Ryder Cup 2023 LIVE: Score and updates as desperate USA come out swinging in this afternoon’s fourball matches

Europe now need 4 more points to win

Saturday afternoon foursomes

• Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg v Sam Burns & Collin Morikawa 4 & 3
• Tommy Fleetwood & Nicolai Hojgaard v Max Homa & Brian Harman 2 &1
• 3 & 2 upJustin Rose & Robert MacIntyre v Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth
• 1 up Matt Fitzpartrick & Rory McIlroy v Patrick Cantlay & Wyndham Clark

Max Homa has further brushed aside rumours that there might be a rift in the unity of the US Team.

Speaking after his gallant win alongside Brian Harman, he said: ‘I really believe that everybody on this team believes in each other. It is a massive hole, don’t get me wrong, but I believe in every single one of these people to put a point on the board.

‘And, yeah, I don’t think that there’s been a second that’s gone by where it hasn’t been like that. So hopefully we’ll go out there tomorrow and just go crazy like we can. And it will be fun. And I know everybody is trying their hardest, and I think we’re due. So looking forward to tomorrow.’

Some great chants this week from the fans.

After their excellent start to the tournament going 10.5 – 4.5 up European fans on the 16th are shouting: ‘Can we play you every week?’

In fairness to Wyndham Clark, he’s totally silenced them with a stunning chip from a torrid lie, surrounded by spectators, putting his ball on the green!

Fitzatrick’s got a nastly lie here and he sends his ball a little hot out the rough – but finds the back of the green.

Cantlay pops his out from the sand – anothe good shot.

Cantlay’s teeing up here on the 16th but we’re going back to the video was saw of fans mocking him him for not wearing a hat.

It’s reported that he’s not wearing a hat because he is upset that players won’t get paid at the Ryder Cup this week.

Mail Sport’s Isobel Baldwin has the full scoop here…

A phenomenal performance from Justin Rose and Robert McIntyre. He follows on from his stunning putt on 18 to claim a 3 & 2 win against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

That was an impreessive putt from Rose who holes out from 15-yards, snaking his putt around from right to left to win it!

Commiserations to Spieth and Thomas, they’ve had a tough run so far this weekend failing to pick up a win.

But what a comeback from Rose and MacIntyre!

Right, a lot to ingest here.

Firstly Rory McIlroy has just put his chip shot from the bunker to within a yard of the hole.

Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay’s caddie is having an argument with a spectator to move so that his shadow is not in Cantlay’s view.

And Matt Fitzpatrick has just CHIPPED on the green. It’s a wild decision from where he was, and yes he was about 50 feet back, but I don’t think he needed to chip that. The ball comes quite fast off the face of his wedge and skirts off to the other side of the green.

Thomas goes into the rough by the green and he’ll have a tricy shot on.

Meanwhile, Zach Johnson has been chatting to Jordan Spieth on the tee, and I think he’s told him to lay up!

He’s a hybrid to the ball, but its not paid off! Spieth has been wayward with his driving in the last two days and he’s just splashed down in the water hazard to the right of the green!

Robert MacIntyre has a real chance here!

How about that fade from MacIntyre! The shot shape curled round off the tee with the ball landing right on the green.

He’ll need to putt well here though, Justin Rose is in the bunker behind him.

Not a great shot from McIlroy on approach there on 15.

His ball finds the sand and depending on Fitzpatrick’s lie it’ll be a big advantage to the US.

Just watched the replay back of MacIntyre playing from the sand on 15 and it is textbook on how to play from the sand.

He’s ripped a stunning shot over the lip of the sand trap to land his shot about a metre away from the hole.

You can see that he actually takes a chunk of sand three inches from behding the ball and gets a lot of spin on the ball.

It pulls back on the green and he’s got a putt to tie the hole here with a par.

What an up and down! Another half or better on the next hole and they’ve won it.

But they’ve guaranteed Luke Donald’s side a half point at least.

Homa’s game was on the money today. I think his approach play was the best bit though.

Anything from less than 150 yars today he had absolutely spot on.

It’s a big finish from Max Homa as he and Brian Harman clinch victory off Ludvig Aberg and Tommy Fleetwood 2 & 1.

It’s a hard fough victory at the end, despite having been up by four holes at one stage of the match – with Hojgaard and Fleetwood battling back to win. ahole each in the final four.

But its a big win for Homa especially, who was the player of the session, picking up four holes for his team this afternoon to secure the win.

Sky Sports are predicting an 11-5 finish to the day!

Here comes Rory McIlroy who can win the 14th with a birdie – and he does exactly that!

It looked like he’d sprayed his shot too far left but it curls round on the bend and nails it.

Blue on the board for Europe as they go 1 up!

Problem for Europe is that they’ve struggled to follow that up so far on hole 17.

Fleetwood has missed the green with his first, while Hojgaard is in the sand ahead of the green on the par three.

Homa’s on in one but has a long putt, meanwhile Harman will likely putt out for a three, having chipped close to the pin.

Thomas misses to halve the hole and Europe extend their lead heading into the 15th!

Rose and MacIntyre are flying now!

They stand a good chance of coming away with something here on the 13th – Thomas has to nail a 7-footer to win a halve!

He’s about 20 yards out from the hole and he’s just played a trickling bump and run, but it goes straight to the hole and he knows it’s going in.

It’s an eagle on his second shot and he knows its going in.

He turns his back to Ian Finnis, his caddie, and soaks in the roar from the fans around him. He brings Europe back to 2 down in the second match with two to play.

That could be a huge moment in this match.

Sam Burns has lauded his team-mates claiming that ‘theyre ready’ to stage a come back.

He said: ‘This team. I mean, these guys are ready. We’re all positive. We know what we’re capable of. We know it’s going to be tough. We know it’s going to be a challenge. But we’re excited for it.’

Cantlay leeaves his putt out left of the hole. He’ll go down for par.

Clark comes from the other direction – he makes his birdie to halve the hole.

Good play from Clark under pressure but what about that putt from Fitzpatrick.

Billy Foster gives him a massive putt as he and McIlroy are in for a birdie here on 13.

He fist bumps the air and the fans are on their feet.

But Cantlay has a birdie putt too…

He keeps himself and Rose 2 up with a stunning approach followed by a cool putt on 13.

Homa’s just dropped an amazing chip in the hole. He has been fantastic today.

The American finds his approach on a patch of grass between two bunkers on the right side of the 15th green and drops his ball on the green before it trickles into the hole.

The only problem is, he can only halve the hole, with Fleetwood Coolly silencing the American celebrations to hit a par and continue the match.

Rose is loving the atmosphere but he misses a birdie putt to take a two hole lead.

Rob MacIntyre has a birdie putt though – and he nails it! What a couple of holes from him, he missed a birdie on the previous, but he’s just sunk a huge puttto go two up.

He’s just ripped an absolute belter of a shot out onto the fairway.

Its a stunning shot with his feet above the ball and on a horrible dry and whispey lie.

Its a fluid action and a powerful one – he transfers his weight through the shot and gets out of trouble on the left side of the course.

Elsewehere McIlroy and Fitzpatrick are still tied in the final group.

While Spieth ahs the chance to make a 2 against Rose and MacIntyre.

Huge opportunity for Europe now!

This could be another hole for Europe!

He halves the 12th for him and rose to maintain their lead and goes to within a couple of feet on the par 3 13th with an outrageous shot that’ll put him in for a birdie putt here.

Here comes Rose too, and he plays an equally impressive shot to the same distance out!

Spieth and Thomas will likely need a two to halve this hole, and Spieth puts his shot wide right!

