Team USA takes commanding 10–6 lead into final day of Ryder Cup

The day started with Team USA up 5-3 over Team Europe and the momentum carried over into Saturday morning.

In the morning alternate shot format Team USA built their lead to 8 to 4 with the excellent play of Ryder Cup rookie Keegan Bradley teaming with Ryder Cup veteran Phil Mickelson. The rookie and the mentor, who have won all three of their matches, defeated Lee Westwood and Luke Donald 7 and 6.

Ryder Cup rookie and Zurich Classic Champion Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson continued their dominate play with a solid 2 and 1 victory over Nicolas Colsaerts and Sergio Garcia.

The afternoon round started out as if Team USA was going to practically put it away in Day 2 . The first two matches were won by Team USA bringing the score to 10 to 4. Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker continued their losing streak in spite of strong comeback that fell short. They were 4 down at the turn and Woods found the old magic to only lose 1 down to Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald. The score was now 10-5.

The unbeatable team of Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson were two up with four holes to play over Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter. As the sun was setting over Medinah Country Club, the best golf of the day was from the last group on the course. Red-hot Ian Poulter birdied the last five holes in a row, a total of six on the back nine for a 1-up victory. His final clinching putt had the entire Team Europe sending out a roar that could be heard all over Chicago.

On Sunday Team USA only needs to win 4½ points out of 12 possible points in the singles matches to regain the Ryder Cup. Can Team Europe make history by equaling the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history when Team USA comeback from being down the same identical 10-6 score at Brookline in 1999?

Captain Davis Love lll holding on to his calm demeanor said, “We haven’t lost a segment yet; we’ll go into tomorrow and try to keep that string going.”

The odds are heavily in Team USA’s favor when you think that they have this lead without Tiger Woods earning a single point, leaving European Captain Jose Maria Olazabal only to say, “It’s been done before.”

Saturday Morning Alternate Shot Matches — USA 3 – Europe 1

Justin Rose / Ian Poulter (Europe) – 1 up – Bubba Watson / Webb Simpson (USA)

Keegan Bradley / Phil Mickelson (USA) – 7 and 6 – Lee Westwood / Luke Donald (Europe)

Jason Dufner / Zach Johnson (USA) – 2 and 1 – Nicholas Colsaerts / Sergio Garcia (Europe)

Jim Furyk / Brandt Snedeker (USA) – 1 up – Rory McIlroy / Graeme McDowell (Europe)

Saturday Afternoon Best Ball Matches –- USA 2 – Europe 2

Dustin Johnson / Matt Kuchar (USA) – 1 up – Nicolas Colsaerts / Paul Lawrie (Europe)

Bubba Watson / Webb Simpson (USA) – 5 and 4 – Justin Rose / Francesco Molinari

Sergio Garcia / Luke Donald (Europe) – 1 up – Tiger Woods / Steve Stricker (USA)

Rory McIlroy / Ian Poulter (Europe) – 1 up – Jason Dufner / Zach Johnson (USA)