… and here’s a reminder of how everything panned out on yet another memorable Singles Sunday at the Ryder Cup. Team USA regained their pride after two days of struggle, and while Team Europe made their task significantly harder than it should have been, there’s no doubting they were the better team over the three-day piece, and thoroughly deserved their victory. Congratulations to Europe, commiserations to the USA, and thanks to you, dear reader, for reading. Back in a couple of years time at Adare Manor? Great, see you then, it’s a date!

1UP Young v Rose
1UP Thomas v Fleetwood
DeChambeau A/S Fitzpatrick
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy
Cantlay v Åberg 2&1
4&3 Schauffele v Rahm
2&1 Spaun v Straka
Henley A/S Lowry
1UP Griffin v Højgaard
Morikawa A/S Hatton
Burns A/S MacIntyre
English A/S Hovland
USA 13-15 Europe

This is only Europe’s fifth win on American soil. Here’s the updated roll of honour.

• 1987: USA 13-15 Europe (Muirfield Village)

• 1995: USA 13½-14½ Europe (Oak Hill)

• 2004: USA 9½-18½ Europe (Oakland Hills)

• 2012: USA 13½-14½ Europe (Medinah)

• 2025: USA 13-15 Europe (Bethpage Black)

Post-stress postbag. “Bob MacIntyre getting half a point in the final match was not insignificant. Had Europe won on 14.5 points people could say it was only thanks to the half point obtained by Hovland’s injury, a half point they might not have obtained had he actually played and lost” – Chris Healy

“I can’t help thinking Europe’s captain and vice-captains, going all the way back to Tony Jacklin, and their preparation of the team, continues to have a lasting influence on the destination of the Sam Ryder trophy” – Simon McMahon

“Just entranced watching the best sporting event in the world” – Colin Livingstone

“Maybe it shows an insight into the team dynamics that individually the US showed more fight than as pairs” – Fin

“Shane Lowry dancing: Michael Flatley eat your heart out!” – Pól Ó Dochartaigh

Ewan Murray’s report has landed …

… as has Bryan Armen Graham’s view from a US perspective.

The president of the PGA of America, Don Rea Jr., rocks up to congratulate Team Europe on winning the 45th Ryder Cup ... and then it’s handed over to Luke Donald, who raises it to wild cheers. Then it’s lifted again and again by the team. First Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, Rasmus Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre (who theatrically switches from a right-handed lift to a leftie), Sepp Straka, Tyrrell Hatton (who spins around a-la Lowry on the 18th), Jon Rahm (who does the hide-the-trophy-then-come-up-with-nothing gag), Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, and finally Rory McIlroy, who gives it a kiss. And then Shane Lowry gathers up the cup and races down the bank to the fans, disappearing momentarily into the gallery. What a celebration! What a team! Let’s be honest with ourselves: what relief!

“I don’t think my heart can take two more years,” Donald adds. Some proper disappointed boos now, so he quickly backtracks. “We’ll see!” Cheering again.

There’s that booing sound again … we’ve heard it so often this week … though this time it’s Luuuuuuuuke! He takes the microphone to address the gallery. “I must congratulate Team US and Captain Keegan for the amazing job they did and the fight they showed … but we got it done … to win in New York, they said it couldn’t be done, but we did it! … Shane [Lowry] is a legend! … honestly so proud of each and every one … that putt at the end was dead centre, right?! … only 37 players have ever won away … now we’ve got 47 … this is for Europe, for the legends that came before us, and the future generations that will be talking about this team for a long time!”

All of the players line up on the 18th green to clasp hands, offer congratulations and commiserations, and hug each other. It was a hell of a battle, but now it’s over, there’s so much respect between everyone involved. Europe congregate for the victory ceremony and the award of their prize.

Keegan Bradley, grim-faced but proud, delivers a magnanimous verdict. “The players are a tough group … we didn’t play our best the first couple of days but we did today … that was a really fun day … we had all of our fun in one day … I really enjoyed doing this … I will never forget it … it was amazing … I think I would have set the course up a little different … but they played better than us … they deserved to win … they’re a great team … in my eyes Luke Donald is the best European Ryder Cup captain of all time … I got a real weird relationship with this tournament … a lot of heartbreak … but I still love it … I love the guys … I don’t know if I’ll ever get to do this again, so I’ll remember this all of my life.”

Rory McIlroy has arrived for the party, and, after choking up for a moment, he tells US television: “I’m extremely proud to be part of this team … every single one of the players, the VCs, the captain, all the backroom support staff … it was an unbelievable collective effort … as soon as we won in Rome we turned our attention to trying to do something everyone thought was pretty impossible … win here in New York … it’s been an amazing week … to here the olés here in America … the comments after Whistling Straits [where the USA won a record 19-9 in 2021] about decades of American dominance, we took a lot from that … we let it fuel us … we got so lucky in getting an incredible leader in Luke Donald …we are going to celebrate like there’s no tomorrow!”

Shane Lowry meanwhile continues to sob. He’s hugged by Jose Maria Olazabal, the man who oversaw the Miracle of Medinah. Fancy reliving that as well?

Tyrrell Hatton, blissfully relaxed, speaks to Sky. “To be honest it’s been one of the hardest days I’ve ever experienced on a golf course … going out number 10 of 11 matches, you are obviously hoping that everything’s wrapped up … but you still want to take pride in your individual record … the US lads put up an incredible fight … it was to be expected, they’re amazing players … selfishly I was really hoping that it wouldn’t have to come down to me … the last five, six, seven holes were just horrible to be honest … I’m just so happy we’ve managed to win … it’s a special team … I’m very fortunate to be a very small part of it … the greatest golf weeks of your life!”

There’s still one match out on the course, and here it comes up 18. Bob MacIntyre knocks his second into the heart of the green. Sam Burns can only spin his ball off the front and onto the fringe. While that plays out, the European fans – who have taken over the main grandstand, nearly all of the USA supporters having gone home – serenade the absent Rory McIlroy, who having been put through the emotional ringer all week is currently nowhere to be seen.

