Americans take 3-point lead at Ryder Cup

If the noise is really welcome, though, the European team will need all it can get on Sunday when it faces a daunting task of coming back from a three-point deficit to keep the cup they have won the last three times out. But to Phil Mickelson, very much a man in full – and loving it – it was just like basketball, in the Bay Area. Patrick Reed powered them with his passion on the golf course. Some of the most intoxicating golf imaginable, decorated further with a to-and-fro of shh-ing, finger-wagging and fist-pumping between this Ryder Cup’s two rock stars, had reached a insane summit on the eighth green.

Another birdie on the sixth elicited the first animated celebration from McIlroy, only for Reed to also birdie and then mock McIlroy’s bow to the crowd which had followed his winning eagle on the 16th in Friday’s fourballs.

“I think there have been some boundaries overstepped out there”, McIlroy said.

It was more than clear that McIlroy was agitated with the behavior of spectators who went beyond the typical partisan rooting that is common and a part of the Ryder Cup. But some of the fans have taken to cheering for European misses and have drawn the ire of McIlroy in particular.

Update 10.10pm: The United States have regained the Ryder Cup against Europe at Hazeltine.

Ultimately, this wasn’t about measuring against the past as much as it was building to the future.

Asked about his putt to half the match at the last, he said: “Well, obviously there is pressure”.

Reed drove the 303-yard par-four fifth hole and rolled in a seven-footer for the eagle that began his torrid streak. “You have to keep grinding it out for one more day”. The vibe this time somehow feels different, as if Europe have been clinging on while searching desperately for the direction of travel as started in the late throes of Saturday, four years ago. Spieth and Reed were sent out for the fourth straight match, making them the only Americans that will play all five matches. A great accomplishment for Phil, to be sure – except his teams have gone 2-8.

The golf was equally great.

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-edition losing streak in the biennial team golf showdown.

Reed made six birdies and an eagle in the first eight holes and you could practically see the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Pieters had to wait for the cheers to subside before he sank a 20-foot putt to match the birdie.

On Saturday, fans turned their attention towards Rory McIlroy, who had been doing his best to wind them up as he fist-pumped and screamed after any crucial putts.

“I said to Tiger, “Are we playing them or are we sitting them?'” explained Love”.

Mickelson made 10 birdies, and Garcia made nine birdies against no bogeys in their match.

Henrik Stenson’s opening tee shot in his match against Jordan Spieth wound up behind a stand of port-a-potties on the left side of the first fairway. By then, it was ominous. The United States has a 25-13-2 lead, but Europe leads 10-7-1 dating to 1979, when the format switched to 28 matches and brought in continental Europe.

The raucous and at times rude crowd at Hazeltine won’t have to wait long to get fired up.

The 17-11 victory over Europe was their biggest rout in 35 years at the Ryder Cup.

With Europe keen to make a comeback, all eyes were on the respective dynamic duos of Europe (Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson) and US (Patrick Reed/Jordan Spieth). The USA hold a lead of 9½ to 6½ pre-singles which, while not insurmountable, looks strong enough to provide the platform from which to reclaim the Ryder Cup.

Brooks Koepka vs Danny Willett-Masters victor Willett will figure out a way to edge Koepka who has been playing well.

Rose and Chris Wood defeated Zach Johnson and Jimmy Walker, with the sole American foursome success being delivered by Koepka and Brandt Snedeker. Spieth praised Reed for his stupendous performance.

Danny Willett, once the recipient of the kind of treatment subsequently claimed by McIlroy, returned to the fray to play alongside Lee Westwood. After Saturday, he mostly wanted to talk about joining Matt Kuchar in a 2-and-1 four-ball victory over Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia in which the Americans never trailed. Palmer and Dickinson were a ideal 5-0-0 together, while Reed and Spieth are 4-1-2.