Louisville, Kentucky - The
United States leads
Europe 9-7 in the 37th Ryder Cup after Saturday's action at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The Americans started the day with a commanding three-point lead but Europe cut the
deficit to two after winning two of the morning's four foursomes matches on the course and sharing a third.
The two teams shared the points in the afternoon's fourballs with both Europe and the US winning and halving a match apiece, Robert Karlsson putting the final ball to ensure that Swede and playing partner Henrik Stenson shared the spoils with Jim Mickelson and Hunter Mahan.
Ben Curtis and Steve Stricker also halved their fourballs match against Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey after Stricker salvaged a half with a superb putt from the front of the 18th green.
Boo Weekley and JB Holmes scored a win for the US, beating Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen 2 and 1, while Europe's point came from Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell who beat Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk by a single hole.
"A very hard fought point for the US," said Holmes. "Tomorrow we want to see an American victory. That is what we wish for."
Ireland's McDowell, meanwhile, also pointed to how tough it was to win a match at this Ryder Cup.
"We had a great time out there, backed each other up. How hard is it to win a point out there," he said.
"Without a shadow of a doubt this is the most fun I have ever had on a
golf course."
Poulter described holing his final putt to win his match as a "special moment."
"We now have a chance. We knew they could not have it all their way for a couple of days. We have hung in there all day. This is what Ryder Cup golf is all about," he said.
European captain Nick Faldo caused a surprise by omitting Garcia and Westwood from his foursomes selections in the morning but Poulter and Justin Rose gave the defending champions the perfect start, taking the opening match against Stewart Cink and
Chad Campbell comfortably four and three.
In the second match out on the course, McDowell, who was partnering Miguel Angel Jimenez, sank a birdie putt on the 18th to secure what could turn out to be a vital half point against Justin Leonard and Mahan.
The performance of the morning came from Stenson and Oliver Wilson, who came from four down after six holes against Mickelson and Anthony Kim to win 2 and 1 thanks to a 10-metre birdie putt from Wilson on 17.
"The turning point was getting one back on the par 5," said Wilson. "Just to get one back and start going in the right direction. We stayed patient on the first nine but it did just not go our way."
In the final foursomes match of the morning Furyk and Perry got off to a dream start against Padraig Harrington and Karlsson, winning four of the opening five holes.
The Europeans won six and seven to give themselves hope, but Furyk and Perry steadied themselves, sealing a 3 and 1 victory with a birdie on the par-4 17th.
The Ryder Cup continues Sunday with the singles matches. Europe needs 14 points to retain the Ryder Cup, while the US requires 14.5 to win the trophy for the first time since Brookline in 1999.
