MX23RW : Tuesday, December 17 01:57:38| >> :600:385336528:385336528:

Live Commentary: Ryder Cup - USA 13.5-14.5 Europe - as it happened

Who will get their hands on the Ryder Cup? Find out with Sports Mole's live text coverage of the final day's singles matches at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the final day of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois.

Ian Poulter's heroics late on day two has revived Europe's fortunes in this famous competition, engulfing Jose Maria Olazabal's men in a wave of optimism ahead of today's 12 singles matches.

The team will also be wearing the famous navy and white colours of the late Seve Ballesteros.

Four and a half points are all that separates America from regaining the Samuel Ryder trophy, while Europe need eight points to retain the Cup.

The last time a team came back from four points down heading into the final day was in 1999, when a US team captained by Ben Crenshaw triumphed in the 'Battle of Brookline'.

Latest singles scores (updated 11.00pm):

Bubba Watson loses 3&1 Luke Donald
Webb Simpsonloses 2 up Ian Poulter
Keegan Bradley loses 2&1 Rory McIlroy
Phil Mickelson loses 1 up Justin Rose
Brandt Snedeker loses 5&3 Paul Lawrie
Dustin Johnson wins 2&3 Nicolas Colsaerts
Zach Johnson wins 2&1 Graeme McDowell
Jim Furyk loses 1 up Sergio Garcia
Jason Dufner wins 2 up Peter Hanson
Matt Kuchar loses 3&2 Lee Westwood
Steve Stricker loses 1 up Martin Kaymer
Tiger Woods halves with Francesco Molinari


12.10amThat's me just about done for the day. I hope you've enjoyed Sports Mole's coverage of perhaps the greatest day ever in golf. Keep checking back on the site throughout the night and morning for more reaction to EUROPE's astonishing, sensational, marvellous etc. etc. victory. Good night!

12.06amThe memory and inspiration of Seve is one of the overbearing factors about this famous victory. He definitely willed a few of those putts in today.

12.04amHere's Rory McIlroy on Twitter: "Wow!!!!!!! Did that just happen!!!!??? Unbelievable performance from all the boys today! Seve..... This one is for you!! #EUROPE"

12.03amThe players have now made their way inside to change into their suits for the closing ceremony.

11.59pmDaily Mirror journalist Ollie Holt, from Medinah, on Twitter: "My oh my. Even in the context of this unbelievable year of sport, that was something special. What a day. What a victory for Europe."

11.58pmEuropean VC Darren Clarke: "We got flat-out outplayed the first couple of days."

11.56pmWe've got plenty of reporters covering the reaction to Europe's victory. Find all the stories by clicking here.

11.55pmMore from Bubba on Twitter: "Seve is/would be so proud! #TeamEurope" Well said, Sir.

11.52pmLawrie: "Every player thought we could do it this morning."

11.49pm"Our beer will taste better than their beer but we're still all friends," says Westwood.

11.48pmWestwood: "I can't put it into words (how important Poulter's performance was last night)."

11.46pmFamous golf coach and Sky Sports pundit Butch Harmon describes this as the "greatest day in golf".

11.45pmYes, Kaymer did brilliantly to get it done with all the pressure on the last, but the plaudits today have to go to Donald, Poulter, Garcia, Rose and Lawrie.

11.41pmLet's not forget, Kaymer was probably the worst European by a long way this weekend and he's the one in all the TV montages.

11.39pmPoulter adds that Seve would be proud of the team. He sure would.

11.38pmPoulter: "I can't explain what this means." The Englishman won all four of his matches this weekend. Remarkable.

11.36pmHere's the defeated Bubba Watson on Twitter: "Wow! What a finish. Congrats to Europe! #RyderCup"

11.35pmMolinari reveals that most of the team were in tears during Olazabal's speeches.

11.35pmHere's Darren Clarke on Twitter: "Told you!!! :-) #teameurope"

18th greenEach European player now has a blue flag or one from their own country draped over their backs. Another classy quote from Love: "This wasn't good for us but good for golf."

18th greenHere's Davis Love III, Jose Maria's opposite number, and he says that Seve must have been here in spirit. Nice.

18th greenThe moment when Jose Maria took off his cap, broke down and looked to the sky in memory of Seve was amazing. Raw emotion.

18th greenJM points to Rose and Sergio winning their matches on the last hole. He's right. He says this is his "best ever achievement", eclipsing his triumph in the Masters.

18th greenMore JM: "I cannot explain it. The guys did so well."

18th greenHere's Jose Maria: "I had a few thoughts for my friend Seve. This one is for him (cries)." Touching.

