Keegan Bradley had a front row seat for the Miracle at Medinah in 2012 but not even the second coming of Jesus Christ can save his USA team who are staring a record breaking defeat in the face heading into the Ryder Cup singles.
Europe need just two and a half points to retain the cup and three to win it outright after becoming the first away side since 1979 to sweep the first four sessions at Bethpage Black.
Despite a spirited fight from the home side with three of the four fourball matches going to the 18th, Europe still managed to come out 3-1 winners for a lead of 11.5-4.5 which is the largest in Ryder Cup history and far beyond Luke Donald’s dreams.
“I didn’t really imagine this,” said the European Ryder Cup captain.
“Obviously their job is not done yet but to have this stand in New York with most of the cheers coming from our side is incredible. Just the resiliency and the confidence these guys have in themselves, in their partners, is really, truly incredible.
“We are trying to get to 14.5 first and hopefully we can add on to that, too. The job is never done till it’s done. So I’m not going to sit here and be complacent.
“I know how strong the USA are. They will have plenty of fight in them. They had plenty of fight today. Our guys had a lot, too, though.”
But that’s only half the story. The PGA of America were forced to add extra security during the afternoon matches to control crowd heckling and abhorrent abuse of European players, particularly Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.
McIlroy was battered with abuse all day, even telling an American fan to shut the f**k up on Saturday morning.
He partnered Lowry in the afternoon and the pair secured a triumphant 2UP win over Justin Thomas and Cameron Young.
This was a match played in great spirit between the four players but they had to hold off a tirade of abuse.
McIlroy was booed through a heated afternoon session, where a cry of “f*** you, Rory” disrupted his putt at the fourth before Lowry resumed his bodyguard role and canned his eagle putt and roared “f*** you” at the Americans.
The atmosphere was toxic enough for Thomas and Young to gesture to the crowd to calm down while McIlroy refused to putt on the sixth until the crowd simmered down.
Lowry also had to be held back by his caddie Darren Reynolds after he was targeted with abuse.
In the end, the Irish pair had the last laugh and secured their first full point as a partnership.
In the match behind, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood beat Bryson DeChambeau and world number one Scottie Scheffler 3&2 to put the first blue point of the afternoon on the board.
The Englishmen have played 34 holes together and have made 19 birdies including eleven this afternoon while Rose made six birdies in eight holes.
The 45-year-old is playing the golf of his life while Scheffler has lost all four matches to become the fist player to slump to that feat since the format change in 1979.
This was a match of serious quality which turned ill-tempered between the 15th green and 16th tee.
Rose felt DeChambeau’s caddie was encroaching on his eyeline when he was lining up a birdie putt which he would hole. Bryson replied in kind to extend the match and an argument broke out before Rose and Fleetwood sealed the deal on 16.
JJ Spaun produced some of his US Open winning magic to clinch USA’s only point of the afternoon as he and Xander Schauffele pipped Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka on the last.
USA and Keegan Bradley, needing to win the last match to give some sort of hope came up short as Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay were beaten by Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick on the last – Hatton was a late sub for the injured Viktor Hovland.
Europe are now on the brink of a first away success since 2012 and just their fifth overall while they could also make amends for a record breaking 19-9 defeat in Wisconsin in 2021.
18.5-9.5 in 2004 remains Europe’s record victory coming away in 2004 and at the K Club in 2006. The travelling fans are expectant and already jubilant with the celebrations already beginning with some songs, team fistpumps and dancing and you wouldn’t say it’s premature.
This all sounds very ominous for US captain Bradley, but he refuses to give up although someone should tell him he probably should.
“I’m really proud of my team. They grinded, played hard. We got beat today.
“In 2023, I was at that Super Bowl when the Patriots came back. I watched it. Let’s live it tomorrow, who knows?”
On whether he thought the fans crossed the line today: “I mean, we’ve got passionate fans out here. Their fans are loud, too. You can hear them right now. It’s an honour to play in front of the New York fans.”
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