Patrick Cantlay blocks out the noise to give Team USA hope after Ryder Cup fightback

Team USA staged a fightback to keep their Ryder Cup hopes alive with a dramatic and tension-packed late win in Saturday's final fourballs match which cut their opponents' lead to five points.

Trailing by one hole with two to play against Rory McIlroy and Matthew Fitzpatrick, Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark won at 17 and 18 to claim the Americans' third point of the second session, 1-up.

Team Europe have another home Ryder Cup victory within their grasp but the American showed they are not going to give up without a fight.

Cantlay ended a controversial personal day by birdying the last three holes, winning the last two, to snatch victory.

However, after another scorching Rome day, Europe still lead 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.

"If there's any tournament in the world that's about momentum, it's this one,” US captain Zach Johnson said.

Momentum still has a monster mountain to climb at Marco Simone.

Another point and that's a wrap on Day 2. @patrick_cantlay | #RyderCup | #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/t1BI4qECmu

Europe still have a five point lead and no team has ever rallied from more than a four-point deficit going into the 12 singles matches Sunday.

“We're in a great spot,” European captain Luke Donald said. “There's always momentum shifts. Patrick Cantlay birdied the last three. It's not like we gave it to him.”

But it got testy at the end.

Cantlay was the prime target for many of European fans who waved their caps at him because he is the only American without one. And perhaps it was in response to a report that he refused to wear the cap out of protest because he wants to be paid. The report