As a result, the USA team needs only five points from today’s 12 concluding singles matches to reclaim the Cup while Europe must take 7.5 points to keep the trophy.
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United States star Patrick Reed and Europe talisman Rory McIlroy, the favored son and top insult target of Ryder Cup crowds, meet in an opening Sunday singles match showdown at Hazeltine.
Heckling crowds that Europe star Rory McIlroy says have gone over the top with insults at Hazeltine were delighted as the Americans put themselves in prime position to snap a three-event losing streak in the biennial team golf showdown.
A dream matchup for fans between the two emotional leaders of their respective teams.
Back to back birdies by Henrik Stenson gave him a 1-up lead over Jordan Spieth through nine holes, and Ryder rookie Thomas Pieters of Belgium was one-up after eight against JB Holmes.
With only five points required from the 12 on offer on Sunday he is close to achieving that goal and the raucous capacity crowds around this long course are likely to once again offer the most passionate and partisan of support as Clarke puts his big hitters out early.
And to Patrick Reed. “There were times where it would quiet down and then you would get a fan or two that would just yell and single people out maybe”.
Surprisingly both players bogeyed the ninth after finding sand off the tee and when McIlroy was unable to save par from another bunker on the 12th, Reed took the lead for the first time.
That’s the way it has gone for the Americans ever since they began the Ryder Cup with a sweep of the opening session.
Holmes was the hottest man on the golf course Sunday and single-handedly powered Team USA to a point in fourball with seven birdies.
Today he’s against Europe’s crown jewel in Rory McIlroy in the day’s first tee-off. Another toss-up, but this match should be very entertaining.
1737: Justin Rose v Rickie Fowler. The question was about Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, the only Americans who had yet to sit out.
They won all three of their matches over the first two days, and they were never more dynamic than four-balls Saturday when they were 11 under through 17 holes.
Sergio Garcia showed incredible nerve to follow Phil Mickelson in for a birdie on the 18th and halve their match, which featured an awesome 19 birdies.
Nicklaus argued against stacking your best players at either the front or the back.
Europe has six Ryder Cup rookies who have never experienced anything like what they will go through Sunday.
Europe was riding the momentum – even though it trailed by a point – Saturday at Hazeltine. This is a coin flip, really.
Europe team captain Clarke said Saturday he remembers talking to Love on the porch of that Chicago hotel back in 2012. Snedeker, meanwhile, has been an underutilized MVP of the team.
Brooks Koepka’s drive off the tee for the USA team strayed to the left and bounced in the rough, ricocheting onto the back of Jaak Pieters.
“Obviously that’s going to be a fun match to watch in two of the best players in the game going at it”. The Masters champ gets on the board here. This should be a lopsided win.
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McIlroy, coming off a title at the US PGA’s season-ending Tour Championship last weekend, is 3-0 in winning the Cup and hopes his victory dance inspires teammates as well.