18th greenAmazingly, Woods has missed his short putt back and Europe have not only retained the Ryder Cup, they've won it outright.

18th greenI can see Diane Donald, an American through and through, in the European team huddle. She's loving it.

18th greenMolinari's birdie try looks good all the way but just slides by. Woods has a chip to win the match and it lips out! Great effort.

18th greenMcIlroy adds that winning as part of a team is far better than winning on your own. He says the party tonight is going to be "off the charts."

18th greenRory McIlroy to Sky Sports: "Ian Poulter is what the Ryder Cup is all about." Poults has tears in his eyes. Magic.

18th greenThe European fans are chanting "you're not singing anymore!" Brilliant.

18th holeThat's brilliant captaincy from Olazabal. He's stuck with Molinari despite the fact that most of his team is down the fairway celebrating.

18th holeMolinari must be hating this. He's still got to finish his match up but he'll want to be celebrating.

CURRENT SCORE:USA 13-14 EUROPE

EUROPE RETAIN THE RYDER CUP!

18th holeWoods and Molinari still have to complete their match despite all the celebrations.

18th greenThere's jubilation all around! I cannot believe Europe have done this! One of all-time great days in Ryder Cup and sporting history.

18th greenCOME ON! HE'S GOT IT!

18th greenThe German has a five-footer. COME ON.

18th greenIt's all on Kaymer now. This is just huge. "USA! USA! USA!" scream the crowd. Come on Martin, this is the biggest moment of your life.

18th greenStricker...MAKES IT!

18th greenI can't believe Kaymer didn't put that next to the hole.

18th greenStricker has to make this...

18th teeWoods finds the fairway off the tee, Molinari in a bunker.

18th greenThis should still be Europe's but if Stricker misses this then there's so, so much pressure on Kaymer.

18th greenUnbelievable. Stricker now has to hole from about seven feet.

18th greenKaymer's putt drifts past and that's not dead.

18th greenKaymer now has a 25-footer and all he has to do is put it next to the hole.

17th greenWoods goes 1 up as Molinari misses but back to 18...

18th greenWhat a dreadful, dreadful putt. Nowhere near troubling the cup. I think Europe have done it!

18th greenHere he goes...

18th greenThe European team are ready and waiting at the 18th to spring on and celebrate.

18th greenStricker's really taking his time here. It's his own fault for hitting such a poor approach.

17th greenWoods's birdie try doesn't make it so Molinari will have a putt for the half but like I say, that might not matter.

18th greenHe's a long way from the hole. Surely not?

18th greenIf Stricker misses this then it could be all over.

17th greenMolinari thins his chip but that might not even matter if Kaymer can half the last.

18th holeI don't think that'll be good enough for Stricker. His approach from the fairway is at the back of the green. Remember, Kaymer just needs a half.

18th holeKaymer's in the fairway bunker and OH YES! That's on the green.

11.01pmAnother great stat: The last Ryder Cup in which no matches were halved was USA's 8-4 win against GB in 1955.

17th teeIt's pretty good from Woods, similarly clearing the hole like Molinari but he's still on the green.

17th teeCan Tiger do what Tiger does?

17th teeIt's a cracking strike from the Italian, too good in fact as it sails over the flag and just off the back.

17th teeEuropean captain Olazabal is by the side of Francesco on 17. Just stick it on the green lad.

18th teeKaymer's in the fairway bunker I think. Stricker needs a straight one and he gets it. This isn't over yet.

16th greenFrancesco for the half and yes, he's made it. To the treacherous 17th they go...

17th greenKaymer can though! Let's see some German efficiency down the last, if you don't mind.

16th greenAaaah! Molinari can't hole!

17th greenSTRICKER MISSES! Can Kaymer knock it in?

16th greenWoods's putt is so, so close to dropping for birdie but it doesn't and now Molinari could go 1 up.

17th greenKaymer's lag putt is decent and Stricker has overhit his chip.

10.49pmMirror journalist Ollie Holt, who is at Medinah, seems to agree with me: "This is unbelievable. 13-13 with two games left on the course. And both of those games are all-square. Best finish in Ryder Cup history?"

10.48pmI can't believe how close this is. It's 13-13 overall and the last two matches are all square! If it stays this way, Europe retain the Ryder Cup.

16th holeBoth men are on the green on 16 but Molinari is much closer after a fabulous approach.

CURRENT SCORE:USA 13-13 EUROPE

18th greenJASON DUFNER BEATS PETER HANSON 2 UP!

18th greenHanson misses and that's a 13th point for America.