Luke Donald – who has just become only the second European captain after Tony Jacklin to win home and away – speaks to Sky Sports. “It’s got to be the most stressful 12 hours of my life … shout out to the Americans … Keegan and his captaincy … we knew they would be tough but I didn’t think this tough! … on Sunday they fought so hard and all the respect to them … but this means a lot to me and the team … we came here knowing the task was very difficult … I couldn’t be more proud of the guys and what they have gone through … I was fortunate to have a team that knew me and trusted me … I just tried to be the best prepared I could be … I am so, so happy for them.”

What about another “two more years / two more years”? “I think I wanna enjoy tonight first, thank you!”

The European team flood the green. Hatton raises his arms more in relief than pure celebration. But there’s plenty of time to celebrate properly later. Europe to a man look utterly exhausted. Delighted, but spent. They hug and chat. Wow, that was harder than anyone thought it would be. Hats off to Team USA for giving Europe such a huge fright … and congratulations to Europe for hauling it over the line. Ludvig Åberg, Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton the heroes of the day!

… while in the meantime, Sam Burns and Bob Mac share the spoils on 17. They’ll be coming up 18 too. Then up on the green …

Collin Morikawa up first from 116 yards. He reaches the green, but he’s short and it spins back to that 50-foot range, McIlroy-Griffin-Hojgaard Country. Tyrrell Hatton barges through the open door, his approach landing 15 feet short. Serious advantage to Europe here! So close to the half-point they need for victory. Can Morikawa do anything about it?

Back on 17, Sam Burns sends an average tee shot into the green. He’ll have a 35-foot look at birdie. Over to Robert MacIntyre, who lands his tee shot pin high. He’s got an 18-footer coming up. Meanwhile up on 18, both Collin Morikawa and Tyrrell Hatton send decent drives away. Hatton a bit longer, but in the first cut, while Morikawa sits on the fairway. This is sporting melodrama at its heightened best!

Morikawa A/S Hatton (17)
1UP Burns v MacIntyre (16)
USA 12-14 Europe

Shane Lowry is already on the Magners. Fair play, he’s done more than most to earn a cold one. He watches on from the side of 18 as Rasmus Højgaard, who had sent his tee shot into sand, whips into the middle of the green. Backspin costs him a quite a few feet. But the same thing happens to Ben Griffin from the centre of the fairway, and the pair will have a look at birdie from McIlroy Country. Meanwhile Collin Morikawa and Tyrrell Hatton halve 17 in par.

1UP Griffin v Højgaard (17)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (17)
1UP Burns v MacIntyre (15)
USA 11-14 Europe

There’s still work to be done. Can anyone find the half-point for a European victory? Or will the USA force the first tie since 1989 at the Belfry?

1UP Griffin v Højgaard (17)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (16)
1UP Burns v MacIntyre (15)
USA 11-14 Europe

Lowry then announces that Luke Donald is “the greatest captain that’s ever lived … the most amazing man in the world … he’s done the best job … I honestly don’t know what to say … I dunno … [the 2027 match at Adare Manor, Ireland] will be a little bit nicer than playing here, I know that!”

A lovely moment as Justin Thomas, who did so much to drag Team USA back into contention, arrives to offer Lowry his warm congratulations. The crowd may have acted up once or twice this week, but that’s a gorgeous gesture. Lowry unfurls the Ireland flag – the Eamonn Darcy de nos jours – then is asked by US television how this ranks in his career. He crumbles, sobbing sweetly, before gathering himself: “I’ve been so lucky to experience amazing things … aw! … that was the hardest couple of hours of my life … I can’t believe that ball went in … I stood over it going, this is it … I said to [my caddie] walking down 18 I have the chance to do the coolest thing in my life here … the Ryder Cup means everything to me … I won the Open in Ireland and it was a dream come true … but the Ryder Cup for me is everything … so to do that today … fair play to the US lads … I just hope one of the boys can get the half point for the win!”

… leaves it a smidgen short! Shane Lowry will have a chance to make a putt that’ll secure half a point, and ensure Europe will retain – if not win – the trophy! What absurd drama. This is sport, right here. Lowry prowls, and prowls, and …

… and while we wait for that, Ben Griffin and Rasmus Højgaard take turns to nearly make long birdie putts on 16. Nearly, but not quite. The pressure immense! Back to 18 now, and Russell Henley, one of the best putters around, steps up with another chance to win the match, and …

One of the shots of the week by Russell Henley! He whips his wedge over the high face of the bunker, through some tall grass, and sends a draw towards the back-left of the green. He’s just ten feet from the flag! Over to Shane Lowry, who needs something very special now. He responds by wedging to six feet. But will he get the chance to take his putt? Because if Henley makes it, this point is America’s.

… or how about Tyrrell Hatton, who betters Collin Morikawa’s approach at 15 from 162 yards to 22 feet with an iron from 165 yards to 12 feet? Morikawa is one joule of energy away from draining his putt; Hatton’s is always missing on the high side. Meanwhile Bob MacIntyre flays his tee shot at 15 off some poor punter’s leg down the right. A lot of hopping around in pain ensues. The tension is off the scale!

1UP Henley v Lowry (17)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (15)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (15)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (14)
USA 1o½-13½ Europe

USA have celebrated many heroes this afternoon. Europe not so much. They desperately need one. Someone to step up. As things stand, only Ludvig Åberg is coming out of this potential fiasco blameless. What about Shane Lowry? He zips his drive down the track at 18, turning the pressure back on Russell Henley … who pulls his tee shot into a bunker down the left. He’s up against a steep face, too. He’ll probably be able to get his ball up, out and onto the green … but let’s just see.

Shane Lowry does his best with the long putt across 17. But it stops four feet short. That gives Russell Henley the chance to win the match from ten feet … but he underhits a nervous one. That gives Lowry the opportunity to salvage a half, and at least take the match up 18. He strides around the putt, before rolling it home confidently. Lowry still alive. Just. But he needs to win 18.

1UP Henley v Lowry (17)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (15)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (14)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (14)
USA 1o½-13½ Europe

The opera star is clearing her throat once again on 17. Shane Lowry’s tee shot topples down the ridge on the right side of the green; Russell Henley knocks his to ten feet. Lowry will most likely have to sink a putt from 55 feet to stay alive. Meanwhile on 15, Ben Griffin has two putts from distance for the win. He overhits his first one, but it clanks into Rasmus Højgaard’s marker, which takes some pace off the ball. It stops near the cup. A stroke of luck for Team USA, but my goodness they’re earning it!

