Ryder Cup: America reduce Europe’s lead to one point
America edged Saturday morning's fourballs session to close to within a point of Europe.
The home side had staged a stirring comeback on Friday to take a 5-3 lead at the end of the opening day.
But a thrilling start to day two saw the US, with rookie pairing Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth again in inspired form, hit back to trail just 6½-5½ going into the afternoon's foursomes.
The day had started superbly for the European team as Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson continued their formidable run by beating Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar 3&2.
Despite Stenson struggling with a back injury, the in-form pair fired an amazing 10 birdies in succession to claim a third straight win.
That put Paul McGinley’s men three points ahead, but it signalled the start of a United States fightback.
The deficit was reduced to two as Jim Furyk gained revenge for his foursomes loss at the hands of Jamie Donaldson and Lee Westwood.
Donaldson and Westwood were unable to generate any of the momentum they enjoyed on Friday, failing to win a single hole, with Furyk and his partner Hunter Mahan winning comfortably 4&3.
It was a similar story for the next European pair, Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer, as they were defeated by Reed and Spieth.
With a combined age of 45, the rookies are the youngest pairing for the Americans, but have proved to be an outstanding double act.
Having defeated Stephen Gallagher and Ian Poulter 5&4 on Friday, they were again too good for Bjorn and Kaymer, winning 5&3.
That saw the US close to within a point of Europe, and it looked as if the visiting team would draw level, with Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler leading for much of their match against Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter.
Poulter had been struggling to find his usual Ryder Cup magic, leaning heavily on McIlroy, until the match reached the 15th green with the European pair one down.
Poulter chipped in from off the green and although it only scraped a half, the juices were flowing. He recovered from a fairway bunker to birdie the next and level the match and his superb approach to the 18th green, coupled with a fine chip from McIlroy, put the pressure back on the Americans.
Fowler had a long putt to win the point and level the match but he could not convert, ensuring Europe went into the afternoon's foursomes still ahead.