10.44pmHere's an interesting stat: Europe were actually 10-4 down at one stage. Now 13-12 ahead. Have won 9 of last 11 matches that have finished.

18th greenDufner's putt is close, but it's no gimme. Hanson will now try and hole for par to force the chubby American to sink his own.

16th greenCan he do it? Yes he can. Match remains all square and they go to the dangerous 17th.

16th greenKaymer and Stricker escape the sand to the same distance and it'll now be a putting contest for par. Kaymer sinks it. Pressure on Stevie...

18th holeHanson has tugged his approach to 18, while Dufner has found the dancefloor. He's a long way away though. Hanson has to win the hole to half remember.

10.38pmSo, there's just three matches left on course and Europe need a total of one point. The projected score makes it look that way.

16th green"That's a nervewracking day! Once you see that leaderboard go blue, you just don't want to let anyone down," Lee Westwood tells Sky Sports.

15th greenHe never gave that a chance, nowhere near the hole.

15th greenWoods's birdie try from the back of the green is short and so Molinari now has a putt to go ahead.

10.35pmIf you want to see the latest scorecard then manually refresh the page. If you're hands aren't shaking too much like mine.

18th greenOh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Furyk's short putt just slides past and Europe just need ONE MORE POINT!

CURRENT SCORE:USA 12-13 EUROPE

18th greenSERGIO GARCIA BEATS JIM FURYK 1 UP!

CURRENT SCORE:USA 12-12 EUROPE

18th greenGarcia misses his birdie try so now Furyk must hole for a half.

16th greenLEE WESTWOOD BEATS MATT KUCHAR 3&2

18th greenSo, Garcia is at the front of the green and will see what Furyk does with his mammoth putt from the rough at the back.

15th greenStricker missed his birdie and all Kaymer needs to do is get it close but he's run it way by.

14th greenSTRAIGHT IN from Molinari and that's now all square vs. Woods.

18th holeGarcia finds the front of the green before Furyk goes off the back.

14th greenIn the final match, Woods has played a bad bunker shot and now Molinari has a birdie putt to bring it back level.

15th holeKaymer's little wedge into 15 is not good. Stricker, who is 1 down, comes up slightly short but he's in a much better position.

16th greenDufner is now dormie 2 on Hanson after the Swede's birdie just slipped by!

18th teeGarcia finds the middle of the fairway, Furyk in a fairway bunker!

10.16pmI'm getting nervous. From how it looks, the Americans are going to nab it 14.5 - 13.5!

17th greenIt doesn't come back and Sergio is back level. They'll go to the 18th! "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole!" chant the Europeans.

17th greenGarcia's lag putt on 17 was excellent and now Furyk has to hole from the front of the green for a half. This could be the Ryder Cup, right here.

14th greenStricker's chip from the back of 14 doesn't go in and so Kaymer is now 1 up.

15th greenKuchar....MISSES! 3 up, three to play.

15th greenWestwood IN for birdie at 15 and now Kuchar has to hole to avoid going dormie 3.

17th greenFuryk just about keeps his bunker shot on the green but this hole looks to be going Garcia's way.

14th greenKaymer needs a strong finish and he's just birdied 14. Stricker still to putt for his 4 though.

17th teeFuryk's tee shot on 17 is in the bunker and Garcia finds the green!

10.08pmGive us a quick manual refresh and there'll be an updated scorecard above.

13th greenWoods has just made a putt on 13 and he's now 1 up for the first time.

17th greenZach lags his birdie attempt up near the hole and that's good enough for an American point. They require just two and a half.

CURRENT SCORE:USA 12-11 EUROPE

17th greenZACH JOHNSON BEATS GRAEME MCDOWELL 2&1

16th greenGARCIA! Sergio's bunker shot is centimetres from going on before Furyk thinks he's made the putt but it lips out! Unbelievable.

15th greenHanson's birdie attempt is in! No it's not! It looks good all the way but stops just short! Dufner makes no mistake from close in and he's now 2 up, three to play.

10.00pmStill can't believe I'm saying this but Europe need just three points to retain the Ryder Cup.

14th greenKuchar holes for birdie but so does Westwood so the Englishman is still 2 up.

15th greenHanson also hit a nice drive just short of the green but his chip has just gone way past the hole. Not good.

15th teeDufner has played a fantastic approach to the short 15th.

13th greenStricker's made it count on 13 after Kaymer found the water so it's all square in that one.

9.56pmAnother quick nudge in the direction of a manual refresh as I've just updated the above scorecard. Merci.