1UP Henley v Lowry (16)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (15)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (14)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (14)
USA 10½-13½ Europe

Sepp Straka, three down with three to play, wins 16 to stay clinging on by his fingernails. He then sends his tee shot at 17 to 25 feet … but JJ Spaun knocks his to 15. Meanwhile Bob Mac birdies 13 to draw level again in his to-and-fro match with Sam Burns. And a sickener for Shane Lowry on 16: he was odds-on to draw level after sending his second from 170 yards to three feet, only for Russell Henley to make a 16-footer for birdie. Lowry makes one too, but there’s a half that’ll feel like a loss. Especially under these circumstances!

2UP Spaun v Straka (16)
1UP Henley v Lowry (16)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (14)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (14)
1UP Burns v MacIntyre (13)
USA 9½-13½ Europe

Europe still need half a point to retain the cup, and absolutely nothing is certain. Time is running out for Shane Lowry, but from the semi-rough to the right of 15, he whips an iron to a couple of feet, and slices his deficit against Russell Henley in half. Meanwhile Tyrrell Hatton shoves a short putt wide right on 14; a chance to take the lead over Collin Morikawa gone. Repeat: absolutely nothing is certain.

1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (17)
3UP Spaun v Straka (15)
1UP Henley v Lowry (15)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (14)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (14)
1UP Burns v MacIntyre (12)
USA 8½-13½ Europe

Rory McIlroy’s tee shot on 18 finds a big bunker down the right of the fairway. Before he can take his second, he’s heckled again, and is forced to step away. Can he find the heart of the green with his wedge? Not quite. Just the front fringe, and he’ll have a 50-footer for the birdie he realistically needs to snatch half a point. And even then … Scottie Scheffler lands his second pin high from the centre of the fairway. He’s got an 18-footer to seal the deal.

1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (17)
3UP Spaun v Straka (15)
2UP Henley v Lowry (14)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (14)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (13)
1UP Burns v MacIntyre (12)
USA 8½-13½ Europe

DeChambeau putting first on 18. From 45 feet. A left-to-right slider that doesn’t slide enough. It stays high on the left, and rolls a couple of feet past. Fitzpatrick hits a similar putt. Nothing conceded yet. But before that’s tidied up …

Matt Fitzpatrick finds the fairway at 18. Bryson DeChambeau sends his drive into the thick stuff down the right. Fitzpatrick can only find the front of the green, 40 feet away, nerves taking their toll. Bryson powers from the filth to similar distance. He’ll be putting first. Huge moments coming up! Meanwhile Ludvig Åberg has a putt on 16 to close out his match against Patrick Cantlay, but can’t make it. He’s dormie two, though, so is guaranteed at least half a point. Europe will take anything and everything right now!

DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick (17)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (17)
Cantlay v Åberg 2UP (16)
3UP Spaun v Straka (15)
2UP Henley v Lowry (14)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (13)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (12)
1UP Burns v MacIntyre (12)
USA 8-12 Europe

Tommy Fleetwood’s putt never looks like dropping. Always dying to the left. Just a par. The door’s wide open for Justin Thomas. If he makes this birdie putt, the roof will come off every house in the state of New York…

No he can’t. Fitzpatrick’s putt doesn’t catch enough of the right-hand lip, and horseshoes out. Bryson was 5DOWN but now they’re level going up 18! What drama here! And up on the 18th green, Justin Thomas sends his approach inside Tommy Fleetwood’s. He’ll have a look at birdie from 11 feet, while Tommy is putting from 20. Wow.

Bryson sets his birdie putt at 17 off on the correct line, a left-to-right glider. But it stops one turn short. A chance for Fitzpatrick to halve the hole and secure at least a half-point coming up. But can he take it? Huge putt coming up.

Bryson finds the heart of the par-three 17th. Matt Fitzpatrick’s tee shot topples into the fringe at the back … and he doesn’t hit the putt coming down the green at all. Very timid. He’s got seven feet still to travel. Bryson with a putt from 25 feet for the win? Birdie meanwhile for Russell Henley on 13, and he takes the lead against Shane Lowry for the first time, while JJ Spaun re-establishes his two-hole lead over Sepp Straka on 14.

Thomas A/S Fleetwood (17)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (16)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (16)
Cantlay v Åberg 2UP (15)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (14)
2UP Spaun v Straka (14)
1UP Henley v Lowry (13)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (12)
1UP Morikawa v Hatton (11)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (11)
USA 6-12 Europe

Like Justin Rose before him, Tommy Fleetwood has the chance to secure at least half a point for Europe with a gettable birdie putt on 17. But he leaves it short. Match two will be going up 18 as well. What drama here! Fleetwood finds the fairway, while Justin Thomas’s drive fades into the semi-rough down the right.

Thomas A/S Fleetwood (17)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (16)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (15)
Cantlay v Åberg 2UP (14)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (14)
1UP Spaun v Straka (13)
Henley A/S Lowry (12)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (12)
1UP Morikawa v Hatton (11)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (11)
USA 6-12 Europe

Justin Rose and Cameron Young still can’t be separated. Both take turns to send their second at 18 towards the back-left portion of the green. Rose to putt first. He leaves his 15-footer on the high side. Over to Young, who has one from 13 feet. A similar line. And …

Ben Griffin has just missed a tiddler on 11. So golf being golf, he tramlines a 50-footer across 12 for birdie! But it’s not enough for the win, because Rasmus Højgaard rattles in a staunch 12-footer for the half. Meanwhile birdie for Sepp Straka on 13 to half the deficit against JJ Spaun.

So much depends upon a red wheel barrow this lead match between Cameron Young and Justin Rose. Young was 3UP and cruising; now it’s in the balance going up 18. And both men have just split the fairway. Young’s a few yards further along, so it’ll be Rose approaching first. A classic matchplay situation straight out of the top drawer!