He and Fleetwood have four holes to play meanining they’ve got just enough time to turn the tide around – but can they do it?

Homa and Harman will have something to say about that – Homa particularly who’s claimed four winners today with some truly exceptional golf.

It comes after reports emerged Cantlay was not wearing a hat in protst of a lack of pay at the tournament.

Read more on the story below…

Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa take the first game of the afternoon fourballs 4 & 3 against Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg.

A gallant fight to. theend from the Europeans to extend the match to 15 after going 6 down at one stage, but they were outclassed this afternoon.

Sheesh that was close from Hovland in the sand!

He hits out on 15 for. abirdie to continue the match but misses the hole by literally a few inches.

Aberg has the chance for birdie now – but he can’t find the hole.

Burns will finish the match here with a four footer.

Max Homa is on fire at the minute and I’d really not want to come up against him right now. Everything he touches turns to gold.

Hovland’s been in flying form this weekend but he may be suffering from a little bit of fatigue after playing all four sessions.

Rahm is also a player I’d want to avoid. He’s been dominant this week and has had the afternoon off!

Let us know who you think will be the toughest opponent in tomorrow’s singles?

At 43-years-old, Justin Rose is the oldest player on the course. He’s had a couple of tough years on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour battling injuries and was notably not included in the 2021 Ryder Cup squad at Whistling Straits.

But he’s come back into form this year, winning at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his first win on Tour since 2019!

He is one of Team Europe’s most valuable players of the last few years, playing in five Ryder Cups, claiming 14 points across 23 matches.

Today he’s been in flying form and nailed this stunning putt on 10 to move one hole ahead of Thomas and Spieth.

Thomas has the chance to win the 11th but his shot hasn’t got the legs!

Robert MacIntyre makes par to halve it – maintaining the lead at 1 up.

Fleetwood holes a monster putton the 13th to put the pressure on Homa.

He’s got to hole from 15 feet to tie the hole and he makes it.

It’s a tough one for Fleetwood who delivers a wry smile as Homa maintains their four-hole lead.

Aberg gets a birdie and brings the deficit back to four holes and extends the match…

They’ve got a very long way back with four holes to play, but can he and Hovland pull off the impossible here?

Burns has been excellent today for the US Team. He’s won four holes for his side, helping guide him and Morikawa to a five-hole lead as we speak.

While he’s just put a shot in the bunker on the 14th, he faced criticism earlier this week from many, including from American golf commentator Brandel Chamblee, despite what’s been an outstanding performance today.

He said: ‘In Burns, you’ve got strokes gained, approach strokes gained off of the tee he is the worst player on the team.

‘And in good old-fashioned statistics like driving accuracy, greens in regulation, he is the worst player on that team.’

What do you think of Chamblee’s comments?

incredible scenes! First Burns’ ball pops out, then Morikawa’s pops up!

Europe are five down in this match, but can Hovland and Aberg mount a late charge?

He’s just slung a 4-iron 246 yards down the 12th right to the flag.

It’s a senastional shot and he’ll surely be able to tap in to win the hole here! His ball is literally a foot from the hole.

He’s had a great season on the tour claming his sixth career win, notably at the Farmers Insurace Open at the notorious Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego – one of the hardest tracks around.

Extrodinary stuff! Morikawa’s putt lips out too! His was from much closer range and USA concede the hole, with Aberg tapping in for a two!

His putt lips out the hole! But Morikawa can putt for birdie here to win the match!

Rose fired that putt in with some speed to win back-to-back holes on the 9th and the 10th.

He’s just knocked his ball to within a foot of the hole. He has a birdie putt to win the 13th.

Could they extend the match here?

Europe have run out of steam in the first group it seems. After Aberg and Hovland demolished Scheffler and Koepka it seems they’re getting a taste of their own medicine as Morikawa brilliantly slots home to take a six hole lead.

This match could be over very soon…

Fleetwood goes close to a bridie and he does well over a long puttbut it winds just short.

He gets a reprieve though as Hojgaard is there to chip on for two and putt out to put pressure on Homa. But the American is in a stride of confidence right now and makes no mistake.

Homa finishes the hole with a birdie to keep the score at 3 up.

Rose gets one back on the ninth. He cards a par on the 537-yard hole to take one off Spieth and Thomas to take the match back to all-square!

Burns and Morikawa have just taken a five-hole lead.

Hovland just can’t quite get his birdie, missing the hole by a fraction with Europe now five down with seven to play.

It’s not looking good in the first group…

Homas misses and the Englishman gets a birdie to pull back a hole.

They’re now only three up but Europe are running out of holes and there’s been another set-back in the opening match for Luke Donald’s side…

That was to go five up on the 10th and he misses the hole!

The way Homa’s been putting putting today you’d have backed him to make that! It’s a simple putt from ten feet out from right to left, but he puts it wide!

It’s not the first time he’s chipped in this week, with this being an important shot to stop Burns and Morikawa from going ahead by five.

After winning the last with a birdie, it’s a poor shot into the 10th from Harman.

He’s landed in the bunker Burns and Hovland were in a short while ago, and will have a tough shot out from there…

Justin Timberlake has beeen spotted at the tournament today! Check out who else has been visiting the Ryder Cup this week below…

He made that look so easy!

Copying his feats on the first hole yesterday morning he halves the 10th to keep the deficit at 4 down just from the fringe of the green and sends the crowd wild.

Is that the boost he and Hojgaard needed to get a couple of holes back?

He fails to dig a shot out of the bunker but it drops short of the green and onto the bank!

Hovland meanwhile does the same, he cant get his ball quite up and on to the green, with it dropping just short – but at least, for him, it’s not in the sand or in the thick stuff.

A big result for Harman and Homa! They extend the lead with Harman carding. afour on the par five!

Fleetwood and Hojgaard can barely watch on as they concede another!

They need to get one back pretty soon if they are to take anything away from this match…

They’ve got two putts to win on the ninth, and Harman can just tap this one up and knock it in for another here.

Fleetwood and Hojgaard watch on in frustration.

They’re leading the charge this afternoon!

Burns has won four holes so far during the session.

That’ll be a big boost for Aberg, who has 178 to the pin.

He plays a simple golf swing but just fails to put his ball on the green missing by just a yard.

Morikawa has to make up for Burns’ error – and puts it in the centre of the green.

But what can Hovland do? He’s been excellent with his irons today…

He floats an 8-iron into the air, but it leaks right and he follows Burns into the bunker.

Europe struggling to click into gear.

Well not if Jordan Spieth has anything to say about it – he chips out of the bunker and puts his ball to within a few feet.

Robert MacIntyre is on the green in two so has a chance to win here, while Rose is off the other side of the green after miscueing his approach.

Big splash on hole eight!

Justin Thomas plays his tee shot straight into the water!

Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth is in the sand!

The USA are now 4 up in the opening match of the day. It’s been an excellent front nine from the pair with Morikawa getting another hole on the board for the Americans.

He has two strokes to do it too after an excellent approach and while he can’t make the eagle he hits in for a birdie.

Hovland, meanwhile, could have halved the hole – but he misses by the barest of margins.

Homa and Burns are certainly leading the way, with the USA having made eight birdies in the last two hours of play.

Conversely, Europe have only made three.

Homa is really playing out of his skin and has the chance to win another hole here on the ninth, having chipped to within a couple of inhes of the hole on the ninth.

He’s first for driving distance on the PGA Tour for a reason!

Hojgaard’s just hit another approach shot over the green at the eighth. It’s a real tough break for him and he’s got a lot of work here to do out the rough to get back on the green.

In any event, Europe really aren’t making the most of their chances today. They’re struglling to find their groove in a lot of areas and the Americans, so far have made them pay, particularly in the opening groups.

