Golf: US Clings To 5-3 Ryder Cup Lead After Europe Fightback

CHASKA, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 01st Oct, 2016 ) - Rory McIlroy took a bow before hostile fans after completing a European fightback Friday at the Ryder Cup, but the United States still led 5-3 thanks to a foursomes whitewash.

The Americans, losers of three in a row and eight of the past 10 meetings in the biennial team golf rivalry, swept the opening session for the first time since 1975 for a 4-0 morning edge at Hazeltine.

But Europe answered by taking the afternoon four-ball matches 3-1 with McIlroy sinking a dramatic eagle putt to lift the world number three and Belgium's Thomas Pieters over US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar 3 and 2.

"They seemed to birdie every hole and Rory made a bunch of them," US captain Davis love said. "It's frustrating not to come out a little bit more ahead.

" After sealing the victory, McIlroy turned and made several bows to the crowd before pumping his fists and sharing a victory hug with Pieters, one of six Cup newcomers on Europe's squad.

"It's pretty hostile out there, I must say," McIlroy said. "You don't want to let that get to you but you want to let them know when you hole a putt how much it means to you." McIlroy and handpicked English rookie partner Andy Sullivan of England led 2-up with four holes to play in foursomes only to lose 1-up to Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler in the day's tightest match.

"It's incredible," McIlroy said. "I've played one Ryder Cup in the US and this is definitely a little more hostile than the one at Medinah." That's where Europe made the greatest last-day comeback in Ryder Cup history to defeat a Love-captained US side.