Europe takes strong lead by 5 but Cantlay-led U.S. finally show fight at Ryder Cup

Europe were poised for another home Ryder Cup victory after ending Saturday's action five points ahead but the United States earned a glimmer of hope by taking the fourballs 3-1 in a tense finale.

Patrick Cantlay birdied the last two holes to win the final fourball and flip the session in America's favour. However, after another scorching Rome day, Europe led 10-1/2-5-1/2 and need four points from Sunday's 12 singles to regain the trophy and continue their incredible 30-year unbeaten home run in the biennial competition.

Inspired by a Ryder Cup record 9&7 victory for Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, Europe took the morning foursomes 3-1 to open up a seven-point lead with the same four pairings who swept a 4-0 success on Friday.

The shellshocked U.S. team knew if they were to have any hope of a miracle comeback they would have to make inroads in the afternoon.

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They made a good start as Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa brought Hovland and Aberg down to earth with a 4&3 win, before the impressive Max Homa and Brian Harman beat Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard 2&1 to close the gap to five.

All attention then turned to the two tight remaining matches, with most of the 45,000 fans gathering to watch the closing holes fully aware of the importance of their outcome.

However, the British duo played a brilliant back nine to triumph 3&2 after winning their last two holes to snatch half a point in their first fourball.

The final match was a fantastic battle between Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick and Cantlay and Wyndham Clark.

They halved 11 of the first 13 holes before McIlroy brilliantly birdied the 14th and Europe held that lead with two to