Edited by Anand Datla
September 28, 2014: It seems Paul McGinley’s men turn warriors after noon – another wholesome performance in the foursomes saw them take a stranglehold over the 40th Ryder Cup. Europe dominated Saturday’s foursomes session to take a commanding 10-6 lead into the final day singles of The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. But it has been the Americans, who have won the fourballs so far, so the Europeans will need to be on guard on Sunday.
Lee Westwood edged closer to becoming Europe’s record points scorer as he recorded a second foursomes win alongside Jamie Donaldson, before Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell beat Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler 5 and 4.
Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy recorded their first win this week with a 3 and 2 victory over Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan, and Justin Rose converted a six footer on the final green to snatch a half alongside Martin Kaymer against Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.
That meant that for the second day running the home side won a record three-and-a-half points from the afternoon session to move within sight of an eighth victory in the last ten contests.
“We are not finished. We have a lot of work to do and we have to be on it in the morning,” insisted European Captain Paul McGinley, who was a vice-captain in Chicago two years ago when José María Olazábal’s side recovered from the same deficit.
And World Number One McIlroy added: “There is no complacency on our side. We know it’s the score it was in Medinah two years ago.”
US Captain Tom Watson said: “First of all we have come back from 10-6 (at Brookline in 1999). They know it and I’ll reiterate it. Our rookies played some magnificent golf and tomorrow let’s see what happens. We have the players to come back. Credit to the Europeans, they played some great golf. It seems the foursomes is their forte.”
Draw and tee-off times for the singles matches on the final day:
1136 Graeme McDowell v Jordan Spieth
1148 Henrik Stenson v Patrick Reed
1200 Rory McIlroy v Rickie Fowler
1212 Justin Rose v Hunter Mahan
1224 Stephen Gallacher v Phil Mickelson
1236 Martin Kaymer v Bubba Watson
1248 Thomas Bjorn v Matt Kuchar
1300 Sergio Garcia v Jim Furyk
1312 Ian Poulter v Webb Simpson
1324 Jamie Donaldson v Keegan Bradley
1336 Lee Westwood v Jimmy Walker
1348 Victor Dubuisson v Zach Johnson