Rory McIlroy’s second into 15 sticks on the fringe at the back of the green. Scottie Scheffler is nine feet away. Something has to happen for Europe. And it does, as McIlroy tickles in his downhill right-to-left slider. He turns to face the crowd, throws his arms wide, soaking up the cheers from a European contingent nearby, and bashes the European crest upon his heart. But it’s only enough for a half, as Scheffler teases in his missable left-to-right swinger. The hardest hole on the course, halved in birdie. The world numbers one and two took a while to get going, but they’ve done so in some style here!

… this one stays up on the left! The crowd celebrate the half as they would a win. A huge let-off for Young there; a huge missed opportunity for Rose. Meanwhile on 13, Jon Rahm spurns another promising European position, a ten-footer that dies on the low side. A chance to eat into his arrears against Xander Schauffele gone.

Young A/S Rose (17)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (15)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (15)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (14)
Cantlay v Åberg 2UP (14)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (13)
2UP Spaun v Straka (12)
Henley A/S Lowry (11)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (11)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (10)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (10)
USA 5-12 Europe

Justin Rose whistles his iron at the par-three 17th to 13 feet. Cameron Young hits an almost identical shot, to 15 feet. Young up first. His downhill left-to-right tickler dies to the right on its last turn. Just a par. A chance for Rose to complete the comeback and guarantee at least half a point, and his putt is a little bit straighter. He steps up, and …

Bryson continues to close in on Matt Fitzpatrick! He makes his fourth birdie in a row, this time at 15, after nearly slam-dunking his second into the hole from 143 yards. He tidies up and now there’s just one hole in it. Fitzpatrick looks stunned. Can he hold onto his point? Even a half? Meanwhile Ben Griffin watches in horror as a par tiddler lips out on 11. His match with Rasmus Højgaard is all-square again.

Young A/S Rose (16)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (15)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (15)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (14)
Cantlay v Åberg 2UP (13)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (12)
2UP Spaun v Straka (12)
Henley A/S Lowry (11)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (11)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (10)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (9)
USA 5-12 Europe

Cameron Young’s birdie putt from 13 feet on 16 skates by the left-hand lip. Justin Rose’s putt from four-and-a-half feet is never missing. Rose has won three of the last four holes, and the lead match is now level. Better news for the USA on 12, where JJ Spaun whips a fairway wood from 226 yards to three feet! In goes the birdie putt, and there was very little Sepp Straka could do about that. The US Open champion moves 2UP.

Young A/S Rose (16)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (15)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (14)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (14)
Cantlay v Åberg 2UP (13)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (12)
2UP Spaun v Straka (12)
Henley A/S Lowry (11)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (10)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (10)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (9)
USA 5-12 Europe

Scheffler is chipping from the fringe. He does so to three feet. That puts the pressure on McIlroy, who is swishing out of thicker stuff. He doesn’t connect properly, the ball only just squeaking onto the green. And the putt from eight feet flies off the face of his putter straight right, and the hole is conceded. Scheffler regains the lead in the meeting of golf’s Big Two!

Justin Rose and Cameron Young take turns to fling darts into 16. Putting competition coming up. And there’s a chipping contest to be had back on 14, both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy having missed the green. Meanwhile par is enough for Ludvig Åberg to double his lead against Patrick Cantlay. And Sam Burns rolls in a 25-footer on 9 to level things up against Bob Mac.

1UP Young v Rose (15)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (15)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (14)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (13)
Cantlay v Åberg 2UP (12)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (12)
1UP Spaun v Straka (11)
Henley A/S Lowry (10)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (10)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (9)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (9)
USA 5-12 Europe

Bryson DeChambeau was five holes behind. But now he’s just two shy of Matt Fitzpatrick, who can’t get close with his chip up from the back of 14 … and it doesn’t matter anyway, because Bryson rattles in his 22-foot birdie putt. Off he strides with great purpose. This looked like a shoo-in point for Europe after seven holes … but now let’s see! Meanwhile Rory McIlroy gets up and down from the side of 13 to escape with a half, while Collin Morikawa misses the 9th green to the right, at the cost of his lead against Tyrrell Hatton.

1UP Young v Rose (15)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (14)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (14)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (13)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (12)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (12)
1UP Spaun v Straka (11)
Henley A/S Lowry (10)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (10)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (9)
Burns v MacIntyre 1UP (8)
USA 5-12 Europe

Ben Griffin and Rasmus Højgaard trade long birdie putts on 10. Apart from the DeChambeau-Fitzpatrick and Schauffele-Rahm matches – Schauffele has just birdied 12 to move three ahead – pretty much everything is on a knife-edge … and even there, Fitzpatrick has just airmailed his tee shot over the 14th green, so unless he can manufacture a cute up-and-down, that could be closing up soon.

1UP Young v Rose (14)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (14)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (13)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (12)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (12)
3UP Schauffele v Rahm (12)
1UP Spaun v Straka (11)
Henley A/S Lowry (10)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (10)
1UP Morikawa v Hatton (8)
Burns v MacIntyre 1UP (8)
USA 5-12 Europe

Bryson DeChambeau creams his second at the 613-yard par-five 13th into the heart of the green. Big chance for eagle … but his straight 28-footer stays out stubbornly on the left. So close. That allows Matt Fitzpatrick to screech his third over the flag and spin it back to four feet, from where he tidies up for a precious half. Holes running out for Bryson now.

1UP Young v Rose (14)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (14)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (13)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (12)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (12)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (11)
1UP Spaun v Straka (10)
Henley A/S Lowry (10)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (9)
1UP Morikawa v Hatton (8)
Burns v MacIntyre 1UP (8)
USA 5-12 Europe

Xander Schauffele birdies 11 to double his lead over Jon Rahm in short order. That should improve Keegan’s mood a little. But here we are.

1UP Young v Rose (14)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (13)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (12)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (12)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (11)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (11)
1UP Spaun v Straka (10)
Henley A/S Lowry (9)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (9)
1UP Morikawa v Hatton (8)
Burns v MacIntyre 1UP (7)
USA 5-12 Europe

Bradley may have become annoyed by the amount of time required for Rose to get his ruling over the drop away from the stand. Anyway, he’ll be properly fuming now, because having waited for the 13th hole to clear, Tommy Fleetwood finds the heart of the green, then makes a 20-footer for birdie. Justin Thomas, a fair bit closer, misses his putt on the high side, to the right, and they’re all square again. And then up on 14, the rejuvenated Rose makes birdie to snatch another hole back from Cameron Young!

