Team Europe began to tighten their grip on the Ryder Cup trophy after dominating a third successive session on Saturday morning.
The United States avoided the indignity of becoming the first side in the rich history of the event to fail to win a match in the opening three sessions as Max Homa and Brian Harman restored some pride.
But the pair, 4&2 winners over Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka, were the only Americans to salvage anything as Europe extended the lead to 9.5-2.5.
World No1 Scottie Scheffler and this year’s US PGA champion Brooks Koepka were utterly annihilated by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg in the biggest defeat in Ryder Cup history 9&7.
And while the Scandinavians, a duo not just for the present but the future too in this format, played well, it was notable that Scheffler and Koepka were five-over par after just three holes. Already at that point it looked like a mission impossible to claw their way back into it.
In the end, there was almost a sense of relief around those on the 11th hole when they were finally put out of their misery, both dropped for the afternoon foursomes immediately afterwards.
The US had the opportunity to level the session when Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele carded an eagle and two birdies in consecutive holes in the final match to totally erase a three-hole deficit.
But just when they appeared to have got back the momentum, Schauffele missed back-to-back five-foot putts on 16 and 17 to give Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton the win.
That was partly down to the pressure imposed by the Spaniard’s superb tee shot at 17 which came close to a hole-in-one. Hatton labelled him, “a one-man highlight reel”.
The result came out as rumours emerged of a fall-out in the US team room, with Cantlay not playing in his US cap and reportedly taking umbrage at players not being paid to compete in the event.
Yesterday, American captain Zach Johnson had blamed an illness within his camp for their poor day-one showing. Today it felt more like a mutiny.
Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth deserve some credit for making a match of it against Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, although Spieth’s often wayward tee shots were arguably the difference between the teams in a 2&1 win to Europe.
At the close of play on Friday, it felt like the US had a mountain to climb. The best that could be said at the halfway point on Saturday is that at least the ignominy of the match being over before Sunday’s singles with Homa and Harman’s win. But Europe now only require five points from their remaining 12 matches to regain the cup.
Johnson and his players had talked about a fightback early on Saturday morning. As Europe raced ahead rapidly in the opening two matches, the fight rather rapidly fizzled out of most of the Americans, even their spectators noticeably less audible.
Prior to the cup, former captain Paul McGinley had singled out McIlroy and Rahm and a need to improve their win percentage. They have done that notably with the Northern Irishman set to play in all five matches, so too the brilliant Hovland.
Following his win, McIlroy said: “We talked about…coming out and showing no mercy today. The way we started the day off set the tone again. Delighted to get another point for Europe.”
As for the Americans, Homa perhaps best summed up their plight as he came off 16. He said: “We’re in a big hole but we’ve got the right guys to dig our way out of it.” It’ll require some digging.
