SCORE: Europe 6.5-1.5 USA
Foursomes
Match 1: Rahm-Hatton won 4&3 over Scheffler-Burns
Match 2: Hovland-Aberg won 4&3 over Homa-Harman
Match 3: Lowry-Straka won 2&1 over Fowler-Morikawa
Match 4: McIlroy-Fleetwood won 2&1 over Schauffele-Cantlay
Fourballs
Match 1: Hovland-Hatton halved with Spieth-Thomas
Match 2: Rahm-Hojgaard halved with Scheffler-Koepka
Match 3: Rose-MacIntyre halved with Homa-Clark (F)
Match 4: Fitzpatrick-McIlroy won 5&3 over Morikawa-Schauffele (F)
In the end Europe retained the Ryder Cup by 16.5 to USA’s 11.5. Read the final day’s events as they unfolded here
Here are tomorrow’s pairings:
1. McIlroy/Fleetwood vs. Thomas/Spieth
2. Hovland/Aberg vs. Scheffler/Koepka
3. Lowry/Straka vs. Homa/Harman
4. Rahm/Hatton vs. Cantlay/Schauffele
Here is Malachy Clerkin’s match-by-match reports on the action today.
[ Ryder Cup: Europe dominate USA as Rory McIlroy wins both matchesOpens in new window ]
It was three wins out of three for Ireland on a memorable day for Europe. Hard to see where USA come back from here.
McIlroy the only player to win both matches, but Rahm and Hovland were the top stars of the opening day.
Europe captain Luke Donald: “Incredibly proud, it was tough this afternoon. The 18th was kind to us, we showed so much grit. It was looking like 3-1 to the US and to win this session was huge. We will never underestimate the US.”
Clark thins the chip from a wavy piece of rough and almost goes in the water! Now there’s a chance for a half for Europe if Rose or MacIntyre can get a birdie and Homa misses. Rose with a good chance.
MacIntyre’s putt is never on line and that’s a par. Clark doesn’t chip in so down to two players. Homa misses the putt! Justin Rose with a putt for a half, would you believe it?
Justin Rose makes it! Fingers at the crowd. USA go a whole day without winning a match! Homa and Clark blow a 2 up lead.
Result: Rose-MacIntyre A/S Homa-Clark
Justin Rose thinks of going for broke and he looks at taking a wood from the bunker but then smartly decides to lay up. But Clark can end it if he puts middle of the green. But he does not, miles right into the crowd. A nervy one that, not over yet. Homa with a solid shot onto the green but Rose hits it inside him.
The final match on the course on 18. MacIntyre’s drive is down the right rough. Rose’s drive looks good at first but slips into the bunker. Hard to see an eagle from there, so a birdie between the two Americans on the par 5 should be enough to see out the match. Homa slices his drive though into heavier rough, putting pressure on Clark. Not that it showed. Clark hits possible the best drive of the day there, huge, high drive over the bunker.
Jon Rahm interviewed on Sky: “I got to give Nicolai props, he gave me the freedom to go at it. I thought what would Seve do? I am so glad it went in.”
Eight birdies and two eagles was only good enough for half match against Scheffler and Koepka, which shows you how good that match was.
Take a bow Jon Rahm indeed:
Match 3: Oh still life in this one then. Rose’s par is enough at the 17th to win the hole and now it’s only 1 up for the Americans and up 18 we go. USA can’t afford to give up this one, 6-2 is the minimum they need from a tough day.
Match 2: A great pitch by Koepka from a difficult spot, Scheffler with a less impressive chip to a similar distance from an easier spot. It’s all on Rahm now, can he make eagle? The putt tracks right in the middle. You know he can. Eagle for Rahm! Slammed in the back of the hole. What a final hole by Europe on the last hole. Two eagles on the last three by Rahm. Stunning stuff. One of the greatest ever Ryder Cup matches that one.
Result: Rahm-Hojgaard A/S Scheffler-Koepka
Match 2: On the 18th. Koepka with a big drive on the fairway. Rahm hits a big fade into good shape on the fairway. Scheffler down the right to a decent spot. But another magic moment from Jon Rahm! Flushes his second shot and makes it onto the green in two at the par 5, the only player to do so today. Brilliant shot.
Match 3: MacIntyre with a brilliant drive onto the green at the short par 4. Clark hits inside him, two nice shots. But MacIntyre three-putts and USA are 2 up with two holes to go.
Look at Shane go!