While all that was going down, there were moves being made elsewhere. Bob Mac wins the 6th to put some blue on the bottom of the board; Ben Griffin is gifted 8 when Rasmus Højgaard finds the water; and Xander Schauffele regains the lead in a topsy-turvy match with Jon Rahm, par enough at 10. Meanwhile for some reason Keegan Bradley is still ranting at the match official regarding that Justin Rose drop. Not sure what his problem is. But he’s got one.

2UP Young v Rose (13)
1UP Thomas v Fleetwood (12)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (12)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (12)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (11)
1UP Schauffele v Rahm (10)
Spaun A/S Straka (9)
Henley A/S Lowry (9)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (8)
1UP Morikawa v Hatton (7)
Burns v MacIntyre 1UP (6)
USA 5-12 Europe

Justin Rose sends his second into the par-five 13th towards a stand on the right. There’s a long discussion with an official about relief, and Keegan Bradley makes his way over to get involved. Another back-and-forth. Eventually Rose drops onto some scrappy land near the structure … then whips an outrageous chip up onto the green, over all sorts of danger, from 74 yards to six feet! That rattles Cameron Young, whose eight-foot birdie putt stops on the lip. Rose tidies up for birdie and an out-of-this-world win! Arrears reduced to two, and the lead match, which looked almost over for a couple of minutes back there, is back on!

Bryson DeChambeau looks to have left a 16-foot birdie chance on the lip, heartbreakingly so. He bends over in despair … but then the ball, somehow squeezing out a last drop of energy, curls around the back of the cup and gently disappears! DeChambeau springs up and celebrates wildly! As do the gallery! But then Matt Fitzpatrick rolls in one from similar distance, and turns to the crowd, performing the palms-pointing-at-ground calm-down gesture. Great fun. What a way to halve a hole!

… and in the meantime, par is enough for Ludvig Åberg on 10. Patrick Cantlay can’t get up and down from the side of the green, and for the first time in a long while, there’s a little bit of pushback from Team Europe. So much still in the balance, though.

3UP Young v Rose (12)
1UP Thomas v Fleetwood (12)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (11)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (11)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (10)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (9)
Spaun A/S Straka (8)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (8)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (7)
1UP Morikawa A/S Hatton (6)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (5)
USA 5-12 Europe

Potentially a huge moment on 11! Scottie Scheffler’s second only just reaches the front of the large green, the flag at the back. Rory McIlroy finds the fringe to the left. They’re 60 and 30 feet away respectively. Scheffler leaves a strangely underpowered putt six feet short; Rory steers his in for birdie, a big left-to-right swinger that always looks like dropping! Level again, and a much-needed boost for both Europe and their talisman, who looks half-tired, half-broken by the nonsense he’s had to put up with this week.

It’s three holes in a row for Justin Thomas! He fist-pumps the air after sending his second at 12 from 200 yards to seven feet, then rolling the putt dead-centre of the cup. From two holes down to one up. This is getting closer and closer, and the Europeans are palpably nervous … so there’s a little scrap of comfort when Rasmus Højgaard’s par on 7 is enough to level up against Ben Griffin.

3UP Young v Rose (12)
1UP Thomas v Fleetwood (12)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (11)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (10)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (9)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (9)
Spaun A/S Straka (8)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (7)
Griffin A/S Højgaard (7)
1UP Morikawa A/S Hatton (6)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (5)
USA 5-12 Europe

Rory McIlroy, now being flanked by state police for his own safety, fluffs a couple of chips on 10. Bogey is enough for Scottie Scheffler to win the hole … although McIlroy comes close to escaping with a half, but his putt from the fringe stops one dimple short. Meanwhile it turns out that the brouhaha back on the tee was, preposterously, the result of punters making noise with squeaky toy ducks that are being handed out free with each purchase of sticky cherry booze. This isn’t the high-quality match between the two best players in the world you’d expect … for various reasons … but it’s wonderfully intriguing.

3UP Young v Rose (12)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (11)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (11)
1UP Scheffler v McIlroy (10)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (9)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (8)
Spaun A/S Straka (8)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (7)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (6)
1UP Morikawa A/S Hatton (5)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (4)
USA 5-12 Europe

Justin Thomas throws a dart at the flag on 11, and Tommy Fleetwood’s two-hole advantage has been wiped out in the quickest fashion possible. JJ Spaun has also clawed his way back from 2DOWN, levelling up with birdie at 7. Collin Morikawa hits the front against Tyrrell Hatton with a long birdie putt on 5. And despite Cameron Young duffing a chip from the back of 12, he nails the par putt from 12 feet, spooking Justin Rose into missing a four-footer and gifting USA the hole. Europe suddenly getting properly nervous. The USA sense this is on!

3UP Young v Rose (12)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (11)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (10)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (9)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (8)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (7)
Spaun A/S Straka (7)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (6)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (5)
1UP Morikawa v Hatton (5)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (4)
USA 5-12 Europe

Rory takes a wood out of the fairway bunker on 10. Another hook, this time into the gallery back-left of the green. But Scottie doesn’t take full advantage, finding the gallery down the left himself from the centre of the fairway. There’s a reasonable chance Scheffler is less than impressed with the flak McIlroy is getting, and his heart isn’t 100 percent in this.

Rory McIlroy gets involved with the gallery around the 10th tee. Some pointing, and an exchange of views via the medium of the short conversation. His equilibrium shaken, he hooks his drive into a bunker down the left. Meanwhile back on 10, Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Fitzpatrick trade shaky five-footers for the half.

2UP Young v Rose (11)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (10)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (10)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (9)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (8)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (7)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (6)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (6)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (5)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (4)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (3)
USA 5-12 Europe

“Things are warming up a bit now eh,” begins Guy Hornsby, and he’s not wrong. “The USA need a miracle to end all miracles, but things are swinging around a bit. Europe need to try and quell that, not because we will lose this match, but after the treatment this week, I’m sure they’ll want to make this day count and put a huge statement down to the tournament. There’s nothing quite like Sunday at the Ryder Cup: cutaways every 90 seconds, roars from adjacent holes, howls and action everywhere. Lots of matches only have a hole in them and no one can risk mistakes. I know this is a gimme for Europe, but I’m still nervous. Too many ghosts of away ties past, I guess. An early point, even victory from Tommy and Fitz will take all the wind out we need.”