Perhaps they’re starting to tire? Is the heat getting to them?

A resurgence will be needed here from the opening two groups, with Homa and Burns really cranking up the pressure, with Burns now winning a fourth hole for his team.

Meanwhile, Aberg’s just gone wayward by the bunker on the ninth just left of the green.

Meanwhile, Thomas gets lucky with a deflection off the hill, he’s in here on the seventh for a birdie putt.

Rose is fighting back here! He hits a huge birdie putt on the sixth as Spieth fluffs his birdie putt and you can see what it means to Rose!

He turns to the crowd and lets out a huge roar, fist pumping the air!

Their now tied for the match!

Bob MacIntyre’s also gone agonisingly close to hitting a hole-in-one on the next hole!

So that gives me a good opportunity to let you know that we’ve got plenty of live action coming up today on Mail Sport!

Ther are some big fixtures coming up this afternoon in the Premier League, with Tottenham taking on Liverpool in a HUGE clash at 5:30pm today!

But before then, Aston Villa are currently 3-0 against Brighton and it’s live on Mail Sport below!

In the meantime, stay with us here as we continue our coverage of the Ryder Cup!

Both teams are wearing white jerseys with red details on them with navy trousers and the kit clash has been confusing me all morning!

I don’t think the captains were on the same page when picking out the kit they wanted to wear for Saturday…

Anyway, Robert MacIntyre has plonked one within a couple of feet of the hole on six, while Hovland’s asked a big question of Burns, who has to hole out for par to halve the eighth and keep his team in the lead.

And the American does just that!

He rolls his second to within a whisker of the hole. If that drops, the US team go 4 up! But Fleetwood and Hojgaard have a chance to half here!

He plays a tough shot out of the rough on the right side of the green on the seventh to perfection. Battling with the rough he gets under the ball and judges the weight of the shot to perfection with it trickling down to the hole.

It’s a shame it didn’t go in! He’ll have a putf for par here with Homa putting his second shot from off the green just past the flag stick.

He’s playing out of his skin today and this is the third hole hes won!

After a sublime approach put him within 15 feet of the hole, he taps in with the flat stick to put him and Brian Harman in the driving seat.

Jordan Spieth hit out at a camera man during this morning’s foursomes as he and Justin Thomas succumbed to a defeat against Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.

On the fifth hole at Marco Simone, Spieth was seen gesticulating to a photographer in the crowd who’s shutter put him off his shot.

Mail Sports Isobel Baldwin has the full scoop below…

Spieth and Thomas are one-up in the third match, but its Justin Rose who following on from his epic putt on the 18th yesterday, slams in another on the fifth to stop them from taking a second.

It’s a huge putt from the Englishman who keeps the deficit at 1 up.

A hole for Europe! McIlroy and Fitzpatrick take a one-hole lead against Cantlay and Clark.

Rory’s been excellent this morning, putting out to clinch his and Tommy Fleetwood’s match against Spieth and Thomas and he’s just put away an excellent two on the par three fourth to give them the lead.

ecap on Saturday morning’s foursome’s session here!

He’s done well to get it to the green to be honest, but he’s unlucky! The ball hits the lip of the green and rolls back down the slope of the fairway.

Homa is the only one to hit the fairway in this group and the only one to hit the fairway. Another fine shot from Homa – he’s playing out of his skin.

He’s won two holes this session – could this be a third?

Here comes the fight back! It’s Jordan Spieth that gets the breakthrough in the third game, hitting a fantastic birdie on the par three fourth to see the scoreboard flick to predominantly red.

Things aren’t looking so great for Europe right now… Have they run out of steam?

They’re really struggling with the flat-stick, while the American’s have really gotten into their groove here.

Homa is playing suberpbly, while Morikawa seems to have recovered after a couple of big defeats in the last two days. Burns is also flying along nicely tapping in on the sixth to go three up.

His celebrations might not go down too well with European fans though, with Dame Laura Davies on Sky saying ‘He might come to regret that!’ and his celebrations are drawing plenty of attention from some fans on Twitter!

Burns cups his ears and shouts to the crowd after putting him and Morikawa 3 up against Hovland and Aberg.

Last night Brooks Koepka took a swipe at Jon Rahm yesterday in his post match press conference.

It came after Scheffler hit a sensational birdie putt on 17 to give them a one-hole lead going into the 18th, with Rahm apparently whacking one of the advertising boards on the 18th tee.

But Koepka hit out at Rahm’s actions claiming Rahm had ‘acted like a child’.

‘So yes, I mean I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did but, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we’re adults. We move on.’

This morning, Rahm has had his say on the criticism from the man he beat to win the Masters.

The Spaniard said: ‘I don’t think I need to say anything else in that regard. I play and compete the way I think I need to play and compete, and yeah, I think he mentioned it. I’m not happy I left a 10-footer short on 17 to possibly tie the hole, and going up to the tee,

‘I let off some frustration hitting the board sideways, I kept walking, never stopped, that was it. If Brooks thinks that’s childish, it is what it is. He’s entitled to think what he thinks, and I mean, I don’t know what else to say.

He pulls a shot into the spectators on the left side of the fairway on hole 4.

It’s a poor hook, but thankfully everyone in the crowd is okay.

Meanwhile, his playing partner Spieth is there to pick up the slack, finding the green with his shot.

Homa’s just struck a beautiful tee shot on the fifth. He’s dropped the ball on the green, while Aberg hits over.

Fleetwood meanwhile, gets the ball on the green. He’ll have to get down in two here to help put the pressure on the Americans.

The Spaniard sits this afternoon’s session out, but is bringing the energy on the first tee!

Another missed putt for team Europe as Aberg misses the chance to hole a birdie on the fifth!

Burns knocks his in, to make it 2 up in their match too!

After Hojgaard and Fleetwood put their approach shots close to the hole, the Americans show they’re here to play.

Homa drains a 30-foot putt uphill towards the cup and it drops in!

The pressure’s now on Aberg who has to sink this, to stay level!

That’s two short missed putts on three and four for Hojgaard.

The US go 2 up in this match!

A big par on the second hole helps Spieth and Thomas stay all-square against Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre!

He’s got a birdie putt here to bring himself and Tommy Fleetwood back into this and claim a shot back of Max Homa and Brian Harman.

It’s sitting around 5 yards away from the flag!

McIlroy’s just hit a blind approach on the second and comes up short – he’ll likely be out of this hole depending on how his playing partners get on.

Elsewhere, Brian Harman’s just found the green on the par 3 fourth hole.

The course looks like its started to firm up a little bit after a few days of play, but there is a little bit of coolness in the wind, meaning the ball might be starting to carry less, but will roll more.

This week, the Marco Simone course will play as a par 71 stretching, to an impressive 7181 yards, a pretty long distance, but one that the players will be used to.

For context, the Torrey Pines south course, the site of the 2021 US Open stretched to a whopping 7765 yards, one of the longest tracks on the PGA Tour, while Augusta National spans to around 7510 yards.

And it will be hard to score this weekend. The course is set up with three par 5s and four par 3s, with the players being welcomed onto the front nine by a trio of par 4s.

Combining the distance, the heat and the undulating terrain and this course is set to be a real caddie killer – there are plenty of hills and blind shots out there, so staying hydrated during the long days will be key.

The course starts with a 445 yard par 4, with the green being well-protected on the the first hole which dog legs slightly left. A good start will be needed, with players to face an enormous 506 yard par 4 on the second, one of the hardest holes out there, which challenges players with a dog leg left.

