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Dominant US close in on Ryder Cup glory

Steve KeatingAAP
Scottie Scheffler (r) and Bryson Dechambeau gave the US another point with their fourballs win.
Camera IconScottie Scheffler (r) and Bryson Dechambeau gave the US another point with their fourballs win. Credit: EPA

The United States are within touching distance of Ryder Cup glory with another day of domination at wind-whipped Whistling Straits, taking a commanding 11-5 lead over holders Europe who need to produce an historic comeback if they are to retain the title.

Comfortably in front 6-2 at the start of the day, the US turned up the pressure in the morning foursomes taking three-of-four points before fending off a fight back from the Europeans in the afternoon fourballs splitting the matches 2-2.

Only nine times in 42 Ryder Cups has a team come from behind on the final day to lift the trophy.

No team has ever rallied from six points down going into Sunday's singles although twice teams have come from four back to capture the title, the US in 1999 and Europe in 2012 with the 'Miracle at Medinah' .

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"We are going out there until the end," Sergio Garcia, playing in his 10th Ryder Cup for Europe, said.

"We are not going to give up, that's for sure."

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Heading into the singles, the US need just 3 1/2 points away from the 14 1/2 they need to secure the little gold trophy.

It would mark just the second time in six Ryder Cups and third in last 10 that the US have won the title.

While 40,000 mostly American flag waving fans will pour into Whistling Straits on Sunday in full party mode US captain Steve Stricker and his men were not popping the champagne just yet.

"It's 12 points for grabs tomorrow, and we are all trying to take care of our own business," Xander Schauffele said, when asked to compare winning the Tokyo Olympic gold medal to winning a Ryder Cup.

On Saturday Stricker wisely decided not to mess with success, sending out the same four pairings for the foursomes as he did on Friday and returned the same result, a dominating 3-1 romp.

Heading into the afternoon fourballs, Stricker again mostly stuck with a winning formula while European captain Padraig Harrington searched for a lifeline - shaking things up by leaving Rory McIlroy out of a Ryder Cup session for the first time in his career.

It paid little dividends though as Europe failed to make any inroads while the Northern Irishman and Ian Poulter were beaten in the afternoon fourballs.

The one bright spot for the Europeans has been Jon Rahm, who has performed like the world's top ranked player right from the outset, having a hand in 3 1/2 of Europe's five points - three of them with fellow Spaniard Garcia.

The only other European pair to win a match were Tyrell Hatton and Shane Lowry in the fourballs and that was only clinched on the last shot on the final hole when the latter drained a nervy 10-footer for a 1-up victory over Finau and English.

In the singles, McIlroy will face Schauffele in the opening match while in other standout battles Garcia will take on Bryson DeChambeau while Paul Casey will attempt to dethrone US ace Dustin Johnson, who is 4-0 this week.

Ryder Cup Singles

(Europe names first)

Rory McIlroy v Xander Schauffele

Shane Lowry v Patrick Cantlay

Jon Rahm v Scottie Scheffler

Sergio Garcia v Bryson DeChambeau

Viktor Hovland v Collin Morikawa

Paul Casey v Dustin Johnson

Bernd Wiesberger v Brooks Koepka

Ian Poulter v Tony Finau

Tyrrell Hatton v Justin Thomas

Lee Westwood v Harris English

Tommy Fleetwood v Jordan Spieth

Matt Fitzpatrick v Daniel Berger

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