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Roundup:
USA in Sight of Ryder Cup Triumph
Afternoon Fourballs:
Poulter Powers Europe Past USA
Garcia and Donald Defeat Woods and Stricker
Johnson and Kuchar Win for USA
Watson and Simpson Beat Rose and Poulter
Morning Foursomes:
Rose and Poulter Win for Europe
USA Dominates in Bizarre Foursome Finish
Dufner and Johnson Defeat Colsaerts and Garcia
Furyk/Snedeker Win Rematch for USA
Overall Score:
USA in Sight of Ryder Cup Triumph
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - The United States maintained a stranglehold on the 39th Ryder Cup on Saturday, winning the foursomes and sharing the fourballs to leave Europe trailing 10-6 at the end of the day.
That left Davis Love and his men in prime position to retain the trophy they lost agonisingly at Celtic Manor, Wales two years ago.
It left Europe needing to match the record last day comeback set by the US team at Brookline, Massachusetts in 1999 when they won from four down.
Saturday afternoon's fourballs ended with two wins for Europe as darkness fell after the Americans had won the first two on the back of dominating the morning foursomes 3-1.
To retain the cup on Sunday, Jose Maria Olazabal's men need to win eight out of the closing 12 singles, a highly-unlikely scenario given that the Americans have habitually been stronger on the final day.
The Americans need just four and a half points to get past the winning post.
Mission impossible for some, but US crowd-pleaser Bubba Watson said there was still plenty fight left in the European team.
"The team is not going to lay down. Europe is not going to lay down. They are not going to give it to us. We have to play good golf and come out focused and ready to win some points," he said.
The home team took up early Saturday where they left off Friday evening with one hand round the European throats as the star duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley once again led the charge.
Their 7 and 6 thumping of former world No.1s Lee Westwood and Luke Donald equalled the highest ever 18-hole winning margin by a Ryder Cup pairing, and the first time such a drubbing had been handed out since 1991.
Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson scored their second straight win for the United States, while Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker turned the tables on Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell who beat them in the first match out on Friday.
Only English pair Ian Poulter and Justin Rose provided some respite for Olazabal with a vicory at the last hole over Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.
That left the Americans 8-4 ahead at the end of the morning's play and Olazabal saying his team had to at least carry the afternoon session to have any realistic chance of retaining the trophy on Sunday.
But that never looked likely as once again the hosts dominated from the start of the fourballs.
Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson came home with their second straight win in the format, edging the untested partnership of Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie by 1 up.
Watson and Simpson then put their morning reverse behind them to romp away to a 5 and 4 win over Rose and Francesco Molinari.
That put the Americans 10-4 up with two games to go and the dejection was clear to see on the faces of Europe's players, fans and skipper Olazabal.
There was something for them to cheer at last when Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, both pointless through the three first sessions, defeated Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker at the last hole.
It was a third straight defeat for the Woods-Stricker pairing, having been left out of the morning session - the first time that Woods had been benched in a Ryder Cup career dating back to 1997.
And then five straight birdies from the 14th from Poulter, including a clutch 12-footer at the last saw the Englishman and world No.1 McIlroy, playing for the first time without McDowell, overhaul the previously unbeaten Dufner and Johnson for a win that left Europe with a glimmer of a hope.
"It was huge - those last two matches were massive. That keeps us in just with a chance. It's been done before in the past. And tomorrow is going to be a big day," Olazabal said.
Poulter Powers Europe Past USA
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - Ian Poulter closed with five-straight birdies as he and Rory McIlroy rallied to beat the Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson, of the US, 1-up in Ryder Cup fourballs on Saturday. 
Ryder Cup hero Poulter improved to 11-3 in career matches as he posted six birdies on the back nine and five straight beginning at the 14th at the Medinah Country Club course to give Europe their second win of the afternoon session.
Team Europe was two down heading into the par-three 13th but they stormed back with six consecutive birdies on the final half dozen holes.
It also marked the first loss for the Americans at the 2012 Ryder Cup after they won a pair of morning foursome matches.
The Americans got off to a fast start as the 2007 Masters champion Johnson made birdie on No. 1 and parred No. 2 to give them a 2-up lead.
Johnson sank his birdie putt on the par-four No. 1 as the US duo continued their solid play together at the Medinah Country Club course.
Europe got into trouble with the water on the par-three second as world number one McIlroy put his tee shot into the drink and Poulter's shot barely cleared the lake, landing on a slope in front of the green.
All Johnson -- who has two victories in 2012 on the PGA Tour -- needed to do was par the hole to win the point and he did.
Poulter, a wild card pick by captain Jose Maria Olazabal, put Europe just 1-down by making a 15-footer for birdie at the fourth hole. It was the first of seven birdies in the round for Poulter.
Dufner hit his approach on the green on the par-five seventh from 115 yards out. Not to be outdone, Johnson hit a superb 80 yard shot out of the left side bunker and onto the green near the hole.
Kucher putted first and drained his six foot putt to restore the USA's 2-up lead.
Both McIlroy's and Poulter's bunker shots left them with difficult long putts on the seventh.