The first par 3 comes in at the fourth hole. Stretching to 188 yards, the pin placement here will be pivotal – with it set up down the left side of the green then players will have a much easier chance to score birdie or better.

A 302 yard par 4 follows to cap off the first five holes which will again present a good opportunity for those who can drive the green, but the challenge here is the body of water snaking its way along the front-left of the green.

His stunning approach on four sees him get down in two and he gets off the mark with a birdie, as Morikawa can only hit out for par.

It means he’ll cut their deficit back to just one hole!

He has the chance to take the win on the first but his putt drifts wide of the hole!

It’s level on the first with Fitzpatrick hitting par to keep the match all square.

Looked like he was about to whack a ball into the spectators on the right, but he curls his chip shot around the tree trunk and back onto the fairway.

Meanwhile, Viktor Hovland has just put one within five feet of the pin on the fourth hole. But Aberg goes way left!

Europeans are battling here!

The US Team captain, Zach Johnson, says: ‘It’s genuinely one of the strongest and tightest teams I’ve been a part of.’

It comes after reports of a split in the US Team camp have emerged this morning, with Patrick Cantlay at the heart of those claims.

Mike Keegan has the full story below…

The opening group take a two-hole lead! Morikawa taps in after a great approach shot on hole three.

So we’re about to get underway here in the final four ball. It’ll see Matt Fitzpartrick & Rory McIlroy take on Patrick Cantlay & Wyndham Clark and will give us a chance to see McIlroy square off against Clark for the first time.

It comes after the 2023 US Open winner’s recent comments where he claimed he was better than the Northern Irish golfer.

Earlier this month, Clark said: ‘I have tons of respect for Rory and because of that respect, I also want to beat him. I like to think I am better than him and I want to prove that. I would love to play Rory – I think that would be really fun for the fans too. Long-ball hitters. We have similar games in that respect.

‘It would be a little bit of David and Goliath. I am hoping to get that chance. Regardless of who I play, I am really excited. But That one would be a lot of fun.’

It attracted much criticism from those around the golfing world, with Dame Laura Davies saying: ‘Yeah well I hadn’t seen that, my only answer would be “How many wins have you had, how many wins have I had?”‘

According to Sky Sports, Patrick Cantlay is at the heart of an internal dispute from within the US Team.

The californian is apparently sitting in a separate area of the visitors dressing room with close friend Xander Schauffele amid a divide from within the camp.

He’s the only player out on the course that, according to reports, is doing so out of protest at players not being paid to play at the Ryder Cup.

The US Team have refused to comment on the claims.

Mail Sport’s Mike Keegan has the latest below…

Homa and Harman take the first in the second group!

It’s a great start from the Americans so far! Homa taps in his excellent approach to put them 1 up against Fleetwood and Hojgaard.

Meanwhile, the third group of Justin Rose & Robert MacIntyre v Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth are getting underway here.

MacIntyre’s just slung a huge drive down the middle and Rose follows suit!

Meanwhile, Jon Rahm leads the viking thunderclap on the first tee. Luke Donald has confirmed he will be resting Rahm this session after he’s played three matches so far this tournament.

It’s advantage USA so far in the fourballs! Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa have gone a hole up on the first after Hovland was unable to hole out a birdie.

Meanwhile, the second group of Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard are out against Max Homa and Brian Harman.

Homa’s just struck a brilliant shot slap bang next to the flag on the first – he’s been playing brilliantly with his wedges!

Adding three more points to the 6.5 they won yesterday, Europe have raced ahead again today, winning three of this morning’s matches to go seven points clear of the USA heading into Saturday afternoon.

It is a huge lead, with Europe needing only another seven points to win back the Ryder Cup from the Americans.

With four more points up for grabs this afternoon, the European’s can, if they continue their dominant form, make a big dent in that target!

But the Americans are really starting to find some form and are fighting back here. Homa and Harman will be key to that after claiming a big point this morning – while Thomas and Spieth are also battling hard.

Saturday morning fourballs

• 2 & 1 Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood v Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth
• 9 & 7 Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg Scottie Scheffler & Brooks Koepka
• Shane Lowry & Sepp Straka v Max Homa and Brian Harman 4 & 2
• 2 & 1 Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton v Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele

Europe moved to within five points of Ryder Cup victory this monring, with Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg dismanteling world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, two goliaths of the US Team.

It was a huge win that even Justin Thomas couldn’t believe, with he and Jordan Spieth losing out to Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, despite climbing back into the lead against the European pairing.

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton also hung on in their game despite having to battle against Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.

But the US got one point back, with Max Homa dazzling with his irons to secure the first point of the day for Zach Johnson’s side.

Mail Sport’s MIke Dickson has the full reaction to this morning’s session here…

So Scottie has been pulled from the afternoon fourballs – but will that cost the American’s?

The world No 1 was in great form yesterday, but things didn’t seem to click for him out there this morning and he was left with his head in his hands.

It’s a bold move to leave him out though from Johnson, with Koepka also sitting this one out.

So Kickstarting the afternoon four balls we’ve got Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa coming out first for the US Team and Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg back after their stunning performance against Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

Burns sends a long drive down towards the bunkers at the top of the fairway on the first while Morikawa hits a big one towards the left and will set himself up for a decent shot in!

Meanwhile, Hovland gets a big roar from the crowd and he doesn’t disappoint – he splits the fairway in two!

Aberg follows Morikawa but goes a bit left into the deep rough on the left.

Here are the approximate strokeplay scores from Saturday morning’s fourballs….

• McIlroy / Fleetwood: -4 through 17
• Thomas / Spieth: E through 17
• Hovland / Aberg: -6 through 11
• Scheffler/ Koepka: +7 through 11
• Lowry / Straka: -4 through 16
• Homa / Harman: -7 through 16
• Rahm / Hatton: -4 through 17
• Cantlay / Schauffele: -3 through 17

The accuracy here from Rahm is sensational.

He and Hatton managed to hold out to a late comeback from Cantlay and Schauffele who claimed three holes in a row from the 12th to fight back against the European pair.

But a moment of magic from Rahm and back-to-back wins on 16 and 17 secure the third point of the morning foursomes for Europe.

Don’t go anywhere though because the afternoon session is set to kick off in around 20 minutes time!

Xander Schauffele’s ball lips out of the hole and he can’t make the birdie on the 17th.

It means Rahm and Hatton have clinched the final match of the morning fouresomes.

What a performance. They’ll win 2 & 1 and while Cantlay and Schauffele came back at the end in a gallant comeback, it was the Europeans who take the spoils, winning the session 3-1.

The overall score now sits at 9.5 – 2.5

Max Homa and Brian Harman defeated Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka to put the first point of the day on the board for the US Team.

It was a big victory too, with Homa clinching it with a chip onto the green at 16 to finish up 4 & 2.

Afterwards he said on the win: ‘We needed something to go our way. I felt like we were ready this morning. We were ready to come out and play some great golf which we did. Somebody had to start a spark, so I’m just glad it was us. Q. How fired up were you?

Harman added, speaking on Ludvig Aberg: ‘Ludvig has been playing so well, making so many putts, chipping in, so it was good to come out and at least put red up on the board.’

Homa also claimed that the US side have the character needed to stage a big comeback this afternoon.

He said: ‘We know how good we are. Everybody knows how good the man to my left is. We obviously are in a big hole but we have the right guys to dig ourselves out of it. Q. Can this give the team the spark you need?’

He nearly dropped one in yesterday, but he’s just put one to within less than a foot on 17!

What a shot! Hatton will tap in for birdie here.

But Cantlay responds with an equally impressive shot.

Schauffele has a chance to hit a birdie here too and take this to the last hole!

