Record-breaking Europe on course for Ryder Cup glory after another day of domination

On the anniversary of their first Ryder Cup win on U.S. soil Team Europe moved within touching distance of their fifth as they opened up a record-breaking lead on another day of domination in New York.

The visitors entered day two at Bethpage with a 5½-2½ lead and had stretched that to 8½-5½ after Saturday morning’s foursomes.

The four-balls was easily the tightest session of the contest so far as the much talked-about local fans came to the fore.

But Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry defeated Justin Thomas and Cameron Young 2 Up and Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose downed Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau 3&2 to leave Europe on 10½ points and the United States already with a record mountain to climb.

The home side were handed late hope as J.J. Spaun birdied the final two holes to give himself and Xander Schauffele a 1 UP win over Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka but Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton - a late injury replacement for Viktor Hovland - birdied the last for a 1 Up win of their own over Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay.

That left the score at 11½-4½ - a record margin after four sessions since continental Europe entered the fray in 1979 - with Europe needing just 2½ points in the singles to retain the cup while the U.S. need ten to win it.

For Fleetwood, it was the second time he has gone 4-0-0 over the first two days following his debut at Le Golf National, and the first player in the history of the Ryder Cup to do it twice. Meanwhile, McIlroy’s 3½ points so far moved him past José María Olazábal into seventh on Europe’s list of all-time points scorers. He will have the chance to join Seve Ballesteros on 22½ points on Sunday.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Captain Luke Donald of Team Europe acknowledges the crowd on the first tee during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

In contrast, World Number One Scheffler slumped to 0-4-0 to become the first player since 1979 to lose in each of the first four sessions.

“I didn't really imagine this,” said Europe Captain Luke Donald.

“Obviously their job is not done yet but to have this stand in New York with most of the cheers coming from our side is incredible. Just the resiliency and the confidence these guys have in themselves, in their partners, is really, truly incredible."

Bradley may have seen his team register a record low tally of points for four sessions but he remained proud of his 12 men.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry of Team Europe celebrate defeating Justin Thomas and Cameron Young of Team United States 2 Up on the 18th green during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“They fought all day,” he said. “They really did. They fought all the way to the end. Proud of the way they did that.

“Europe has played really, really phenomenal golf but the boys fought. It was a really tough day but they fought hard.”

Europe’s victory in the morning foursomes meant they were the first side from either team to win the first three sessions away from home in the Team Europe era.

It also meant they were in the envious position of knowing they would lead into the Sunday singles, with the only question being the size of their advantage.

With no help from the president and five points down, the home fans could have been forgiven for being subdued but they were the loudest they had been all week on the first tee as they looked to inspire their heroes.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose of Team Europe celebrate on the 16th hole green after defeating Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States, 3&2, during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The atmosphere was quickly quietened by a series of halves, however, and it soon was almost silent as the board turned blue in the top three matches.

Rose hit a stunning approach into the third, Lowry holed a 21-footer on the fourth for eagle and Straka made a birdie from 13 feet at the second.

DeChambeau then levelled match two with one of the shots of the week as he narrowly missed out on an albatross at the fourth, but in the top contest Lowry made another birdie on the fifth after an approach to eight feet.

While the atmosphere was somewhat flat, Lowry and in particular McIlroy were suffering the ire of the home fans, not that Lowry seemed perturbed, making another birdie on the sixth for a half to go eagle-birdie-birdie.

The United States then moved up in match two as DeChambeau and Scheffler both put approaches inside six feet – with the former taking advantage – and got back level in match three thanks to a 40-footer for eagle by Schauffele on the fourth.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Scottie Scheffler of Team United States and teammate Bryson DeChambeau look on while playing the 11th hole during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

The U.S. momentum was maintained as Young holed a 36-footer on the seventh and this time those fans were cheering rather than heckling, as Thomas played his role of hype man to deafening roars.

Rose was playing wonderfully and an approach to seven feet at the seventh levelled up match two before he walked in a 21-footer on the eighth to tun that contest on his head.

Thomas may have been U.S. cheerleader in chief but his contribution with the clubs was also key and after making a clutch par putt on the eighth, he holed a 20-footer for birdie on the ninth to level that match.

The crowd were subdued early on but they were really in it now, although the board was staying stubbornly blue, with Straka holing a 12-footer to win the seventh.

And it stayed that way as Fleetwood – who had not been at his best – put an approach to concession range at the tenth and Rahm birdied the ninth from eight feet.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: J.J. Spaun of Team United States reacts after making a birdie on the 18th hole as he and teammate Xander Schauffele defeated Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka of Team Europe, 1-up, during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Fitzpatrick had missed good chances at the second and fourth as the bottom match started with eight halves but he stuck an approach to eight feet at the ninth and despite the U.S. enjoying moments of magic, Europe were up in three matches.

They were only up by one in each of them, however, thanks to DeChambeau, who birdied the 11th from 12 feet and gave a huge celebration to the crowd who were delirious in their approval, and Spaun who holed a 42-foot monster on the tenth.

DeChambeau’s joy was shortlived when Rose and Fleetwood both put approaches inside seven feet on the 12th, with the latter converting, but putts were starting to be missed elsewhere by both teams as the tension ramped up.

McIlroy had not made a putt of note all session but he holed a nine-footer on the 14th and exploded in celebration to heap the pressure on Thomas, who missed his birdie chance and Europe were up in all four matches.

All four matches were also tight until Fleetwood and Rose hut beautiful shots into the 14th, this time with Rose making the putt before DeChambeau missed his chance to leave that match 3 UP with four to play and it ended on the 16th green.

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Matt Fitzpatrick & Tyrrell Hatton of Europe celebrate on the 18th green with Team Europe Captain Luke Donald & Alex Noren during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

“Watching Justin Rose on the golf course is some of my proudest few hours on the golf course,” said Fleetwood. “I absolutely loved it. So blessed to be by his side today. Absolutely amazing, what a golfer, what a human being, and to get another point on the board for the team, obviously feels massive, and yeah, Justin, I can't speak highly enough about him.”

The bottom match had seen just one hole won all day but when the second came it was the Americans who took it via Burns chipping on the 14th.

The top match had gone all the way to the 18th as Thomas and Young kept battling but Lowry made a birdie and the hosts were already looking at a record comeback on Sunday with two matches still on course.

“We're just so happy that we could get a blue point on the board,” said McIlroy. “It's our first full point as a partnership. We weren't able to get one at Whistling Straits. We got a half yesterday and a full one today.

Just really happy that I'm able to walk inside the ropes with this man, and he was there for me today.”

FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Team United States Captain Keegan Bradley watches on the 13th hole during the Saturday afternoon four-balls matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Black Course at Bethpage State Park Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

The clean sweep looked very much on but Spaun is not the U.S. Open champion for nothing and he hit a tee shot to four feet at the 17th and approach to three a the last to flip that match completely on its head.

Hatton had to make a clutch putt on the 17th to keep that match alive and the U.S. had some late momentum but Hatton and Fitzpatrick’s balls collided as both men put their final approaches inside three feet to hand Europe a third 3-1 session win of the week.

“It was a very tight match,” said Hatton. “Both sides, just weren't holing putts. Really happy with how played under pressure there. Fitzy holed some nice putts in the middle, and then what a shot he's hit in there on the last.

“For us to finish, what is it, four birdies in the last four, amazing.”

Fitzpatrick added: “That was by far one of the best afternoons I've ever had on a golf course, by far, by far. To birdie 15, 16 and 17, I mean, what a man. What a man. And then for us both to hit shots like that into the last one, this is amazing.”