World No. 26 Poulter had the stare going again on 16, sinking a long putt for a birdie which allowed Europe to take their first lead of the match with just two holes to play.
Garcia and Donald Defeat Woods and Stricker
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia defeated Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 1 up in a Ryder Cup fourballs match on Saturday.
Donald and Garcia were both left empty handed after two games and desperate to make their respective marks, and it was the Spaniard who made the first move with an opening birdie.
The Americans failed to bag a par between them at the par-three second to fall two down and the task before them became even more complicated when Garcia sunk a 15-footer for birdie at the fourth to put the Europeans 3 up.
Stricker sunk his putt from 12 feet at the next to win a first hole for the Americans, but Donald stretched the lead back out to three with a short putt for birdie at the eighth.
The Englishman struck again at the ninth with a short birdie putt to reach the turn at 4 up for Europe.
A first birdie of the day for Woods at 10 gave some hope to the American pair, and when Stricker dropped another birdie at the 12th, the margin was back to two.
Minutes later Woods almost aced the tough 13th and his ensuing birdie was enough to win the hole, but Donald birdied the next to put Europe back to 2 up.
A suddenly revived Woods made it four birdies in eight holes to win the 16th leaving Europe 1 up with two holes to play.
Woods hit to four feet from the pin at the par-three 17th but Donald bettered him to two feet and the hole was halved.
Stricker missed an eight-footer birdie putt at the last at the last to win the hole as Donald and Garcia got away with a 1 up win.
Johnson and Kuchar Win for USA
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - Americans Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar defeated Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie of Europe 1 up in a Ryder Cup fourballs match on Saturday. 
Kuchar gave the Americans the early command with birdies at the second and fourth thanks to superb putts from 15 and 20 feet.
He almost made it 3 up at the next, but out of the blue Lawrie, with a par at the sixth, and Colsaerts, with a birdie at the next, quickly bounced back into contention.
It stayed that way through the turn, but Kuchar it was who struck again at the 10th with his fourth birdie of the round.
The Americans held on to their slight advantage through the next five holes but they both made a mess of the sharp dogleg 16th and Lawrie's par was enough to win the hole and level the match.
Johnson crucially regained the lead for the United States at the par-three 17th where he sunk a 20-foot par for birdie and the home duo held on at the last with Colsaerts' putt to win the hole missing by a fraction.
Watson and Simpson Beat Rose and Poulter
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - Major winners Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson avenged a morning loss to Justin Rose by beating the Europeans 5 and 4 in Ryder Cup afternoon fourballs on Saturday at Medinah Country Club.
USA's Simpson had the hot putter as he birdied five of six holes beginning at the No. 8. en route to the victory over Rose and his afternoon partner Francesco Molinari. Rose and Ian Poulter beat Watson and Simpson 1-up in the morning session.
Masters champion Watson started his Saturday afternoon round in the same fashion as the morning session, teeing off amid deafening roars after he urged the partisan USA crowd to make as much noise as possible.
Watching was former US president George W. Bush who was on the first tee box at the Medinah Country Club course to meet and talk to players from both teams.
Simpson rolled his birdie putt dead centre in the hole to give the USA a 1-up lead after three holes of the fourballs.
Simpson, who struggled with his putter in the morning, has been on a steady rise to stardom. He picked up his first two victories in the 2011 season, winning the Wyndham Championship and the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Simpson then notched his first major victory in June, by claiming the US Open at the Olympic Club.
Watson made a short birdie putt on the par-five seventh to allow the Americans to go 2-up. Watson hit his approach into the greenside bunker but got out of trouble by rolling his ball right up next to the hole.
The Americans won the 10th, 13th and 14th holes on the back side.
Rose and Poulter Win for Europe
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - English pair Justin Rose and Ian Poulter defeated Americans Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson 1 up in the lead Ryder Cup foursomes match on Saturday to give Europe a much-needed point. 
The English pair got off to a superb start when Poulter sunk a four-footer for birdie at the first and they had a let off at the second when Simpson missed from a similar distance in a bid to level the score.
But the same player made amends at the next by hitting to two feet with his approach shot. The birdie putt was conceded and Poulter missed for a halve from 18 feet.
The Americans took the lead at the par-five fifth, reaching the green in two and taking two putts from forty feet for the winning birdie.
Rose and Poulter weathered the early storm and restored parity at the ninth after Watson had blasted deep into trees off the tee. Poulter again supplied the winning birdie putt from six feet.
The English pair then went one up at the 10th when Simpsom missed a seven-footer for par.
Two holes later there was drama as both Poulter and Watson saw their approach shots scamper down the steep bank to the right of the green. The English managed to salvage par from there, but Simpson saw his chip hit the rim of the green and roll back down to his feet.
The two-hole lead stood firm until the 16th when Rose first drove into the rough and two shots later hit a poor chip, eventually missing a six-foot bogey putt which would have halved the hole.
It went to the last where Simpson's eight-footer to win the hole and halve the match slipped agonisingly past.