Tommy Fleetwood visits a greenside bunker at 10 and Justin Thomas reduces his arrears to one hole again. Collin Morikawa rolls in a 15-footer on 4 to level his match against Tyrrell Hatton. And Patrick Cantlay’s arrow at the par-three 8th is enough to tie Ludvig Åberg. Team USA have their chances elsewhere, too, but Justin Rose dispatches a four-footer on 11 to halve the hole against Cameron Young, while Scottie Scheffler leaves a ten-footer for the win at 9 high on the right. A perceptible shift in momentum towards the hosts.

2UP Young v Rose (11)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (10)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (9)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (9)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (8)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (7)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (6)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (5)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (4)
Morikawa A/S Hatton (4)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (3)
English A/S Hovland (F)
USA 5-12 Europe

Now, then. Bryson. He walks in a 25-footer for birdie on 9 … and all of a sudden that five-hole deficit is reduced to three! He departs the scene in the big-leggy fashion, sprit restored. Meanwhile Russell Henley can’t get up and down from the side of 5, and Shane Lowry regains the lead in match eight.

2UP Young v Rose (10)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (9)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (9)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (8)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (7)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (6)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (5)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (5)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (4)
Morikawa v Hatton 1UP (3)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (2)
USA 5-12 Europe

The Scheffler-McIlroy heavyweight clash continues to be scrappy. Halves at 7 and 8, Rory in particular all over the place on 7, scrambling a par by getting up and down from a zone so far from the fairway the grass had been flattened down by the gallery. But it’s a second hole on the bounce for Jon Rahm, reward for wedging his second from 75 yards to four feet. And Rasmus Højgaard gets a hole back on Ben Griffin, the latter sending his tee shot at 4 into the trees on the right.

2UP Young v Rose (10)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (9)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 4UP (8)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (8)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (6)
Schauffele A/S Rahm (6)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (5)
Henley A/S Lowry (4)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (4)
Morikawa v Hatton 1UP (3)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (2)
USA 5-12 Europe

Justin Rose dunks his third at 10 into a bunker guarding the front of the green. He nearly holes out from the sand, but by then the damage is done. Cameron Young has two putts from the fringe to double his lead, and lags the first one up to kick-in distance. Meanwhile on 5, Sepp Straka misses a short par putt and JJ Spaun closes in.

2UP Young v Rose (10)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (9)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 4UP (8)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (7)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (6)
1UP Schauffele v Rahm (5)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (5)
Henley A/S Lowry (4)
2UP Griffin v Højgaard (3)
Morikawa v Hatton 1UP (2)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (1)
USA 5-12 Europe

Xander Schauffele shoves a short putt wide right on 5, and that cuts his lead over Jon Rahm in half. Meanwhile up on 9, Tommy Fleetwood gives Justin Thomas a read with a birdie putt from 40 feet that glides left to right but stops just short. JT’s effort rolls along the correct line … but comes to a halt, a dimple shy. So close to reducing his arrears, but so far.

Some joy for Bryson DeChambeau at last. Par enough at the par-three 8th, after Matt Fitzpatrick finds the bunker to the left. Just the four holes down now. The first step on a comeback for the ages?

Cameron Young makes a 12-footer for birdie on 9 that denies Justin Rose, much closer in, the hole. Meanwhile Ben Griffin does what Rasmus Højgaard can’t – hole out from eight feet on 3 – to move a couple up. Anyway, about Europe’s choice of shirt being uncannily similar to a Scotland away effort from the late 80s, early 90s. “You mean this one, Scott?” asks Simon McMahon. Yes. “Scotland wore it at Italia 90 against Costa Rica, so read into that what you will. Though unlike this American Ryder Cup team, Costa Rica were actually a decent side.” Yep, their winner that fateful day was one of the great underrated World Cup goals, a pitch-length passing masterclass. I’m surprised it doesn’t get mentioned more often. Probably for the best, all told.

1UP Young v Rose (9)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (8)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 5UP (7)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (7)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (4)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (4)
Spaun v Straka 2UP (4)
Henley A/S Lowry (3)
2UP Griffin v Højgaard (3)
Morikawa v Hatton 1UP (1)
Burns A/S MacIntyre (1)
USA 5-12 Europe

Bryson DeChambeau is all over the shop. He sends his second at 7 into a greenside bunker, and there goes yet another hole against Matt Fitzpatrick. Team USA’s vibes guy has spent most of the week hitting bum notes.

1UP Young v Rose (8)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (8)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 5UP (7)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (6)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (4)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (3)
Spaun v Straka 2UP (3)
Henley A/S Lowry (3)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (2)
Morikawa v Hatton 1UP (1)
Burns v MacIntyre
USA 5-12 Europe

Tyrrell Hatton sends a wild opening drive towards the trees to the right of the dogleg. But from the native area, 85 yards out, he whips a lob to four feet. In goes the birdie putt, and that’s a blow to Collin Morikawa, who had made a fairly fuss-free par.

Russell Henley sticks his tee shot at the par-three 3rd to five feet. Shane Lowry responds by knocking his to 15 feet, and rolling in the gentle right-to-left slider. That turns the pressure back on Henley, who stubbornly, brilliantly, tidies up, with the matchplay sword of Damocles hanging over his noggin. That’s the hole halved in the only two birdies made there today. What grace under pressure!

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler take turns to shave the lip with mid-range putts. This clash of the titans not quite sparking yet. Meanwhile Tommy Fleetwood bounces back from the slam-dunk shock administered on 6 by Justin Thomas, par enough as JT gets into bother down the back of 7.

