After an impressive morning four-ball session by the United States, the European team managed to come back during the afternoon alternate shot and take a 5-3 lead. The U.S. led 2 ½ to 1 ½ in the morning thanks to Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.
The morning pairings for the U.S. featured Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson; Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker; Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed; and Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson. As for Europe, their groups included Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson; Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer; Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter; and Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy.
During the morning four-ball session, Watson and Simpson fell to Rose and Stenson 5 & 4 to start the day. Fowler and Walker teed off next and had a strong showing by halving their match against Bjorn and Kaymer after Walker won holes 16 and 18 to avoid the loss. But perhaps the biggest surprise of the event was when Spieth and Reed dominated Gallacher and Poulter 5 & 4 to bring the U.S. back to a tie. Bradley and Mickelson took holes No. 16 and 18 to finish 1 up on Garcia and McIlroy.
The U.S. shockingly led the Europeans going into the afternoon alternate shot session.
But that would soon change.
With Spieth and Reed sitting out the second session, the U.S. appeared flat. Bradley and Mickelson fell to Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell 3 & 2, while Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar lost to Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson by two holes. Those who didn't play in the morning for the Europeans really picked up the team in the afternoon.
As for the others, Rose and Stenson defeated Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson 2 & 1 and Garcia and McIlroy made an improbable comeback against Fowler and Walker by winning the final two holes to halve the match. The Europeans dominated the afternoon alternate shot session and won 3 ½ to ½ and took the overall 5-3 lead.
Saturday morning will feature matchups between Watson/Kuchar and Rose/Stenson; Furyk/Mahan and Donaldson/Westwood; Reed/Spieth and Bjorn/Kaymer; and Fowler/Walker and McIlroy/Poulter.
Check out more on the official Ryder Cup website.
