Team Europe head into Sunday’s singles needing just four points to win the 2023 Ryder Cup. Luke Donald’s side again dominated on Saturday but USA gave themselves a glimmer of a chance with their performance in the afternoon’s fourballs.
Europe won three of the morning’s foursomes matches to extend their lead to 9 1/2 – 2 1/2. But USA pulled it back to 10 1/2- 5 1/2 with a dramatic ending to the day’s action on the 18th.
Rory McIlroy was left fuming with Patrick Cantlay’s caddy after the American had sunk a 30-foot putt. McIlroy’s fury spilled over into the car park after he and Matt Fitzpatrick were beaten 1 up by Cantlay and Wyndham Clark.
The singles start at 10.35am BST, with McIlroy fourth out against Sam Burns, so the Northern Irishman could theoretically be the one to put the final nail in the USA coffin if results go Europe’s way. Express Sport is on hand to provide you updates every step of the way.
KEY EVENTS
‘I’ll lend Cantlay a tenner’
Dame Laura Davies has joked she will lend Patrick Cantlay a tenner if he is short on money.
Davies has dismissed any claims that players should be paid to play at the Ryder Cup as “nonsense”.
She told Sky Sports News: “Oh my god, if you’re on a Ryder Cup team, you’re saddle bags are full already.
“You’ve done really well over the last couple of seasons so to get paid in this great event? Absolutely not, I’ve never heard so much nonsense in my entire life.
“I’ll lend him a tenner if he needs something.”
Johnson denies rift
USA captain Zach Johnson has denied there is a divide in his team.
He has dismissed reports that said Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele would sit in a separate area of the locker room, as well as Cantlay refusing to wear a cap due to not being paid to play.
Johnson said: “There is not a rift in this team room. This is one of the most united teams I have ever been associated with and, when it comes to the dollar sign, I don’t mean to sound cliché, but the Ryder Cup is about more than any of that.
“It’s about standing with a band of guys to represent your nation, to represent more than you in the game of golf.”
Cantlay’s hat doesn’t fit
Patrick Cantlay insists he isn’t wearing a hat at the Ryder Cup because he couldn’t find one that fits.
Reports claimed the gesture was to show frustration that players weren’t paid to play the tournament.
But Cantlay says that isn’t the case. He said: “The hat doesn’t fit. It didn’t fit at Whistling Straits [in 2021], and didn’t fit this week. Everyone knows that.
“I was going to go no hat all week regardless, so I figured I would keep it consistent.”
Donald backs McIlroy
Europe captain Luke Donald has backed Rory McIlroy over his feud with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava.
Donald said: “I was there on 18. I saw it unfold when Patrick made that putt, Joe was waving his hat.
“[McIlroy] politely asked Joe to move aside. He was in his line of vision. He stood there and didn’t move for a while and continued to wave the hat, so I think Rory was upset about that.
“It was a little off-putting because he still had to putt. And so Rory got upset, and I understand that. Rory felt like the line was crossed on the 18th green.”
USA need history
Team USA need to make history if they are to retain the Ryder Cup today.
No team has come back from a five-point deficit on the final day to win the tournament.
USA came back from 10-6 down in 1999, while Europe did the same at Medinah in 2012.
But a five-point gap has never been overcome.
Today’s singles schedule
Match 1 (10.35am)
Rahm v Scheffler
Match 2 (10.47am)
Hovland v Morikawa
Match 3 (10.59am)
Rose v Cantlay
Match 4 (11.11am)
McIlroy v Burns
Match 5 (11.23am)
Fitzpatrick v Homa
Match 6 (11.35am)
Hatton v Harman
Match 7 (11.47am)
Aberg v Koepka
Match 8 (11.59am)
Straka v Thomas
Match 9 (12.11pm)
Hojgaard v Schauffele
Match 10 (12.23pm)
Lowry v Spieth
Match 11 (12.35pm)
Fleetwood v Fowler
Match 12 (12.47pm)
MacIntyre v Clark
Good morning!
Hello and welcome to today’s live blog on the final day of the Ryder Cup.
The singles start later this morning as Europe attempt to put the final touches to an historic win.
But could Team USA provide a stunning comeback? All will be revealed later today.
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