Patrick Cantlay sparks 3-1 U.S. four-ball win at Ryder Cup - ESPN

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — As soon as Patrick Cantlay's third straight birdie fell into the cup on the 18th hole at Marco Simone Golf Club on Saturday, he pretended to take off his hat and salute the crowd. The rest of the American players turned and waved their hats at European fans.

The United States trails 10½-5½ after two days of the 44th Ryder Cup and would need the largest comeback in history to retain the trophy. But finally, after what was a largely forgettable weekend, the Americans have some momentum, thanks to Cantlay and a disputed report from the British media.

Cantlay, the fifth-ranked player in the world, made a 43-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to beat Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and England's Matt Fitzpatrick 1 up in the final match of the day. Cantlay and U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark were 1 down with three holes to play before Cantlay made a 10½-footer to match McIlroy's birdie on the 16th and sank a 10-footer to tie the match on the par-3 17th.

After the American team was left in a seven-point hole after losing three of four foursomes (alternate shot) matches Saturday morning, a British media report suggested the U.S. squad was fractured. It accused Cantlay of leading the charge over players not being paid for competing in the Ryder Cup and said he wasn't wearing a team-issued hat in protest.

Once the report hit social media, many European fans greeted Cantlay on nearly every hole by waving their hats.

«I've never had so many standing ovations going to tee boxes and greens,» Cantlay said. «I thought it was fantastic. You know, I told Wyndham when we were going to the first tee today that we were going to use all the energy out there as fuel, and we did.»

Cantlay denied the report and said