16th greenZach J makes his par save so he's now dormie 2.

14th greenHanson is back to just 1 down.

12th greenTiger lips out on 12 with a chance to level the match.

16th greenMcDowell misses a great chance to get it back to 1 down on 16. Zach J still has to make his though.

13th teeThe veteran American ensures that he doesn't follow suit, going in the left-hand bunker.

13th teeKaymer, after just going 1 up on Stricker, has just dumped his tee shot in the water. Uh oh.

9.47pmUnbelievably, the projected score puts it at 14-14. That's enough for Europe to retain the trophy.

CURRENT SCORE:USA 11-11 EUROPE

18th greenRose tells Sky Sports that to hole the putt on 17 was one of the greatest moments of his life.

18th greenThe Englishman sinks it from 12 feet on 18 and that's an incredible turnaround!

18th greenJUSTIN ROSE BEATS PHIL MICKELSON 1 UP!

14th greenFuryk finds the corner of the cup from the fringe to move 1 up on Garcia.

18th holeMickelson with a serious misjudgement down the last as he overshoots from the fairway. Rose is safely on the green though and could snatch this!

9.35pmThat one got away for Colsaerts. He had that tiny putt to win early on the back nine and ended up three-putting to go behind.

CURRENT SCORE:USA 11-10 EUROPE

16th greenDUSTIN JOHNSON BEATS NICOLAS COLSAERTS 3&2

9.30pmSo Europe have won all four completed matches so far today and we're now back level!

17th greenFirst Mickelson comes within millimetres of holing his chip from off the back before ROSE holes a mammoth putt for the win!

17th greenAmazing scenes on 17!

18th greenSimpson's birdie putt flies past the hole and he concedes to the mighty Poulter.

CURRENT SCORE:USA 10-10 EUROPE

18th greenIAN POULTER BEATS WEBB SIMPSON 2 UP!

CURRENT SCORE:USA 10-9 EUROPE

17th greenMcIlroy's speaking to Sky Sports and he says he had to get to the course in a police car this morning after oversleeping because of some confusion over time difference. We don't care, it's another point for Europe.

15th greenHowever, Colsaerts has just lost the 15th and Dustin J is now 2 up with three to play.

9.23pmIt's all going Europe's way as Garcia pulls back to all square, Molinari goes 1 up on Woods and Hanson wins a third in a row against to Dufner to cut it to 1 down.

17th greenSorry to overlook McIlroy's triumph but that is amazing grit from Poulter!

18th holeThe Englishman was really in trouble down the right but he's just plonked it onto the heart of the green. Simpson has to get it close but he can't! He's down the back of the green.

18th holeOH IAN POULTER, IAN POULTER!

17th greenRORY MCILROY BEATS KEEGAN BRADLEY 2&1

16th greenMickelson somehow gets up and down from the bunker and now Rose has to hole to avoid going dormie 2.

9.18pmAgain, I've just updated the above scorecard. You know what to do (manual refresh).

18th teePoulter pushes his drive down the right before Simpson finds the fairway. Can Webb draw level on the last?

15th greenLawrie says that Europe can't get ahead of themselves but it's a perfect start to the day. 2 from 2.

15th greenPAUL LAWRIE BEATS BRANDT SNEDEKER 5&3

17th greenHE MISSES! Poulter goes 1 up as they go to 18!

17th greenPoulter tickles his next to the hole and now Simpson has a huge putt for a half from 15 feet. Massive, massive moment.

12th greenFuryk goes 1 up on Garcia.

11th greenHanson has just won two in a row to bring it back to 2 down against Dufner.

17th greenSimpson has a tough lie in the bunker but he does well to get it to six feet. Poulter now to win the hole...

14th greenDustin J is back to 1 up after a fine birdie at the par five. The pair of big hitters now go to the short par 4.

15th greenSomehow, Mickelson misses! They head to the 16th with Phil just 1 up.

15th holeRose duffed his original bunker shot but has put his second to gimme range. Mickelson has a short one to go 2 up though.

17th teeHe's not in the water but safely in the bunker at the back. Advantage Poults.

17th teeCan he find the green? Can he?

17th teePoulter finds the heart of the green with his and now the pressure is so strong on Simpson.

14th greenSnedeker finds the cup from six feet and Lawrie is now dormie 4.

16th greenSimpson makes his short par putt and that pivotal match now goes to the signature 17th.

14th greenLawrie's putt for the match just slides by and now Snedeker will have one to stay in the match.

16th greenThe boy doesn't miss! That's a fine par from where he was.