USA Dominates in Bizarre Foursome Finish
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley of the United States steamrolled Europe's Lee Westwood and Luke Donald 7 and 6 in the second of Saturday's morning foursomes at the Ryder Cup.
The win by the two former major championship winners ties the record for the most one-sided victory in Ryder Cup team play history.
Mickelson, who is playing in his 37th Ryder Cup match which ties Billy Casper for the most by a US player, needed another magical shot on the final No. 12 hole after after an errant tee shot.
Rookie Bradley aggressively got it out of the trees and then Mickelson's approach landed 20 feet away, spun left and carried down the slope to within a foot of the cup.
Westwood missed a birdie putt and Donald failed to convert his par putt as the Americans routed the European duo at the Medinah Country Club course.
Mickelson and Bradley got off to another hot start by making birdie on the first two holes and they never took their foot off the gas. They closed it out in dramatic fashion by winning five of the final seven holes.
The two hit it off together in fine style on Friday, winning in both foursomes and fourballs to ignite the US charge that resulted in a 5-3 overnight lead.
On the par-four opening hole, Mickelson hit a fantastic approach leaving it about a foot from the cup for an easy birdie which Europe conceded. Donald missed his seven footer and the first point went to the Americans.
Mickelson hit another great shot on the par-three second as his tee shot landed about 12 feet away while Westwood pulled his drive 20 yards left into the water and the US was off to the races.
Europe's putting woes continued on the difficult par-four sixth as Donald lipped out an eight footer and the Americans went 3-up.
Team USA posted back-to-back birdies as Bradley just missed his eagle attempt, giving Mickelson a short putt to win the hole and a 4-up lead through seven.
Dufner and Johnson Defeat Colsaerts and Garcia
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson defeated Nicolas Colsaerts and Sergio Garcia 2 and 1 in a Ryder Cup foursomes on Saturday.
The momentum went straightaway to the Americans with Johnson grabbing a birdie at the par-three second and Colsaerts missing a short par putt at the fourth.
Johnson missed a four-footer which would have put the Americans three ahead at the next and an American bogey at the sixth cut the margin to one hole where it stayed through to the turn.
The Europeans got back to all square at the 11th through another big Colsaerts putt but they made a mess of 12 and promptly dropped 13 as well to fall 2 down.
A Garcia chip in at the 16th gave hope, but Colsaerts hit it into the water at the par-three 17th to hand the Americans victory.
Furyk/Snedeker Win Rematch for USA
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept 29, 2012 (AFP) - Americans Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker defeated Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell 1-up in a foursome rematch at the Ryder Cup, avenging a loss a day earlier to the Northern Irish duo.
Team USA hung on to beat Europe on Saturday after their comeback fell short in Friday's opening match of the 39th Ryder Cup.
On Friday the Northern Irishmen prevailed at the 18th after the Americans had pulled level from being three down after 11 holes.
McIlroy and McDowell then lost their afternoon fourballs, while Snedeker and Furyk were rested.
Snedeker needed to shake off the disappointment of a missed final drive in Friday's loss.
He got some early help on day two from partner Furyk who rolled in his birdie putt on the par-four No. 1 to give the USA a 1-up advantage early.
McIlroy started showing some frustration on the par-five fifth when he missed his 20-foot birdie attempt.
Snedeker made his birdie putt but didn't hang around, pumping his fist as he marched across the green to the sixth hole.
Europe got one back on the par-three eighth when McIlroy putted in for par.
Furyk won the par-four 11th hole for the US after McDowell missed a 20-foot birdie opportunity.
Europe cut the US lead to one after McIlroy rolled in just the second birdie putt of the match for the Northern Irishmen on the par-four 16th.
McIlroy hit a long straight drive down the fairway followed by a McDowell approach onto the green, giving McIlroy a good chance at a birdie. He would make it but that is as close as they would get.
Overall Score: United States 10 Europe 6
Saturday
Fourballs
Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson (USA) bt Justin Rose/Francesco Molinari (Europe) 5 and 4
Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Nicolas Colsaerts/Paul Lawrie (Europe) 1-up
Sergio Garcia/Luke Donald (Europe) bt Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (USA) 1-up
Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter (Europe) bt Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) 1-up
Score: United States 2 Europe 2
Foursomes
Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (Europe) 7 and 6
Justin Rose/Ian Poulter (Europe) bt Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson (USA) 1-up
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) bt Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia (Europe) 2 and 1
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) bt Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) 1-up
Score: United States 3 Europe 1
Friday
Fourballs
Bubba Watson/Webb Simpson (USA) bt Paul Lawrie/Peter Hanson (Europe) 5 and 4
Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) bt Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) 2 and 1
Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar (USA) bt Justin Rose/Martin Kaymer (Europe) 3 and 2
Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (USA) lost to Nicolas Colsaerts/Lee Westwood (Europe) by one hole
Score: United States 3 Europe 1
Foursomes
Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) bt Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe) 4 and 3
Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) lost to Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe) by 1 hole.
Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) bt Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe) 3 and 2
Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) lost to Ian Poulter/Justin Rose (Europe) 2 and 1
Score: United States 2 Europe 2