1UP Young v Rose (8)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (7)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 4UP (6)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (5)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (3)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (3)
Spaun v Straka 2UP (3)
Henley A/S Lowry (2)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (1)
Morikawa v Hatton
USA 5-12 Europe

Sepp Straka rakes in a 35-footer on 3. Another long putt, and JJ Spaun, who specialises in this sort of carry-on himself, is being hoist by his own petard. Meanwhile back on 1, Ben Griffin screws his approach back to a couple of feet, putting all sorts of pressure on Rasmus Højgaard. The Dane’s chip from the back trundles six feet past the flag, and the putt coming back is a complete misread. And Russell Henley squares things up again with Shane Lowry at 2, wedging to ten feet and tidying up.

1UP Young v Rose (7)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (6)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 4UP (6)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (5)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (3)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (3)
Spaun v Straka 2UP (3)
Henley A/S Lowry (2)
1UP Griffin v Højgaard (1)
Morikawa v Hatton
USA 5-12 Europe

Cameron Young has turned things around in the lead game. He’s assisted by some lax putting from Justin Rose on 7, and a two-putt par is enough. But it’s yet another birdie for Matt Fitzpatrick – his fourth in six holes – and he’s tearing well clear of Bryson DeChambeau in short order. Bryson had a birdie chance of his own on 6 from ten feet, but his flat stick is severely malfunctioning this week.

1UP Young v Rose (7)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (6)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 4UP (6)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (5)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (3)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (3)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (2)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (1)
Griffin v Højgaard
USA 5-12 Europe

Russell Henley misses a five-footer on the 1st to give Shane Lowry the gift of a perfect start. Meanwhile up on 2, JJ Spaun and Sepp Straka trade 15-footers for a half. No quarter given here, despite the scoreline.

Young A/S Rose (6)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (6)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (5)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (5)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (3)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (3)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (2)
Henley v Lowry 1UP (1)
Griffin v Højgaard
USA 5-12 Europe

Justin Thomas holes out from 80 yards on 6 to halve his deficit against Tommy Fleetwood! His ball lands a couple of feet shy of the cup, takes one gentle bounce forward, then disappears gracefully into the hole! Eagle! He holds up a finger of celebration, keeping as calm as possible, perhaps wary of getting the crowd too worked up. Well, good luck with that, after what you’ve just done. One of the shots of the week!

… but the news isn’t so good for Europe at the short par-five 4th. Rory McIlroy’s second tumbles down a swale to the left of the green, and he can’t get up and down for birdie. Scottie Scheffler makes his, and the world numbers one and two are tied again. Meanwhile Xander Schauffele rakes in a long one on 2 to continue his fast start against Jon Rahm; see also Matt Fitzpatrick, this time at 5, and Bryson is in bother.

Young A/S Rose (6)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (5)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 3UP (5)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (4)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (3)
2UP Schauffele v Rahm (2)
Spaun v Straka 1UP (1)
Henley v Lowry
USA 5-12 Europe

Cameron Young teases in a left-to-right slider from ten feet on 6 for birdie. Justin Rose has almost exactly the same putt, but doesn’t learn from Young’s effort, his ball always destined to stay out on the left side. Tied again in the lead match, which promises to be quite the back-and-forth. Meanwhile back on 1, Sepp Straka responds to JJ Spaun’s wedge to 13 feet with a clip to five. Spaun can’t make his putt, but Straka can. Straka can, and now I’ve got an I Feel For You earworm. Not complaining about that. Europe get a warm feeling inside.

American putts just aren’t dropping. Justin Thomas nearly grabs a hole back against Tommy Fleetwood, but his beautifully rolled 25-footer on 5 stubbornly stays out on the high side. A dimple away from success. Hole halved, and Fleetwood remains 2UP.

Nobody’s going to beat Justin Rose’s walk-in birdie putt on 8 yesterday, Hartley Wintney’s finest striding after a 20-foot curler when it was barely halfway to the hole. But a walk-in’s a walk-in’s a walk-in, and Ludvig Åberg sashays after his downhill 15-footer on 2 to hit the lead in style in match five.

Young v Rose 1UP (5)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (4)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (4)
Scheffler v McIlroy 1UP (3)
Cantlay v Åberg 1UP (2)
1UP Schauffele v Rahm (1)
Spaun v Straka
USA 5-12 Europe

Justin Rose gets a free drop after finding himself embedded just above a bunker on 5. He makes his par, and that’s enough for another splash of blue on the board. But finally there’s a dash of red, and it’s down to a careless three-putt from close range on 1 by Jon Rahm. A precious scrap of hope for the hosts.

Young v Rose 1UP (5)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (4)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (4)
Scheffler v McIlroy 1UP (3)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (1)
1UP Schauffele v Rahm (1)
Spaun v Straka
USA 5-12 Europe

Tommy Fleetwood nearly rakes home a 30-footer for eagle on the short par-five 4th. Birdie’s enough for the win, though, as Justin Thomas isn’t able to get up and down from the side of the green. This is a magnificent start by the Europeans, not bad going seeing their fashion choice today is reminiscent of a Scotland away shirt from the Andy Roxburgh era. That can’t bring good vibes, it surely can’t.

Young A/S Rose (4)
Thomas v Fleetwood 2UP (4)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (3)
Scheffler v McIlroy 1UP (2)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (1)
Schauffele v Rahm
USA 5-12 Europe

The USA haven’t got the fast start they were after. And now another splash of blue goes onto the scoreboard, as Scottie Scheffler duffs his chip from the back of 2. He nearly holes his second attempt, but it’s too late. McIlroy has two putts for the hole from 15 feet, and he only needs one. Birdie beats bogey, and it’s more joy for the Europeans.

Young A/S Rose (4)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (3)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (3)
Scheffler v McIlroy 1UP (2)
Cantlay A/S Åberg (1)
Schauffele v Rahm
USA 5-12 Europe

Some good old-fashioned matchplay shenanigans on the par-three 3rd. Matt Fitzpatrick dumps his tee shot in a deep bunker to the left; Bryson is pin high, ten feet from the flag. But then Fitzpatrick swishes a delicate 70-foot sand shot to a couple of feet … kick-in distance … then Bryson races his birdie opportunity six feet past! What a rush of blood! He can’t make the one coming back, and he’s just turned a possible win into a loss with a couple of poor strokes of the flat stick. What a gift for Europe!