16th greenSimpson's tough shot from off the back is good and goes close. Poulter now has a four-footer that he'll tickle down the hill. Massive putt.

16th holePoulter put his second way right on the long par 4 but his pitch is incredible. Almost stone dead.

15th greenMcIlroy goes 2 up on Bradley with three to play as at the ninth, Stricker misses a putt for a half and Kaymer goes 1 up.

14th greenRose's eagle try at 15 was rubbish and now Mickelson has a birdie putt to win and he holes it. Bad putting from Rose.

15th greenMcIlroy produces a beautiful approach to 15 and that looks sure to be his hole. However, Bradley flops one up into the sky and it's on the green. Great shot.

15th teeMcIlroy just laid up on the short par 4 but Bradley goes for it and pulls it horribly.

13th greenDustin J makes bogey on the long par three and Colsaerts has brought it back to all square. Really good quarter of an hour for Europe.

15th greenBoth Poulter and Simpson come up just short with their birdie tries at 15 so they're still all square.

9th greenIt's all going blue! Kuchar misses a short one for a half to send Westwood 1 up.

14th greenBradley made a bit of a hash of the par 5 and McIlroy's now 1 up!.

10th greenCHIP IN from Sergio on 10! The Spaniard's back to all square.

15th holePoulter's approach to the 15th looks good all the way but he's put a bit too much check on it and it rolls away from the hole to about 15 feet.

8.36pmClick here for Michael's report on Donald's victory over Bubba.

12th greenColsaerts has two putts for the win on 12 and he rolls it up to the hole so the Belgian is back to 1 down.

13th greenPaul Lawrie is now 5 up with five to play as Snedeker misses. What a performance from the Scot.

15th teeBoth Poulter and Simpson tactically lay up on the short par 4.

6th greenWoods converts from a couple of feet and he's back to all square against Molinari.

13th greenRose's putt is so close to finding the cup, lipping out before Mickelson doesn't get his to the hole. Still all square.

12th greenPaul Lawrie really is doing well and now is 4 up on Snedeker.

CURRENT SCORE:USA 10-7 EUROPE

17th greenDonald's bunker shot is superb and that's that!

Luke Donald beats Bubba Watson 3&1.

20.21pmHere's Mirror journalist Ollie Holt on Twitter: "At the 13th. Great, dramatic hole. Bradley in ascendancy now. McIlroy holding on. Crowd at fever pitch."

8th greenPeople will say that Peter Hanson has had a bad tournament but Dufner is the best player out there! He's just made another birdie to add to his two eagles on the front nine to go 4 up.

12th greenBoth Rose and Mickelson fail with their birdie tries on 12 so that match remains all square. It's the same story on the next hole as both Bradley and McIlroy make par.

17th teeThe Englishman's in the bunker but that's a much easier position than Bubba.

17th teeBubba's tee shot on the signature 17th is pulled and all Donald has to do is get it on the green you'd think.

13th teeBradley and McIlroy both hit nice shots on 13 but it's the Northern Irishman's that's far better.

16th greenHe can't do it so Bubba's resurgence goes on. Donald is dormie 2 as they head to 17.

16th greenDonald now has to hole from 20 feet or so to win the match.

16th holeDonald looks set to win a point for Europe on 16 but BUBBA HOLES HIS CHIP!

8.12pmI've just updated the scorecard above, manually refresh to see.

12th greenMcIlroy misses his par and Bradley is back level. It's all gone USA all of a sudden!

6th greenWestwood lips out with a short one and he's back to all square with Kuchar as Colsaerts misses the one back on 10 for a three putt from about a foot!

10th greenColsaerts misses a tiddler to win the 10th and go 1 up.

15th greenDonald misses from eight feet and that's another hole to Bubba so we'll go to the 16th. Donald 3 up, three to play.

13th teePoulter, after getting it back level on the 12th, strikes a very solid one into the long 13th. Simpson answers with a wood that just makes the green.

11th greenRose concedes the hole to Mickelson and that one's back to all square.

14th greenDonald had laid up on 14 and he's soon to have another putt to win the match.

12th greenPoulter sinks a putt at last and Simpson can't follow him in so we're back to all square.

11th holeMickelson has just played a ridiculous cut into the 11th. Outrageous.

10th greenSnedeker's putt for the win creeps in so Lawrie is back to 2 up.

14th teeStill can't believe Donald missed that eagle putt for the win.

4th greenWoods is back to 1 down as Molinari misses from five feet.

11th greenMcIlroy makes it happen so he's still 1 up.

14th greenSo Donald stays 4 up, four to play. Or dormie 4, if you prefer.

