US surges ahead of Europe 9 1/2 – 6 1/2 at Ryder Cup

Chaska (United States) (AFP) – The United States, powered by Patrick Reed’s stellar performance, seized command of the Ryder Cup by winning three four-ball matches Saturday to take a 9 1/2 – 6 1/2 lead.

Reed and Jordan Spieth bounced back from settling for a halved match in alternate shot morning foursomes to beat Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson 2 and 1 in four-ball.

The Americans have lost three in a row to Europe as well as six of the past seven and eight of the past 10 meetings in the biennial team golf rivalry.

Third-ranked Rory McIlroy and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters won their second match of the day 3 and 1 over US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka to level the overall score.

But the Americans took the last three four-ball matches.

J.B. Holmes and Ryan Moore edged Masters champion Danny Willett and fellow Englishman Lee Westwood 1-up after Westwood missed a two-footer at 18 that would have halved the match.

And Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar downed Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Germany’s Martin Kaymer 2 and 1, setting the stage for Reed and Spieth’s fiery finish.

The Americans need win only five of Sunday’s 12 concluding singles matches to reach 14 1/2 points and claim the Ryder Cup while Europe needs 14 points overall to keep the trophy.