The afternoon fourballs have been announced and Luke Donald is sticking with his big guns up top.

• 11:25am – Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg v Sam Burns & Collin Morikawa
• 11:40am – Tommy Fleetwood & Nicolai Hojgaard v Max Homa & Brian Harman
• 11:55am – Justin Rose & Robert MacIntyre v Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth
• 12:10am – Matt Fitzpartrick & Rory McIlroy v Patrick Cantlay & Wyndham Clark

*all times in British Summer Time

It’s a huge putt for Hatton! This match looks like it could go the distance with the players currently on 16.

It’s Schauddele to putt to halve it with another birdie, but it’s a tricky one – down hill and to the left.

The nerves, pressure and tension are all on him and he misses.

Europe go one-up with two holes to play in the final match.

Justin Thomas was seen looking aghast talking to one of the Team US staff members this morning, mouthing the words ‘9 & 7’ after learning of Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg’s demolition over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka this morning.

Check out the full story below…

That’s a huge win for Europe! Fleetwood and McIlroy were full of elation after they wrapped up their match against Spieth and Thomas.

That’s two points on the board for Europe this morning.

They’ve pulled Hatton and Rahm back to evens and Cantlay has just got them out of a hole on the 15th, halving the hole with an excellent putt on the green.

Europe will be kicking themselves they’ve let this game fall through their fingers, having been 3 up at one stage.

Fleetwood said: ‘So many people on this planet dream of playing with Rory and I’m the one that’s been lucky enough to do it for the last few mornings. Just happy to be along for the ride and play some good golf.

‘Thankfully Rory bailed me out on the last one.’

After his victory against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy has claimed that this is one of the most special victories at a Ryder Cup he’s been a part of.

He said: ‘I think they get more special as they go along because you realise that you don’ have that many left. Hopefully I have a few Ryder Cups left in me. But it’s been an absolute pleasure to share the golf course with this man over the last few days.

‘Yeah. Last night we spoke about enjoying what we did yesterday and coming out and showing no mercy today and obviously the way Ludvig and VIktor started it off and we started off – that set the tone for the day again. Another great match. Delighted to get another point for team Europe.

Tommy Fleetwood’s putt on the par 3 17th goes way past the hole, but it doesn’t matter.

Rory McIlroy nails a stunning putt from 15 feet out to win the match against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

Fleetwood maintains an unbeaten record in foursomes, with a sigh of relief following that last hole.

He embraces his team-mate McIlroy as they walk off the 17th with another point.

It’s Homa and Harmon who clinch it. Homa has been incredible today sealing their match on the 16th with a stunning chip from off the green.

They take the third match 4 & 2.

The scores now go to 7.5 – 2.5.

He digs it out but the ball runs very far past the flag.

Meanwhile Straka has played a wonderous shot into the flag, with the ball just hanging over the edge of the hole, but it looks like USA will win this match now.

I think they’re arguing again that the ball is submerged under the ground, but its in a thick spot of rough.

They had the same problem earlier today and Tommy Fleetwood didn’t look too impressed – and the European’s don’t look too happy again.

Zach Johnson has waded in on the debate but it looks like they’ll have to play it as it lies!

Was that a jibe from Harman there? He dials a stunning shot straight at the pin on 17 before saying ‘Did any one see that?’

Paul McGinley and Dame Laura Davies on Sky commentary certainly think so!

THey’ve clawed their way back into the final match, with Schauffele putting out on 13 to win consecutive holes going birdie, eagle against Rahm and Hatton.

They’re back to 1 hole down!

A huge putt on the 15th from the Northern Irishman keeps them in it!

It’s back to just one-up in the first match! Spieth makes no mistake over the putt on 16 and now McIlroy and Fleetwood are only back to a one-hole advantage.

But they may have opened the door for Europe again. Thomas tees off on the 17th and puts his shot in the rough on the right.

McIlroy tees his ball up. Sends the ball right. But not as far right as Thomas. He gets lucky off the bank and it drops back onto the green. It’s not as good as his wonder striker here yesterday but its a great effort considering where Spieth will have to chip from in a moment.

Lowry and Straka have an opportunity to pull one back here and they need to win the next two holes at least to have a chnance of getting something out of this match.

Harman chunks his shot back onto the crest of a hill on the fairway on 15, but while he gets back in play, the shot is a poor one. Homa hits the third 15 feet to the green but they’ll be putting for par.

Europe have a shot to make birdie, but its from a little further out!

But he can’t quite make the birdie!

They’ll hope that the American’s can muss a birdie putt here to win the hole with McIlroy next to play for Europe.

He’s about 170 to the flag here with a tree in the way on 12. Addressing the ball he looks like he’s going to hit it left of the tree, but winds a lovely draw out wide back in to land his ball within a couple of feet of the pin.

Stunning approach play from the former FedEx Cup champion.

Rahm has a shot from a similar distance, with a better view into the hole but he misses the green giving the advantage to the americans.

Just as Spieth and Thomas were coming back into the match – McIlroy comes up with a moster putt.

It’s about 20 yards away from the hole and he judges the distance to perfection, with the ball almost coming to a stand still before dropping into the cup.

The Northern Irishman fist pumps the air as the crowd goes wild on 15.

He and Hatton are now 3 up through 11!

It was largely thanks to a stunning chip from Hatton, who puts the ball on a plate in front of the hole for the Spaniard who takes their lead to three against Schauffele and Cantlay.

He’s about 170 to the hole and is down hill.

He launches the ball high and he puts it on the front of the green, a good play, perhaps underclubbing a little, but it’s a solid position to putt from here.

The world No 1 looked distraught after coming off the course following his and Brooks Koepka’s landslide defeat to Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg

I have to say Max Homa’s been a big spark for the American side this morning.

His approach play has been phenomenal, landing yet another bomb on the green at the par 3 13th to give Harman an easy putt in for birdie. It’s a stunning shot too, with the ball pitching right next to the flag before stopping dead on the green.

Harman completes the birdie to put them three up against Lowry and Straka.

With Spieth and Thomas getting back to 1 down, we’ve got an American fight back on the cards here.

Homa nearly put it in for an Albatross on 12…

This might be even better than Hatton’s! Spieth’s gone from even further and across several undulations, putting his ball within a couple of inches of the hole for birdie.

It also wins them the hole bringing the deficit down to only one, with McIlroy and Fleetwood unable to tap in for par from distance.

They’re fighting back here!

That was agonisingly close. Playing from around 50 feet out, Hatton winds a stunning putt towards the hole and narrowly misses out on making birdie. It clips the edge of the cup and just can’t quite drop.

Schauffele will putt from off the green and strikes an equally well struck putt to halve the hole.

Meanwhile, Homa’s excellent approach puts the Americans 3 up against Lowry and Straka.

Max Homa’s just hit an approach to within a yard of the flag on 12!

What a shot! Harman will have a chance to put their match 3 up against Lowry and Straka, with the Austrian putting his ball right of the green and in the rough.

Fans in full voice at 6am this morning!

The crowd goes wild as Hovland and Aberg claim the first point of Saturday!

Meanwhile,. Europe have dropped three holes in their remaining matches.

Thomas and Spieth make a birdie on 13 to win the hole and cut their deficit to 12.

Homa and Harman add to their 1 up advantage against Lowry and Straka.

While Rahm misses a birdie putt at 9 to give Cantlay and Schauffele a chance to pull one back – and they win it! It’s now only 2 up in that game.

It’s the first point of day two and it goes Europe’s way, with Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg taking the win with seven holes left to play.

It is an enormous win against two of the best golfers right now, and the duo spoke on the victory after coming off the course.