That crucial putt by Hovland:
Match 4: McIlroy seals the match after a towering iron at the tough par 4, below the hole and a par is good enough to win that one 5&3. It was won with Fitzpatrick’s brilliance in the opening holes, 5 under for the first 5 holes as he couldn’t miss a putt. From then it evened up but the job was done. It’s Fitzpatrick’s first point at the Ryder Cup, and McIlroy is 2 for 2 today.
Result: Fitzpatrick-McIlroy wins 5&3 over Schauffele-Morikawa
Match 1: Spieth wedges it into the water. That about sums up his back 9 as Thomas has carried the team in the closing stages. Hovland not too happy with his wedge in but middle of the green. Hatton from the bunker is average, time for Thomas nice rhythm on his chip and nearly holes it for birdie! Looks like Europe need to a hole a decent sized putt to halve the match. Hovland makes the putt from 27 feet! Shane Lowry enjoyed that one as roars around the course. Thomas makes his birdie and it’s a halved match. USA’s first time on the board. But an important half for the Europeans.
Result: Hovland-Hatton A/S Thomas-Spieth
Match 2: Rahm didn’t hit his putt hard enough! Disappointing miss leaves the door open for Scheffler and he takes it. Big roar and fist pump as they go 1 up. Big moment by the world number 1 and now a guaranteed half point in the bag.
Match 1: Justin Thomas and Hatton go for the green at the par 5 but looks well short.
Match 3: Clark misses his putt to halve the hole and it’s back only 1 down for the Europeans with three to go for Rose and MacIntyre. Still in it!
Here is Jon Rahm’s magic moment:
Match 2: Hojgaard swears loudly, for good reason as he pulls his iron into the water. Rahm lines it up again and all over the flag! Another birdie chance, channelling Carlota Ciganda from last week. Scheffler even better though. Nearly pitched it in the hole. This is an incredible match with some of the best players in the world.
Match 1: Hovland into the trees on the 18th, not ideal. Justin Thomas in the first cut of rough.
Match 4: A clumsy finish to Rory and Fitzpatrick’s match but Rory with a nice chip gives him a chance of par at the 14th. Schauffele had a chance to win the hole to get within three but misses from short.
Match 1: Nice chip by Spieth but it will come down to the birdie putts. No joy for Hovland or Hatton. All down to Justin Thomas... but he misses too. No change and we’re down 18.
Match 2: Koepka’s bunker shot is superb, to gimme range and that’s two birdies in a row for the PGA champion. Rahm chips in again for eagle! Several times today and the crowd goes wild! Back all square.
Match 1: Terrific iron shot by Hovland, over the ridge and on the back edge to a back left pin. Good birdie chance. Hatton hits an even better shot, high in the air and straight at it. Two good chances. JT does the same. Spieth goes way right, his swing looks out of sorts.
Match 2: Both Scheffler and Koepka into the bunker off the tee. A marvellous fade with the driver from the rookie Hojgaard into the middle of the green landing softly in one at the par 4.
Match 1: Hatton leaves his eagle putt well short at 16. Thomas’s putt for birdie misses to the right! Wow. All square with two holes to play.
Match 4: McIlroy misses the birdie putt. Been a strange round from him, not lit it up but Fitzpatrick’s opening surge has allowed them to establish a big lead.
Match 2: Rahm from 25 feet just misses to the left. Kopeka holes it though from distance and America go ahead in a third match! Crucial putt on 15.
Match 4: Great shot for Rory on 13 to good birdie range, important the finish that match out.
Match 1: Thomas with another tasty short game shot, zipping it in close for birdie. Momentum with the Americans.
Match 2: Hojgaard straight into the hay with his drive at 15. Rahm goes for 3-wood and puts it on the fairway. Rahm over the flag and a tad too long but nice and safe middle of the green. Scheffler hits inside Rahm but outside chance of birdie.
Match 1: Hovland in the bunker at the driveable par 4 16th. Hatton hits a superb drive to the front edge. Hovland hugs him, good shape there. Thomas’s drive is decent but short and left. Spieth right into the water as man in a Limerick jersey stands up and cheers!
Match 4: Another hole won by America. It’s only 4 up for Europe in the last match as Morikawa birdies. Europe were 6 up after 7 there.
Match 1: Tasty chip by Thomas gives him the chance for par. Hatton goes for birdie but misses. Hovland’s putt... just stays in the jaws of the hole. So close! Thomas backs away from his par putt and gets some jeering from the crowd. He holes it to a big fist pump and then glares at the crowd. Big putt and they stay 1 up.
Match 3: More fist pumps for America as Clark knocks in a long one for birdie on 13 and things are getting interesting! Two big putts.
Match 1: Hovland is dialled in! With Spieth and Thomas in trouble, driver 8-iron from the Norwegian all over the flag, 10 feet or so left for birdie. Hatton also on the green, farther away. Thomas from the bunker misses the green to the left and rolls way down the slope. Could be all square.
