Tension high as Ryder Cup action resumes at Hazeltine

Omnisports

October 1, 2016 12:19 AM

The USA were 5-3 ahead as day two of the 41st Ryder Cup began with a return to the foursomes format the hosts had dominated on Friday.

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A potentially pivotal third session was in prospect at Hazeltine as the United States and Europe resumed battle in the 41st Ryder Cup.

The second batch of foursomes commenced at 7:35am local time (1:35pm BST) on Saturday, with Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler taking on Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters in match one.

Although the hosts held a 5-3 lead from day one, Europe had been boosted by a fine revival in Friday's afternoon fourballs, which saw them fight back from a stunning first-session whitewash.

McIlroy rounded things off in style with a sensational eagle at the 16th, which ensured he and Pieters defeated Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar 3 and 2.

Passionate celebrations followed from the Northern Irishman, but a stiff test still lay ahead for Europe on Saturday morning as they returned to action in the format they had been thrashed in 24 hours earlier.

There was one rookie in each of the European pairings for session three.

Brandt Snedeker and Brooks Koepka - the USA's only fourball winners on day one - were up against Henrik Stenson and Matt Fitzpatrick in game two, while the next contest pitted Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson against Justin Rose and Chris Wood.

Two familiar pairings from Friday were set to do battle in the anchor match, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth up against the all-Spanish duo of Sergio Garcia and Rafael Cabrera Bello.

Omnisports

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