1UP Fleetwood v Fowler (2)
MacIntyre A/S Clark (1)