Match 4: Morikawa hits the middle of the green at the 12th for eagle.
A sighting of Shane Lowry on the course geeing up the crowd, arms in the air. That’s what we like to see! He’s loving it out there in Rome.
Match 1: Buoyed by the previous hole, Hatton hits another great drive at the 15th at the long par 4. Justin Thomas in the bunker. Duck hook by Spieth right into the rough. Advantage Europe.
Match 2: At the 14th, brilliant iron from Koepka sets up birdie chance. Scheffler with a good shot too. But Rahm hits inside them! He doesn’t have to putt though because rookie Hojgaard holes the birdie from farther away! Scheffler misses and Koepka gets his birdie.
Match 3: Homa’s putt looks close to going in for eagle at the par 5 but goes a bit past. Birdie for MacIntyre after a well played hole. Clark knocks in the birdie and it’s a halved hole.
Match 2: Koepka pulls his putt and now the chance for Hojgaard to put Europe ahead in that match but it’s a tentative one and no chance on the 13th.
Match 4: McIlroy from the rough, can’t make the green and it’s up to Fitzpatrick. Nice chip by Morikawa to gimme range for birdie. Fitzpatrick with a 10 footer and he finally misses one. Back to 5 up.
Match 1: Spieth from the hay gives himself a long putt left for par, which he misses. Great effort from Thomas too from the long rough and pitches it to 15 feet or so. Hatton wins and it’s back to 1 down!
Match 4: McIlroy hits a big slice and misses the green in no man’s land at the short par 4 11th.
Match 1: Spieth goes from rough to rough at the 14th. Hovland hits the green but a long way away. From the same range, Thomas pushes his ball miles right into the hay. Big mistake! Hatton with the longest drive and a beauty of an iron shot to 10 feet. Good chance of making one back here.
Match 2: With Scheffler in the bunker, Koepka hits a fine iron to 10 feet for birdie. Hojgaard pitches the ball a few feet from the hole before it spins back to a similar distance but up the hill.
Match 2: No eagle for Rahm, his putt misses. Scheffler’s putt just slips by to the right, match still all-square, halved in birdies at the par 5. On the next hole, Scheffler pulls his tee shot at the par 3 into the bunker.
Match 1: Spieth into the thick rough off the tee. Hovland straight down the middle and long. Hatton was heading for the bunker but kicks right onto the fairway.
Match 3: Nice chip by Clark sorts out a birdie at the short par 4. But a few good holes for Rose and that’s another birdie to tie.
Match 4: A nice approach by Rory gives a birdie chance at the 10th. Morikawa makes a birdie but Rory holes the birdie! Not giving an inch and it’s still 6 up.
Match 1: No birdie for Justin Thomas from a decent distance at the par 3. Hovland’s putt slips by, leaving the stage to Spieth. He makes it to a big cheer from the US fans. 2 up now!
Match 2: Scheffler at the par 5 12th hits a towering iron as you’d expect from the world number one. Good eagle chance coming up. Rahm does the same after it on the other side of the flag. Tremendous shots.
Some of Matt Fitzpatrick’s best putts from earlier:
Some of the best moments from the foursomes. Rory’s shot to seal their win:
Jon Rahm’s chip in:
Rahm’s almost hole-in-one:
Hovland’s chip in:
So Spieth and Thomas go ahead 1 up for USA at the 12th. The two old friends the same age are a formidable pair in the Ryder Cup and are leading the way against Europe’s form player Hovland. It’s an important match if USA are to stick in it. But veteran Justin Rose hits a fantastic approach at the 10th to bring the deficit in that match back to just 1 hole.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the fourballs from the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy. It’s been all Europe today after they won 4-0 in the opening foursomes, the USA team not even going ahead in a match as Rahm-Hatton and Hovland-Aberg won 4&3 in their matches and McIlroy-Fleetwood and Lowry/Straka going 2&1.
As it stands, in the fourballs the scores are:
As you can see it’s much closer in the afternoon with the exception of the final match where Matt Fitzpatrick has been on fire. Chasing his first win in the competition after five lost matches in previous editions, Fitzpatrick went 5 under for the first five holes including an eagle at the fifth. Lowry was not chosen for the afternoon so the Irish interest is just in that McIlroy-Fitzpatrick pairing, which is heading for an easy win. The other games are tight though. Justin Thomas, a maligned wildcard pick in some quarters, has played well and his team is tied with Hovland-Hatton. Rookie and US Open champion Wyndham Clark has also played well and his team is two up on the European pair.
