LAST UPDATE | 30 Sep 2023
EUROPE STRETCHED THEIR lead over the United States to 9.5-2.5 on Saturday as Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg broke the record for the biggest foursomes win in Ryder Cup history.
The Scandinavian pair thumped Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9&7 to give the hosts a dream start to the morning session in Rome, with Scheffler later filmed choking back tears. Hovland and Aberg won nine of the 11 holes played, with the other two halved in the alternate shot format.
The previous biggest win in Ryder Cup foursomes was Americans Tom Kite and Hale Irwin’s 7 and 6 success against Ken Brown and Des Smyth 44 years ago.
Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood closed out a 2 and 1 win over Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth before an inspired Max Homa and Brian Harman clinched the Americans’ first full point, seeing off Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka 4 and 2.
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton secured a dramatic 2 and 1 victory against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay to ensure Europe won a third straight session.
USA skipper Zach Johnson would have expected his star pairing of world number one Scheffler and five-time major champion Koepka to help kickstart a fightback after a disastrous first day in which the visitors slipped 6.5-1.5 behind.
Instead, they started off by playing the first three holes in five over par and fell four-down through four holes.
Hovland and Swedish sensation Aberg, the first golfer to feature at a Ryder Cup without playing at a major championship, made it three straight birdies to extend a lead which became 7-up through the first nine.
The match finished in miserable fashion for Scheffler and Koepka as they hacked multiple shots over the 11th green before an inevitable concession.
McIlroy and Fleetwood made it two wins from two foursomes matches together as Spieth struggled.
Homa and Harman gave the US hope of halving the session with an incredible burst, playing the first seven holes of the front nine in seven under par.
Cantlay and Schauffele moved to all-square with three holes left after being 3-down with seven to play.
But Hatton curled home a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th green before Rahm hit his iron shot on the par-three 17th to within a couple of inches.
Today’s play concludes with the fourballs, with McIlroy and Hovland selected once again, meaning they will play in all five sessions.
Hovland will face Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa with Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg, bidding to replicate their stunning 9 and 7 victory over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in Saturday morning’s foursomes.
“I almost pinch myself at times but obviously super happy with it and looking forward to this afternoon,” said Aberg.
McIlroy joins up with Matthew Fitzpatrick for a second straight afternoon, taking on Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark in the bottom match.
All 12 of Europe’s players will have featured at least twice before Sunday’s singles, with Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre resuming their partnership against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
Nicolai Hojgaard, who also sat out both foursomes sessions, joins forces with Tommy Fleetwood for a clash with Max Homa and Brian Harman.
Homa and Harman grabbed the USA’s only full point of the event so far by beating Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka on Saturday morning.
There was no place for Scheffler, Koepka or Rickie Fowler, who has not played since Friday morning.
Saturday fourball times
1025: Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg (EUR) v Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa (USA)
1040: Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard (EUR) v Max Homa and Brian Harman (USA)
1055: Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre (EUR) v Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth (USA)
1110: Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy (EUR) v Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark (USA)
– © AFP 2023, with reporting by Gavin Cooney