14th greenDonald misses his eagle putt, never saw that coming!

11th greenBradley's birdie try doesn't make it but McIlroy still has a toughie to save par.

10th greenMickelson misses his putt and Rose has a chance to move 2 up but he can't take it.

14th holeSHOT! Donald has just stiffed his second shot on the par five to about three feet and this match will be over very soon.

7.50pmWhile I've been frantically typing away, Michael has been compiling reports of all the matches as they reach the turn. Find them here.

7.49pmThere's more blue on the board at the moment but we all know how quickly things can change.

7.48pmSo, there's only two matches that have a deficit of 3 up or more and they're both in Europe's favour courtesy of Lawrie and Donald.

7.47pmGive us a quick manual refresh and you'll see an updated scorecard above.

9th greenCOLSAERTS with a stunner into the ninth and he's back to all square against Dustin J.

11th greenPoulter has a chance to win the hole but he's not holing them like he was yesterday.

13th greenBubba has made a mess of his bunker save and gets a bogey so Donald, despite going in the drink, has a chance to half and he makes it! 4 up, five to play.

5th greenDufner makes no mistake with the eagle putt and he's 2 up on Hanson.

3rd greenWoods has missed that short putt so Molinari is 2 up on the world number two.

5th greenAfter his brilliant start, Hanson has fallen behind to Dufner, who now has an eagle putt to move 2 up.

3rd holeWoods responds to going behind with a super approach to the 'easy' third but MOLINARI outdoes him with a gimme iron.

9th greenThat's a brilliant front nine from Lawrie. He goes 3 up with a birdie at nine.

13th teeHe can but he's in the bunker but should still win the hole.

13th teeAnd Luke's ball makes a big splash in the water. Can Bubba get over the lake?

13th teeThe top match reaches the long par 3 13th and it'll be Donald to go first.

4th greenI haven't really mentioned Lee Westwood but he's just gone 1 up on Kuchar thanks to the American missing a short putt.

10th greenPoor birdie try from Poulter so Simpson will have a chance to go ahead.

5th greenFuryk's eagle try slides past so he remains all square with Garcia.

12th greenBubba's putt lips out before Donald holes and goes 4 up with six to play.

2nd greenTiger is underway in the final match and he's just gone 1 down to Molinari by missing a short putt on two.

10th greenMickelson's approach ended up spinning way past the hole and he's just missed the putt back so Rose is back to 1 up.

7.26pmReally impressive from Lawrie to be 2 up on in-form Snedeker.

10th holeRose won't be bowled over by Mickelson! The Englishman's approach to 10 is within gimme range and Mickelson spins his shot back between Rose's ball and the flag. Remarkable. He will need to putt though.

9th greenMcIlroy is all over the ninth hole and he goes 2 up.

8th greenMickelson makes birdie on eight and the topsy-turvy match with Rose is back to all square.

11th greenLUUUUKE! The world number three birdies 11 to go 3 up.

5th greenMcDowell stops the rot against Johnson by winning the fifth. That one's back to 2 down as Stricker goes 1 up on Kaymer on two.

9th greenPoulter's birdie try at the ninth doesn't drop and now Simpson will have a short one to go on to the back nine ahead. He can't make it though so we're still all square.

6th greenDustin J has just found the cup with a monster putt to go 1 up on Colsaerts. Good couple of minutes for the Americans.

8th greenBradley is back to holing putts and he's back to just 1 down against McIlroy.

1st greenStricker found a stunning approach on the opening hole but the veteran's short stick continues to let him down and he misses. All square with Kaymer after 1.

7.08pmIf you manually refresh the page then you'll see an updated scoreboard. Ta.

10th greenDonald and Bubba both make birdies on the par 5 10th so Luke is still 2 up.

7th greenMickelson has just conceded the eagle to Rose and so the Englishman goes back 1 up.

4th greenMcDowell has just made another bogey on the fourth and so Zach J is 3 up in the only match America has the lead in.

8th greenAnd he...holes it! Europe back to all square in match two.

8th greenSimpson's par save doesn't quite get to the hole so Poulter has a four-footer to get back to all square.

3rd greenGarcia's lead over Furyk has gone as the Spaniard misses a 10-footer for a half.

7th holeROSE! The Englishman's second with a wood to the long 7th is brilliant and he's got a good chance for eagle.

8th holeFollowing his shank, Simpson finds the front of the green on eight so it's still advantage Poulter.

7th greenMcIlroy has a short putt to go 3 up but he misses and that's a let-off for Bradley.