Hovland said: ‘I mean we were meeting two strong guys, No 1 in the world and a five-time major champion. We tried to not give them any thing and we played really, really solid. Obviously, we didn’t mean to sharp Scottie and Brooks, but we played some really nice golf today.’

Aberg also gave a hint that he could be going out again in the fourballs this afternoon

The Swede said: ‘I don’t even know what to say and where to start, but it’s been an unbelievable day. We enjoyed it and had fun and felt the crowd’s support which was really important for us. Looking forward to doing it again this afternoon.’

On their Scandinavian partnership, Hovland said: ‘Yeah so far so good. I don’t think we could have done a whole lot better. It’s nice to speak our own language and we understand each other, have the same sense of humour, same culture.

‘I mean he’s a stud, he doesn’t miss a shot. It’s easy when I’m playing well and he’s playing well and we’re just feeding off eachother.’

Hovland and Aberg win it 9 & 7!

That’s the largest ever victory in a Ryder Cup match – dominance.

It’s even more impressive considering the stature of the American pairing they were up against.

Scottie Scheffler, a Masters champion who has six wins on the PGA Tour during his career and sits top of the world rankings right now. Koepka has five major titles to his name, including two US Opens and this years PGA Championship.

They finished up approximately seven-over in stroke play.

But Hovland and Aberg toppled the American’s with a performance that will go down in Ryder Cup history.

The European’s are beginning to stretch away here. He putts out a grat birdie to put even more distance between himself and Rahm and Schauffle and Cantlay.

From angry young man to one of Europe’s leaders, now elder statesman Tyrrell Hatton is asserting himself as a leader in the European side this weekend – read more on how he’s risen through the ranks to become one of the best golfers on the professional tours…

He’s got about 50 yards on Fleetwood’s strike, which wasn’t bad either!

Spieth will have a better angle in on the 12th here and can shape his shot around the slight dog-leg right to help get one back for the USA.

After a stunning drive from McIlroy on the short par 4 11, fleetwood drains the resulting birdie putt to restore their three-hole lead.

A great putt from Fleetwood, who still has a bit of work to do over that putt!

And he’s just slammed another one down the fairway on 12! What a partnership these two are forming!

Speaking yesterday on their partnership, McIlroy said: ‘It’s been an unbelievable session. We switched the format this year to go foursomes first because statistically that’s our better session. And all week, all we’ve been talking about is getting off to fast starts. Playing three-hole matches in practise, three holes, go again, three holes, go again, something that Luke’s drilled into us.

‘We were ready to go from the first tee shot as obviously as you can see in how everyone played. I’m so proud of this man alongside me. He can play with anyone. I’m just so happy that he’s my partner this week and so happy to get a point on the board for Europe.’

The World No 1 and the two-time US Open winner are now down by EIGHT holes against Hovland and Aberg.

They’re through ten holes heading on to the 11th now. This is one of the upsets of the week so far with the American duo being one of the strongest partnerships on Johnson’s side.

But Aberg and Hovland are just playing out of their skin!

He’s just hit a MASSIVE drive, hitting the ball 330 yards on the par 4 11th.

Fleetwood has a chance to restore the three-hole lead now.

Rory McIlroy has spoken out on the absence of LIV Golf players at this year’s Ryder Cup.

The Northern Irishman has been one of the most outspoken players on the tour following the arise of the shocking break away tour in 2022 and the jaw dropping merger between the pro tours that was announced earlier this season.

The likes of Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are all absentees this week, and McIlroy says that these stars of past Ryder Cups will miss the tournament more than they’ll be missed by those playing!

‘But I think this week of all weeks, it’s going to hit home with them that they are not here, and I think they are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them,’ he said earlier this week.

‘I think this week is a realisation that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week, and that’s tough. The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic, and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future.

‘I always thought leading up to this week is when it’s going to hit home that they are not going to be here.’

Spieth misses a birdie putt, but it is no problem. He picks up for the win with another shot in hand on the Europeans.

They’re back to two down in the opening group.

Advantage America! Tommy Fleetwood’s in a really nasty bunker here, but chunks his chip shot, not getting enough on the ball with it popping out of the bunker and bouncing into the rough on the hill infront of him.

McIlroy chips on to put the ball at the back of the green.

Spieth and Thomas will have a chance to get one back here with two putts to win it.

Wow they’re not letting up here!

They take a seventh hole against the goliath pairing of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

Scheffler needed to hole out a 40-yard chip over a bunker to halve the scores with Hovland and Aberg about ten yards from the pin.

It’s becoming a one sided affair this match, with the Euorpean duo playing out of thier skin.

Through the front nine, the World No 1 Scheffler and the five-time major winner, Koepka, are +6!

That’s a big coup for Homa and Harman.

Straka can’t find par and Homa is putting for birdie here.

He slides his putt short before picking up having got one back for his team.

What a putt! He hammers in from 15-yards out to win the sixth hole with a birdie!

He and Rahm are Two up against Cantlay and Schauffele!

McIlroy’s just floated a lovely approach to the green, landing his ball very close to the cup – receiving a big roar from the fans around the course.

Thomas can’t tap in to save for par and picks up, with Fleetwood Mac taking another win to go three up on the ninth hole.

Homa meanwhile is battling hard alongside Harman, with the American sending a stunning appraoch shot to the heart of the green on the 8th.

It’s not looking good for Zach Johnson’s side right now.

After Hovland and Rahm both rallied late on to halve their matches with putts on the 18th green, Justin Rose followed suit, halving his match with Robert McIntyre against Max Homa and Wyndham Clark at the death.

He had also found himself in the bunker before hand, and had looked to take a 3-wood out of the sand trap, before decidiing to lay up with a wedge insteead.

And it paid off, with Rose speaking on that climactic finish after the game: ‘That was my moment there on 18, which was for him and for us and the whole team.

I haven’t had many moments in Ryder Cups, I’ve had points, but I haven’t had that many moments in the afternoon in four-balls and had the whole team around. That was immense.’

Wow this is an absolute demolition! They’re hammering the US Team’s biggest pairing here!

Aberg picks up on the eighth hole to add another hole to their score.

McIlroy and Fleetwood are back to only a two-hole lead, with Spieth and Thomas getting one back!

Meanwhile Lowry can’t tap in a long-range put to put him and Straka ahead.

Here’s Straka’s brilliant approach from earlier…

What’s going on with Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka?

The two are perhaps the best players in the US Team, but they’re being absolutely overrun by Aberg and Hovland who have all the momentum at the moment.

After their brilliant showing against Rahm and Hojgaard yesterday, the Americans would have been buoyed by their match coming into this morning’s session, but they’re struggling to make puts and have been wayard with their approach play so far this morning.

It’s interesting, because the pair have so much experience between them playing at the top level.

Scottie Scheffler is the best player in the world right now sitting top of the Official World Golf Rankings, having also clinched his first major at the 2022 Masters.

Koepka, meanwhile, has five majors to his trophy haul, clinching the PGA Championship earlier this year.

But they’re five down through seven! Can they turn it around?

Homa misses a par putt on the sixth and Europe pick up, with a two-shot lead after Straka’s excellent approach shot to the pin.

They bring the scores back to level in what’s been an enthralling match so far with the European’s not letting the American’s pull away from them.

Here’s Thomas’ shot out the fough earlier this morning.

He takes a big hack at the ground and to be honest – there’s not a lot more he can do here on this horrible lie!

He’s got around 136-yards to the hole on the third and playing to win a hole back from Homa and Harman, he lofts the ball into the air and lands it just behind the flag stick.

It rolls back a little but its a perfect strike that will give Lowry a chance for an eagle!

