Italy — Europe has control of the Ryder Cup, backed by the most lopsided match in history that brought Scottie Scheffler to tears.
The Americans can only cling to hope, and they have Patrick Cantlay to thank for that.
He birdied his last three holes in the final fourballs match Saturday, rolling in a 45-foot birdie putt over a ridge and into the cup to hand Rory McIlroy his first loss of the week.
“If there’s any tournament in the world that’s about momentum, it’s this one,” U.S. captain Zach Johnson said.
Momentum still has a monster mountain to climb at Marco Simone.
Europe still had a five point lead — 10 1/2-5 1/2 — and no team has ever rallied from more than a four-point deficit going into the 12 singles matches Sunday.
“We’re in a great spot,” European captain Luke Donald said. “There’s always momentum shifts. Patrick Cantlay birdied the last three. It’s not like we gave it to him.”
Cantlay was the prime target for thousands of European fans who waved their caps at him because he is the only American without one. And perhaps it was in response to a bizarre Sky Sports report that he refused to wear the cap out of protest because he wants to be paid. The report also claimed Cantlay had fractured the team room.
Cantlay said he didn’t wear one because it wasn’t the right fit — just like at Whistling Straits, when he also went without a cap.