5th greenThe two big hitters are at the short par 5 and Dustin J finds a great second to about 12 feet before Colsaerts's third stops to gimme range. Dustin will have a putt for the win then.

3rd greenZach J is 2 up on McDowell after nearly holing his approach to the 3rd. Europe, on the whole, looking very good though.

8th teePoulter has just won the 7th to bring it back to 1 down. The Englishman's tee shot on the par 3 goes long and is at the back of the green. Simpson responds with a SHANK! Unbelievably bad.

9th greenThat's the front nine completed in the top match and Luuuuke is 2 up.

5th greenLawrie converts the eagle and he's now 2 up on Snedeker.

4th greenDustin Johnson has made a mess of the 4th and Colsaerts is back to all square.

6th greenCHIP IN from McIlroy to win the hole on six. Mental.

5th holeLAWRIE! The Scot is on fire! That's the best approach to the fifth by a long way and he's got a putt for eagle.

1st teeNext up on the opening hole is Dufner and Hanson.

2nd teeAfter Garcia's let off from Furyk, the Spaniard has just hit the shot of the day at the par 3 second. Vamos!

5th greenMickelson's bunker shot is simply stunning and Rose can't answer him from the opposite trap. That means it's two holes on the spin for Phil and we're back to all square.

1st greenFuryk has a putt to win the hole on one but it breaks too much.

4th greenCHIP IN! from Lawrie! He goes 1 up on Snedeker.

6th greenPoulter's putt for a half just slides past and so Simpson is back to 2 up!

8th teeDonald's on fire! His tee shot at eight is just lovely. Watson sends his high in the sky but he pulls left.

7th greenHe does so Donald is still 2 up.

7th greenBrilliant from Donald to hole his birdie and now Bubba must convert.

7th holeDonald's third shot is solid to seven and that's followed by a Watson eagle try that ends up three feet from the hole.

5th greenBRADLEY makes it from 15 feet. McIlroy stays 1 up.

5th greenMcIlroy's bunker shot is stone dead so that's a birdie. Bradley can't match the Northern Irishman's sand play and he's got a toughie to half.

1st greenMcDowell can only make birdie at the first and so Zach J has an early lead.

6.25pmQUICK RECAP!

Donald 2 up after 6 Watson

Poulter 1 down after 5 Simpson

McIlroy 1 up after 4 Bradley

Rose 1 up after 4 Mickelson

Lawrie all square after 3 Snedeker

Colsaerts 1 down after 2 D Johnson

McDowell 1 down after 1 Z Johnson

7th holeThe top match has reached the long par 5 and Donald has to lay up but Watson can reach in two. Will he take advantage of his superior distance? Yes is the answer as he finds the back of the green.

5th holeBradley is disgusted with his second to the par five but McIlroy is in the trees and can only find the same greenside bunker.

3rd greenLawrie drains a tough putt for a half and I have to say that Europe have silenced the Americans here. Hope.

4th greenRose misses from six feet for a half and so Mickelson is back to 1 down.

5th greenNever in doubt! So Poulter pulls it back to 1 down.

5th greenSimpson's bunker save is pants and so Poulter has a four-footer to get one back.

6th greenDonald's chip on six is rubbish by his standards and he misses the par putt back. Watson can't take advantage though as he too misses his par. Donald still 2 up.

1st teeNext up to begin their match on the first is Graeme McDowell and Zach Johnson.

5th holePoulter and Simpson are on the short par 5 fifth and both men have found the greenside bunker with their second shots.

4th greenBradley's par attempt stays high of the hole and the American concedes. McIlroy goes 1 up.

1st greenColsaerts's par putt at the first doesn't even go in so that's an early concession for Europe.

4th greenMcIlroy's approach to 4 is a beaut and Bradley's in the bunker and he can't get it close. Chance for Rors to go 1 up there.

1st holeDustin J has just stiffed his approach on the first to a few feet. Shot.

3rd greenMickelson has a putt for the win on 3 but it just slips by! So close! Rose remains 2 up.

2nd teeLawrie's tee shot on two is a gem to about 10 feet but Snedeker's is also decent, not quite as close but solid.

1st teeThe next match to head down the first is the battle of the big hitters as Dustin Johnson faces Nicolas Colsaerts.

6.04pmSomething I missed earlier is that McIlroy reportedly woke up an hour late because he thought he was in the wrong timezone. Read more here.

6.01pmWhile we were having problems earlier you may have missed Poulter holing his chip on the 1st! It was a ridiculous moment but Simpson was equal to the task and holed his putt from off the green. It's been all Simpson since.