He’s gone wide left but gets lucky. He dodges the stream going down the left side of the fairway with his ball sitting up on a flat piece of ground.

McIlroy will have a decent angle in here too, with the hole curling round to with a dog leg to the right.

Spieth meanwhile goes right with his tee shot!

Wow the American’s aren’t clicking this morning – Fleetwood and McIlroy have full momentum.

Spieth can win the seventh hole here with a putt from 10 feet out – but he sends it wide – they halve the hole!

Wow they are steaming away from Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka here!

Aberg taps in for birdie to make it frive through six!

Aberg dazzled earlier on the par three fourth nearly scoring an ace! But this time it’s Thomas who’s gone close – landing the ball on the green from 222-yards out, with his shot trickling down towards the hole.

That’s the boost they needed!

Hatton has two shots to win the second hole and slides a birdie putt to within a couple of feet of the hole!

He misses with the ball coming up short, but the European’s win the hole with Cantlay and Schauffele unable to reply.

The third game is still tied after Homa misses out on a ten foot putt for birdie and to take the advantage!

It’s a big missed chance for the US side, who have struggled on the greens today.

They seem to be playing a little slower this morning, with there being plenty of dew on the course at the start of the day.

Equally, Europe have set up the course in their favour, with the greens playing much slower than those we may find stateside.

Tommy Fleetwood watched on as Spieth and Thomas chatted with the official.

While we were watching Spieth and Thomas – Lowry and Straka have won a hole back against Homa and Harman, bringing their match back to all-square.

He’s int he thick grass and has a huge hack out of the grass.

He dislodges the ball from the ground, but accidentially kicks the ball after losing his balance – they will need to come back and check this!

Spieth meanwhile gets the ball back in play!

He’s got a chance to win another hole and put Europe five up against Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka – but it just doesn’t break enough – they’ll halve the fifth!

Here’s how close he came on the previous hole…

We’re on the sixth here and the ball is set in on some thick rough.

Spieth is asking for embedded relief here while it seems someone may have stood on the golf ball and compressed it into the ground.

There’s a second rules official taking a look now.

He has a chance to halve the hole on the fourth, but he leaves his ball hanging on the edge of the hole!

It’s four up in the second match for Team Europe now!

Aberg and Hovland are on fire here! They’re onto the par 3 fourth hole now and it’s the Swede’s turn to hit off the tee.

He sends the crowd wild, playing a stunning 188-yard wedge shot, dropping the ball right next to the pin!

Scheffler follows suit with an equally impressive tee shot, but its the European’s who are closer to the flag. Hovland has a chance to hole out for a birdie here!

Scheffler and Koepka have had a torrid start this morning – they’re five over through three holes!

A sensational putt from the two-time PGA Championship winner who holes a 20-yard putt to put the pressure back on McIlroy and Fleetwood.

They win the hole with a birdie – with the Northern Irishman unable to match them.

After Aberg’s sensational chip onto the green, Hovland makes no mistake tapping the ball in on the third to put the duo three holes up.

It’s a poor start from Koepka and Scheffler, who card another double bogey!

Big fist pump from Tyrrell Hatton as he and Jon Rahm tie the first hole, with the Englishman draining a putt from 10 feet out.

It’s the Open champion who gets the first bit of red on the board!

He holes out for a birdie on the second hold to take a hole lead against Lowry and Straka.

Meanwhile, Aberg’s nearly chipped in on the third!

US Team captain Zach Johnson has given an update on the ‘health issue’ that has been affecting his players.

Johnson revealed last night during his press conference that the US Team had been affected by a sickness and today gave an update to Sky Sports, saying that ‘it had affected a small portion of his players’ with those affected ‘responding really well to antibiotics’.

Zach Johnson: ‘It’s a small portion of the players. There’s some guys that haven’t been feeling the best. Thankfully weve got a great medical staff. Furthermore they’ve responded really well to the antibiotics it’s just part of it. That’s sport and its not an excuse.

‘As I’ve said in my presser, to Luke and his team. They played awesome. My concern is the response of my guys and it’s been very, very positive. There’s leaders in the team, there’s leaders in the vice-captains. This team’s ready. New opportunity today.’

‘Given certain things, you kind of have to navigate it. It’s not like we have set plans necessarily. We have contingencies based on this that and the other and this is one of them.’

Europe have got off to a fast start – but Homa and Harman look like they’ve come to play!

Homa lands the green on 2, giving his partner a pretty nice par putt in to take an advantage

Aberg puts the duo on the green with an excellent approach, with Hovland knocking in a par putt from close range to give them a two-hole lead against the Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

What a start for the Europeans!

Stunning fade from Rahm! He gets his team underway! He lands his drive inthe middle of the fairway.

The final fourseomes match of the morning! We’ve got Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton going head-to-head with Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.

And it’s a good drive from Cantlay – the first American this morning to find the fairway!

An awful start for Spieth and Thomas. They have a lot of work to do to come back from this!

Spieth misses a difficult par putt on the third green to concede the third hole!

Equally, it’s been an epic start for Fleetwood Mac – they’ve been excellent so far this morning.

The Open Champion holes out a very well-taken par to tie the first hole.

That was a beautiful chip shot form the two-time PGA Championship winner. He finds himself not far out from the green but in a really horrible lie, on a hill with some really thick rough.

He lofts the ball into the air, dropping it on the green, before watching it trickle towards the hole, missing only by a couple of feet.

McIlroy has a birdie putt to put him and Fleetwood three up – but he can’t make it!

Fleetwood’s back again to dazzle with the putter!

Harman does well to get his ball out of the thick stuff on the first, but his shot comes up short of the green.

Scheffler, on hole 2, is also having some difficulties finding the dance floor. His ball comes in too hot and skirts off the back of the green towards the spectators behind the rope.

Spieth is about 190-yards out from the green hitting over a ravine, but can’t find the green.

His approach hooks left and careers into a group of spectators on the left of the green, before rolling off down a slope.

Fleetwood, meanwhile, lands his shot on the green from 180 yards.

The third group has just teed off! Max Homa will hit first for the US Team.

But he too goes right in pretty much the same spot as Spieth and Scheffler!

Straka steps up to address his ball and sends an absolute beauty right down the middle of the fairway!

It’s a double on the first for the Americans! That gives Aberg and Hovland the win on the second – with the European pair holding a two shot advantage!

They’ll go one-up after the first with Aberg picking the ball up on the green after the American’s conceded the first.

Sensational putting from the Englishman. His putter has been on fire this weekend so far.

He holes a huge 30 foot putt on the second hole to double Europe’s lead!

What a partnership this is and a great start for Luke Donald’s side!

It’s a great putt and it comes close! He’s weighted the ball very well – but can’t quite get the line right, with the ball drifting off right.

In the second group, Aberg’s excellent chip on gives him and Hovland a two-putt chance to tap in, with Scheffler putting for bogey.

A huge tifo of Seve Ballesteros has been unveiled in the grand stands on the first tee.

The Spaniard played in 37 matches, winning an astounding 22.5 points for his side.

During his career he also won two Green Jackets and three Open Championships, while helping the European team to five wins as a player and as a captain in 1997.

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood take the first point of the day!

Jordan Spieth can’t get his par putt in the hole, giving Europe a two shot advantage.

McIlroy can’t quite nail the birdie, but the American’s will concede the first, with Fleetwood able to tap in for par.

Some drive from Hovland! He’s still bounding from yesterday’s superb performance and has sent his drive absolutely miles down the middle of the fairway!

Scheffler tees off for the US and follows Jordan Spieth, sending his ball wide right into the rough.

A good wedge on from Thomas there. America are on the green in three though so will need to tap this in to for par.