Young A/S Rose (4)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (3)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 2UP (3)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (1)
Cantlay v Åberg
USA 5-12 Europe

This Scheffler-McIlroy showdown is the first time the world number one has faced the world number two on Singles Sunday. Number one sends his drive into trees down the left, and can’t control his approach, which bounds over the back. Number two finds lighter rough down the left, then the middle of the green. Advantage Europe there.

Cameron Young has a good look at a 30-footer across 4 for the win. But it slips by the right edge. As the players walk off the green, Luke Donald pops up to have a word with Justin Rose, who had got involved in a back-and-forth with a punter after chipping to tap-in distance. Donald probably advising that wasting energy on an argument you’re never going to win isn’t the best allocation of resources.

Young A/S Rose (4)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (3)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (2)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (1)
Cantlay v Åberg
USA 5-12 Europe

Rory McIlroy misses his uphill birdie putt to the right; Scottie Scheffler misses his downhill chance to the left. The best two players in the world halve the opening hole. Meanwhile up on 2, Matt Fitzpatrick rolls in a missable six-footer to tie the hole. He’s opened his match with confidence.

Young A/S Rose (3)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (3)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (2)
Scheffler A/S McIlroy (1)
USA 5-12 Europe

Scottie Scheffler first up on 1. He’s been strangely out of sorts all week, but that surely can’t continue. And now he lands his wedge near the cup on 1, the ball taking a couple of soft bounces. He’ll have a look at birdie from eight feet. Over to Rory, and he’s forced to step away from his ball in the face of relentless jeering. Do they not remember how he responded to this sort of nonsense yesterday? Today he bumps up to ten feet. Putting competition coming up!

Tommy Fleetwood pings his approach into 2 pin high. He’s left with a seven-footer for the hole, and makes no mistake. Europe hit the front in another match.

Young A/S Rose (3)
Thomas v Fleetwood 1UP (2)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (1)
Scheffler v McIlroy
USA 5-12 Europe

Both players in the lead match miss the green at the par-three 3rd. Cameron Young can’t get up and down; Justin Rose can, though. All square again – or tied, pick your poison – and it’s been a productive couple of minutes for Europe. Meanwhile it’s the world number one versus the world number two back on the 1st tee, and both Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy bash their drives down the track.

Young A/S Rose (3)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (1)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (1)
Scheffler v McIlroy
USA 5-12 Europe

Matt Fitzpatrick is in position B on 1, compared to Bryson. But he wedges from 100 yards to seven feet, while DeChambeau, from position A, leaves himself nine feet short. DeChambeau’s putt dies off to the left, but Fitzpatrick rolls his in, and there’s a first splash of blue on the board!

1UP Young v Rose (2)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (1)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick 1UP (1)
USA 5-12 Europe

Keegan Bradley on being forced to withdraw Harris English … “It’s tough … a strange rule … but we gotta go with what the rules say … he took it so well, I’m really proud of him.”

… and on his team’s chances of turning things around: “I was at that Falcons 28-3 … Tom Brady! … we can be the Patriots today, why not? … I told [the players] to remember how cool it would be when you were 16, to go out at Bethpage Black and represent your country … no matter the score … go out there and enjoy the day … win your match and don’t worry about anything else.”

Justin Thomas leaves himself a similar putt to the one nailed by Cameron Young. But he leaves it one turn short, and a wee bit too far out on the high side as well. Over to Tommy Fleetwood from 13 feet … but his effort is always staying out on the left. Hole halved. Meanwhile back on the tee, two erstwhile US Open champions turn up for work. Matt Fitzpatrick finds the rough down the left, while Bryson DeChambeau – who only has one point from four matches this week – goes long and right. And very nearly reaches the green! What a start! Bedlam, bedlam, bedlam.

1UP Young v Rose (1)
Thomas A/S Fleetwood (1)
DeChambeau v Fitzpatrick
USA 5-12 Europe

… and as for the match itself, Donald adds: “Zero complacency … we know how strong these guys are … they’re very dangerous at singles … the crowd will be behind them … we have to take care of our own matches and try to win the session.”

Justin Thomas hasn’t brought his best stuff this week … but he did make a couple of big putts yesterday, while also doing his best to conduct the crowd. And that’s not nothing. Back on the 1st tee, he welcomes Tommy Fleetwood in a friendly manner – the pair were kind of bystanders when Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau engaged in philosophical debate yesterday – before they take turns to crack their opening tee shots into the right-hand rough. That position didn’t do Cameron Young any harm.

The USA need a fast start … and they get one, Cameron Young walking in a gentle left-to-right uphill slider from 25 feet! The crowd don’t need much to get them going … but by heck, that’s got them going! Over to Justin Rose, whose effort is always staying out on the high side. The hosts hit the lead in short order!

1UP Young v Rose (1)
USA 5-12 Europe

Rose wedges in first. Over the flag. A little bit too juicy. His ball lands on the back portion of the green, and only spins back to 20 feet. The door ajar for Young, but having elected to bump and run, he gets too much of the former and not enough of the latter. He’s 25 feet short. A slightly nervy start by the opening pair.

Pre-hubbub postbag. “I wonder if Scottie Scheffler wished his name and not Harris English was in the envelope. He looked a shadow of himself yesterday” – Fin

“Cantlay going fifth. Going to be a logjam of players” – Tim Stappard

“Was Trump’s involvement in the opening day was an early hinderance to the team? Pulling focus away from the players? Or am I falling into the trap of making everything about Trump?” – Owen Gentleben

The first match takes to the tee, amid the expected bedlam. The USA may be a long way behind, but the towel hasn’t been thrown in by the crowd yet! Justin Rose is two points from two this week, and his singles record is W2 L3 T1. He batters his opening drive over the dogleg and onto the fairway. He’s playing Cameron Young, who has two points from three matches and has been, along with Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas and JJ Spaun, one of the USA’s better players. He finds the rough down the right. It is on!

This has happened twice before in the European era. In 1991, Steve Pate struggled with injury after a car crash during the week; the US star played on the Saturday but another match on Sunday was too much for him. David Gilford was the European who stepped aside. In 1993, Sam Torrance had a toe infection; Lanny Wadkins voluntarily made way, not wanting to deny a less experienced player their opportunity. On both occasions, the USA went on to win the trophy.