Team U.S. looks to pull off comeback for the ages on Ryder Cup Day 3 - ESPN

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — A trio of Patrick Cantlay birdies has given America hope. The Europeans head into the final day of the Ryder Cup knowing they need four points from the singles to preserve their 30-year run of victories on home soil, but Saturday's afternoon session has given the U.S. something to build on with the tournament tantalizingly poised with Europe leading 10½-5½.

After the morning, it looked like it was going to be a European procession as they won three of the four morning matches, including a record win for Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland over Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler. Reputation and rankings meant nothing at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, and Europe started where it left off on Friday by taking a 9½-2½ lead into the afternoon's play with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood all shining.

But then the Americans' comeback began, winning three of their four four-ball matches with the duo of Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa securing their first victory, quickly followed by the double act of Max Homa and Brian Harman. Cantlay's brilliant finish turned U.S. defeat into victory in the final three holes of Saturday's play to give Sunday an edgier feel than would've felt possible after the morning's foursomes.

Instead of Cantlay fielding questions on his brilliant finish, the post-session attention was on reports of a split in the American camp and questions whether his decision not to wear a cap was a protest of some sort. Cantlay looked bemused, while Harman said how much he loved his teammates and Zach Johnson revealed the team had been battling illness while in Rome.

Then came more drama with an angry McIlroy having to be restrained in the parking lot after the