Quite incredibly, this managed to be an even uglier day for the United States of America off the golf course than it was on it. Never in his wildest of dreams could Luke Donald have imagined this scenario for his imperious European team. They will head into the final day of the Ryder Cup leading 11½–4½ and requiring a mere two and a half more points from 12 singles contests for retention. The fat lady is gargling.
There will be analysis – and plenty of it – about American capitulation under the erratic leadership of Keegan Bradley but the scale of what they have run into must also be recognised. Tommy Fleetwood has won within half a point of the US tally on his own. Perhaps Bradley should deploy pairs of golfers again for day three. The Europeans have already made history, courtesy of their largest ever pre-singles lead.
