Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood made it back to back foursomes victories in this year’s Ryder Cup as Europe won the session 3-1 to build a historic 8.5-3.5 lead over USA in Bethpage Black.
Europe have become the fourth side in Ryder Cup history to win each of the first three sessions and Luke Donald’s side are now overwhelming favourites to secure a first away win since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012 with Keegan Bradley’s USA side needing a miracle of their own with a historic comeback needed to rescue a desperate situation.
McIlroy and Fleetwood and Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have proven to be the back bone of this European team as they were in Rome.
Fleetwood Mac now have four wins out of four foursomes matches over the last two editions as they routinely dispatched Harris English and Collin Morikawa to win 3&2.
McIlroy has been relentless especially in the face of some torrid abuse from the American fans which has gone way over the line.
He rightly told them to ‘shut the f**k up’ as they heckled him while he was addressing the ball on the 16th.
The Grand Slam winner then hit the shot of the week so far, to kick in distance to secure the point.
“You have to be strong mentally out here, focus on the task at hand. In the team format you can stick together a bit, which makes it a bit easier,” said McIlroy.
“I love playing with Tommy [Fleetwood], it’s an absolute pleasure.
“We had a great time in Rome and have been able to back that up with two great wins here.
“I am excited where the team is but we have to keep the foot down.”
This was after the impressive Cameron Young and Bryson DeChambeau eased to a 4&2 victory over Ludvig Aberg and Matthew Fitzpatrick in the top match.
USA momentum was halted very quickly with another win for Rahm and Hatton, running out 3&2 victors over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
In all three sessions, Bradley’s side have been left scrambling for points in the final match. While they were able to secure a point and a half from the final matches of each session on Friday, Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland had other ideas against Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley.
Hovland delivered a dagger blow on 14 to put the Europeans 1UP with four to play and after holing a par putt from 12-feet to silence a now raucous American crowd he and MacIntyre saw the job out on 18 after a dismal approach by Scheffler to the last.
World number one, Scheffler has lost three matches in a row.
In the afternoon fourballs McIlroy will lead Europe for the first time alongside Shane Lowry against Justin Thomas and Young.
The all-English pair of Fleetwood and Justin Rose tackle DeChambeau and Scheffler while Rahm and Sepp Straka reunite to face JJ Spaun and Xander Schauffele.
Viktor Hovland is in the anchor match again with Matt Fitzpatrick to take on Sam Burns and Cantlay.
Leave a comment