ROME – There was more blue on the board on Saturday morning.
Team Europe extended its lead in the 44th Ryder Cup to 9½- 2½ after Saturday morning’s foursomes session, winning three of the four matches. That included Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg trouncing the American team of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, 9 and 7, the worst loss in Ryder Cup history in any 18-hole match, regardless of format.
There was no let up in the European side after opening a five-point lead after the first day. They won three of four matches and seven of eight in the foursomes format. It ties the largest lead after three sessions since the Ryder Cup switched to the five-session format in 1963. (The U.S. led by seven in both 1967 and 1975.)
“Last night we talked about enjoying what we did yesterday but coming out and showing no mercy today,” McIlroy said. “Obviously the way Ludvig and Viktor started off and the way we started off, you know, that set the tone for the day again.”
It was a bloodbath for the Americans and for those fans who woke up early in hopes of seeing a valiant comeback, they were better off hitting the snooze as the Americans were thrown to the lions in Rome.
Tommy Fleetwood-Rory McIlroy def. Jordan Spieth-Justin Thomas, 2 and 1
Fleetwood Mac keeps banging out points for Team Europe the way the band of that name once cranked out hit songs.
Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy defeated the U.S. tandem of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, 2 and 1.
Needing a spark after falling five points behind on the first day, U.S. Captain Zach Johnson went back to the well with Thomas and Spieth and they couldn’t produce the goods. The Euros raced to a 3-up lead after three holes as the Americans made two bogeys in the alternate-shot format. The first three times the U.S. closed the gap to 2 up, the Euros won the next hole, most notably at the 11th when McIlroy drove the green and Fleetwood made the eagle putt, the first one at the hole all week. Spieth and Thomas refused to go quietly, winning Nos. 13 and 14 to close the gap to 1 down. Just when the momentum seemed to have shifted to the U.S. side, McIlroy stepped up and canned a 25-foot birdie putt at 15 to restore a 2-up lead for the Euros. McIlroy pumped his fist in jubilation. After the U.S. scratched back with a win at 16, McIlroy delivered the knock-out blow with a birdie putt at 17 to seal a 2-and-1 win.
Fleetwood improved to 4-0 lifetime in foursomes.
Ludvig Aberg-Viktor Hovland def. Brooks Koepka-Scottie Scheffler, 9 and 7
This was a beatdown for the ages. Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg waxed the American duo of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, 9 and 7. It’s the worst loss in Ryder Cup history in any format.
This was a combination of Euro brilliance and American ineptitude. The world No. 1 and reigning PGA Championship winner started double-bogey-double to fall 3 down after three holes. Then the Euros turned it up a notch, making four birdies in the first 10 holes to build an 8-up lead. They missed only one green and hit every fairway on the front nine. The Americans, by contrast, combined to shoot 7 over. Their misery lasted just 2 hours and 19 minutes over 11 holes and ended at 4:10 a.m. ET. It brought Scheffler to tears afterward.
“Horrible situation for the Americans, quite embarrassing for them,” a World feed announcer said in a funeral tone.
For Team Europe, this was a walk in the park with the added bonus that they may have found a pairing to be reckoned with for the next decade and beyond.
Brian Harman-Max Homa def. Shane Lowry-Sepp Straka, 4 and 2
The U.S. side finally won a full point. Brian Harman and Max Homa teamed to win 4-and-2 over Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka.
They did so with the first bit of swagger from the American side as Homa chipped in for eagle at 16 and before the ball had even dropped into the cup, he had lifted his cap and was hugging his partner.
Harman and Homa made four birdies and an eagle at 12 to open a 3-up lead and prevent the U.S. from being swept in foursomes for the second straight day.
“Someone had to create a spark and I’m glad it was us,” Homa said.
Harman and Homa never trailed in their match. On three occasions on the front nine, they pulled ahead 1 up only to have the Euros win a hole to tie it again. But the American side heated up on the back nine, making three birdies and an eagle beginning at 10 to pull ahead. They played the last seven holes in 7 under in the alternate-shot format. Impressive, indeed.
“They were unbelievably good today and sometimes you just run into guys that are better than you,” Straka said.
Harman and Homa were the lone bright spot on another dismal day for the Americans and their victory ensured that the Ryder Cup wouldn’t be mathematically over on Saturday.
First win on the board.@maxhoma | #RyderCup | #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/9BmbSVaLvx
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 30, 2023
Tyrrell Hatton-Jon Rahm def. Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele, 2 and 1
Jon Rahm’s partner Tyrrell Hatton called him “a walking highlight reel,” and Rahm delivered in the clutch yet again.
Clinging to a 1-up lead with two holes to go, the Spaniard struck a 6-iron at the par-3 17th to within inches. When American Xander Schauffele missed his birdie putt to extend the match, Rahm and Hatton secured another full point for the Euros, 2 and 1.
Rahm and Hatton twice led 3 up, including with just seven holes to go, but the Americans showed some gumption, rallying with an eagle at 12 and birdies at Nos. 13 and 14 to tie the match. If the Americans could flip the match after trailing for much of the morning, it could’ve given the U.S. some momentum heading into the afternoon fourballs, but it wasn’t to be as the Euros won both 16 and 17 to notch a 2-and-1 victory.