Back to the first now and our second grouping of Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg are on the first tee.

Aberg, 23, earned his PGA Tour card earlier this year after finishing top of his class at the PGA Tour University. And it’s been a whirlwind season so far for the Ryder Cup rookie – clinching his first DP World Tour title at the Omega European Masters earlier this season. He made his debut on the PGA Tour at the RBC Canadian Open, sensationally finishing -7 at T25 – not a bad start for your first tour event.

Speaking on his equally impressive start at the Ryder Cup on Friday, he said: ‘I was very nervous this morning, but it was really cool. I had Viktor alongside me, kind of a comfort speaking the same language and having fun together. Felt like we handled that very well and hit some nice shots, too, to get the point to Europe.’

Spieth opts to play the safe route from a tricky lie on the right side of the fairway.

He sends his shot up the fairway and gives Thomas a good shot in.

Meanwhile, Fleetwood has a slightly better lie from the left rough. It’s worth noting that Fleetwood is ranked first on the PGA Tour for going for the green birdie or better as well as coming in fifth for scrambling.

He lofts a lovely wedge into the heart of the green, with the ball catching on the dancefloor before trickling towards the flag.

Andrew Coltart yesterday slammed the US Team’s inadequate preparation ahead of the tournament this weekend.

The Sky Sports pundit, who took on Tiger Woods in the singles of the 1999 Ryder Cup, raised questions over the decision by some of the US Team’s players to take five weeks off ahead of the tournament.

‘I have a massive question, and Zach Johnson is going to get hit with this,’ Coltart told Sky Sports.

‘Who on earth in their right mind thinks the best way to prepare for a Ryder Cup is to take five weeks off?

‘Absolutely, categorically, no,’ he said when asked whether Europe’s day one lead could be predicted.

‘We thought, two years ago, that they [USA] were going to be in this for the long haul – 10 years of domination.

‘But their team has been a little bit depleted… and our top players didn’t pitch up at Whistling Straits. Today that’s exactly what they did do.’

Thomas pushes his drive right into the rough towards the spectators. Spieth will have a tough shot in from there.

McIlroy goes the other side, missing the fairway in the second cut. It’s not a bad view into the hole from there for Fleetwood, but it’ll be a tough one to dig out.

Here’s how Tommy Fleetwood warmed up for his round on the range…

Best friends and stalwarts of the US Team – these guys will be a tough match up.

The pair have a combined 16 points at the Ryder Cup. Together they have five majors and 28 PGA Tour career wins.

And it’s Thomas to get us underway!

They come out arm in arm to huge applause and chants of ‘Tommy, Tommy Fleetwood!’

They were excellent yesterday, with Fleetwood dazzling with the putter in the morning session, while McIlroy’s wedge play was equally impressive.

Luke Donald has just stepped out onto the first tee to greet the fans! He’s taken a pretend swing off the tee and boy I’ll bet he’d love to be out there with his sticks.

He’s named some strong pairings today with Fleetwood and McIlroy coming up against Thomas and Spieth in our opening match, and Donald says his main objective this morning is to get off to another solid start.

Donald: ‘Of course we’ll be thinking about that. But tomorrow I’m really focused on going out tomorrow morning and showing another strong session and trying to win that session.

‘That will be our only goal for tomorrow morning, and it will be some wider thoughts, obviously, for Saturday afternoon and the singles, but this is a great start, and we want to build on that lead.’

The Englishman looks pumped out there too! He’s leading the fans in a huge thunder clap, and he has reason to be! Europe were very impressive yesterday and reflecting on Friday, Donald claimed it was ‘an amazing rollercoaster.’

‘Yeah, Ryder Cups are always full of amazing roller coasters and swings throughout the day. Obviously this morning felt a lot more comfortable than this afternoon. We got off to a fast start this morning. We held it; to win 4-0 was very special. But this afternoon the U.S. for a while there were holing putts.

‘They were turning around matches. Again, we got off to a pretty good start, but they fought back. And we knew they would. They are a strong team. There’s a lot of talent on that team. But what we did going down 18 just shows the determination, the grit, the perseverance, kind of the unity of our team.

‘They never gave up, and they kept pushing till the very end. And to hole putts like Viktor did, like Jon did, and of course Rosey, right at the end, that is huge. It really looked like 3-1 at one point for the U.S. 5-3 is really — they are well back in the game. But to win that session, when it looked like 3-1, is an unbelievable feat by my guys.’

It’s starting to get a little fiery out there! Brooks Koepka took a swipe at Jon Rahm yesterday in his post match press conference.

It came after Scheffler hit a sensational birdie putt on 17 to give them a one-hole lead going into the 18th.

According to Sky Sport’s Rich Beem, Rahm, disappointed with his performance failing to hole out for a birdie to match Scheffler, took his frustrations out on an advertising board surrounding the tee box.

But Koepka hit out at Rahm’s actions claiming Rahm had ‘acted like a child’.

‘So yes, I mean I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did but, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we’re adults. We move on.’

The first tee is bouncing already!

• It is the first time Europe have had a clean sweep in the opening session.
• It is the first time since 1989 that either side has won a session without trailing in any match.
• Europe tied the record for haivng the largest lead going into day two – after they secured a five point lead.
• The first time that Rory McIlroy has won both of his matches on a Friday.
• The first time USA have not won a match in an entire day.

Zach Johnson revealed in a press conference on Friday that the US Team were struggling with a sickness bug within the camp.

Yesterday was a brutal day for the Americans in Rome, suffering a 4-0 whitewash in the opening session, before going on to fail to win a match in the fourballs.

But there may be a reason for their slow start, with Johnson revealing that there may have been an illness in camp yesterday.

‘There’s been some unforeseen things that we’ve had to navigate around, which is really unfortunate, in the sense of health,’ The US Team captain said on Friday.

‘It’s not an excuse, because we have depth, but I’ll just say, I’m grateful we have a team doctor.

He added: ‘We’re just fighting things, I mean, internally. It’s kind of passed around a little bit, caddies, players.

‘It is what it is. But it’s nothing more than that. Guys are fighting and playing regardless. I mean, it’s not anything that’s kind of weighed us down because of the depth we have and because of the many options we think we have.’

Early start today! Fleetwood Mac are already on the practice green ready to go out here at 6:35am!

Luke Donald has named a pretty much unchanged quad of parings to go out for the fourballs this morning but has tweaked the order slightly.

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood will go out first today after going out last yesterday in the morning session, while Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will go out last.

In the US Team, Zach Johnson has opted to keep Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in the opening group following on from yesterday’s fourballs. Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, who looked dominant yesterday in the fourballs go out second again, in a huge pairing. Max Homa and Brian Harman follow and Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay make up the final US Pairing.

6:35am – Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood v Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth

6:50am – Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg v Scottie Scheffler & Brooks Koepka

8:05am – Shane Lowry & Sepp Straka v Max Homa and Brian Harman

8:20am – Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton v Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of day two at the Ryder Cup!

It was Team Europe’s day yesterday, with Luke Donald’s side stopping the Americans from picking up a single point at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club – the first time they’ve failed to win a point during a day at the Ryder Cup in the history of the tournament.

Europe steamed ahead to a 4-0 lead in a superb morning session, before they. would overturn what looked to be a 3-1 swing to the US Team in the afternoon, with all of Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm and Justin Rose halving their matches with superb putts on the 18th green in dramatic fashion.

While the US Team fought back in the afternoon, Europe would ultimately take a 6.5-1.5 lead heading into Saturday.

So as we gear up for day two, we’ll be recapping on all the action and fall out from what was a thrilling day in Rome…