Europe hit the nail on the head on day two of the Ryder Cup in Rome on Saturday, needing just four points to win golf’s most prestigious event, but the United States hasn’t said its final word.
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Before the final day, when 12 individual duels are on the program and a total of 12 points are at stake, the Europeans lead by 10.5 to 5.5 points.
They can therefore quickly reach the score of 14.5 points, equivalent to the victory of Europe, two years after the defeat against Whistling Straits in Wisconsin (19-9).
Conversely, if the Americans want to retain the trophy and claim their first victory on European soil since 1993, they will have to put in a monumental performance and be nearly flawless in the singles.
“We are in a good position,” summarized European captain Luke Donald. For a week of being with these guys, I see a team that has heart and is united, I’m confident.
Since its founding in 1927, the Ryder Cup has made a habit of showing that nothing is impossible.
After Saturday’s morning session, mass appeared to be for the United States. With a seven-point lead (9.5 to 2.5), the Americans no longer knew which way to turn on a course where they could see St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance.
It is symbolic that Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, burst into tears after his defeat against two Scandinavian prodigies in conjunction with Brooks Koepka, the winner of five Grand Slam tournaments.
The Norwegian Viktor Hovland and the Swede Ludvig Aberg, 26 and 23 years old respectively, prevailed against them and secured the biggest victory in the history of the Ryder Cup with a score of 9 and 7.
But Hovland and Aberg, who won one of the three European Cup victories in the morning, were disillusioned in the afternoon, like all their partners.
They lost heavily to Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa (4 & 3), one of the afternoon’s three European defeats.
The United States remains hopeful
The victory in the last game of Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark against Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy (1 margin) allows the United States to keep hope alive.
In a heated atmosphere and with thousands of spectators gathered around hole No. 18, where this match was decided, the Ryder Cup suffered one of the incidents that made its legend: Cantlay’s caddy provoked the European crowd and then disturbed McIlroy , who still had to putt and could secure a draw.
“It was exaggerated,” lamented Donald, who nevertheless congratulated the Americans on this final victory of hope, which could weigh heavily.
“It’s the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe this win will allow us to get back on track and achieve something great on Sunday,” hoped Cantlay.
“Our backs are against the wall, but this team is made up of good players, we will give it our all and fight like hell,” added Brian Harman.