5th greenDonald misses a short putt to go 3 up so he stays two ahead of Watson.

4th greenSimpson is dominating Poulter as the Englishman's bunker save goes way long. That match should drop to 2 down in a second.

1st greenSnedeker has just missed, yes missed, a putt on one after Lawrie found the bunker. That stays all square.

5.58pmQUICK RECAP!

Donald 2 up after 4 Watson

Poulter 1 down after 3 Simpson

McIlroy all square after 3 Bradley

Rose 2 up after 2 Mickelson

Lawrie all square after 1 Snedeker

5.54pmThere's now five matches underway and Europe are in up in 2, down in 1 and all square in the others.

5.53pmTerribly sorry but we suffered meltdown there! We're back now, don't you worry.

2nd teeThe pin's at the back on the par 3 second so that should take the water out of play. However, there's a tough ridge to get over to get near the pin. Donald is safely into the heart of the green before Bubba pulls his right and that's an awfully tough putt.

2nd teeThe pin's at the back on the par 3 second so that should take the water out of play. However, there's a tough ridge to get over to get near the pin. Donald is safely into the heart of the green before Bubba pulls his right and that's an awfully tough putt.

1st teePoulter's drive is a little down the right but with the non-existent rough here at Medinah, that's fine. Simpson next and his whippy swing pierces the fairway.

1st teeBack down the 1st to the tee and here goes Poults, up against Simpson.

1st greenDonald is now putting for a half and he's made it! So the top match begins with a pair of birdies.

1st greenUnbelievable from Bubba! He holes his tricky birdie for a three he never should have had.

1st holeDonald is in position A and he eases a short iron to within six feet. Superb play from the world number three.

1st holeWhenever someone has missed the first fairway they've always gone left so far this weekend. Bubba is out on the right and it's a tough shot but he delivers a beauty over the pin. He's got a chance of a three.

5.08pmPoulter's next up on the first and he pumps his heart as he walks to the tee. There's chants of "there's only one Ian Poulter, one Ian Poulter!" and the famous Liverpool anthem 'You'll never walk alone'. Brilliant.

5.07pmAs I mentioned earlier, I really believe Donald's consistency in this one-on-one will be too much for Bubba. The big-hitter doesn't have a partner to fall back on if he does what he's just done and go wayward.

5.06pmI honestly think that could have smacked someone down the right on the head. Nasty.

1st teeBubba works the crowd up into delirium but his right arm is straight out as he's pulled it into the crowd! ADVANTAGE EUROPE after the first two shots!

5.03pmBoth men are introduced to the frenzied crowd and Bubba gets a great cheer while Donald is greeted with the customary "LUUUUUUKE" that sounds awfully like booing. The Englishman splits the fairway with his long stick.

5.00pmRight, here we go! Bubba and Donald make their way to the first and they're greeted by a wall of noise!

4.55pmWhat Europe need today is big performances from the guys who really haven't turned up yet. Namely Westwood, Kaymer and Hanson, who have to show what they're made of. Kaymer, in particular, has been poor and must find some form against Stricker, who is also having a stinker.

4.51pmI think Luuuuuuke will get Europe off to a good start. His consistency on this forgiving course should be enough to oust crowd-favourite Bubba.

4.47pmJust 15 minutes until Donald and Bubba will get us underway.

4.39pmHere's a slight sidebar, bookmaker Paddy Power have been cleared to continue writing 'sky tweets' above the Medinah course. Read the full story by clicking here.

4.36pmHere's yesterday's hero Poulter and he says that his birdiefest finish yesterday was his best ever Ryder Cup moment.

4.35pmSpeaking to Sky Sports, The Golden Bear Jack Nicklaus thinks that Europe really do have a good chance.

4.34pmAs well as this live coverage, we'll also be providing reports on each match as it reaches the turn and reports at the end of each encounter. Coverage would be the right word.

4.27pmLove III says that he's put his quickest players out first to try and motor through Europe. The American captain says that Europe have been slowing his team down. Hmmm.

4.24pmBoth captains, Jose Maria Olazabal and Davis Love III, have been speaking to Sky Sports and the former knows he needs a fast start and when asked about the inspiration of Seve, he can't reply. Emotions are running high.

4.23pmThe question is, can Europe perform one of the all-time great comebacks? As much as I'd like to say yes I think the final score today will be 16.5 - 11.5 in the US's favour. There's just too much to do and this American team really is a strong one.

4.17pmEveryone ready? I can't wait! I'm Pascal Lemesre and I'll be with you from start to finish on what is sure to be a memorable day, whatever the outcome.
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