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Sergio García in his first foursome on Saturday morning
Photo:
Charlie Neibergall / AP
The US golfers are on the verge of a clear triumph at the 43rd Ryder Cup.
After two days, Team USA is 11: 5 ahead of the European selection in the prestigious continental comparison on the Whistling Straits Golf Course in the US state of Wisconsin.
On Saturday morning, in front of around 40,000 enthusiastic fans on the golf course on the shores of Lake Michigan, the US stars won three of the four team duels with another gala performance and increased their lead to 9: 3.
The four afternoon matches ended 2-2.
On Sunday, US captain Steve Stricker’s team only needed 3.5 points from the final twelve individual matches to recapture the Ryder Cup.
The Europeans, on the other hand, still need nine points to defend their title.
With a 14:14 the team from Europe would be allowed to keep the trophy.
Miracles are happening from time to time?
This means that the starting position for the Europeans before the final day is a little worse than nine years ago at the Ryder Cup in Medinah.
In 2012 they were apparently hopelessly behind the twelve individual matches with 6:10.
But on the last day the Europeans surpassed themselves.
In the end, Germany's golf star Martin Kaymer made the "Miracle of Medinah" a 14.5: 13.5 success with his winning putt.
Kaymer is back as vice-captain of the European team, but the 36-year-old is not at the start as a player due to a persistent form crisis.
"It's still possible," said Captain Padraig Harrington, looking ahead to the record comeback that is now needed.
“You just have to go out there and win your own game.
You have to focus on it and not look at the big picture. "
In any case, on Saturday morning, Team Europe was not yet able to start the big race to catch up.
Captain Harrington did without his hapless star Rory McIlroy that morning.
The Northern Irishman was not nominated for a session for the first time in his Ryder Cup career after the four-time major winner lost both games on the opening day.
In the afternoon McIlroy was there again, but suffered another defeat with his partner Ian Poulter.
"It is of course disappointing that I have not yet been able to contribute a point for the team," said the so far McIlroy later.
"Hopefully we can get up again and make her sweat tomorrow afternoon."
Garcia builds his own record
Only the Spanish duo of Olympic champion Jon Rahm and Ryder Cup record man Sergio García, who won their three games together, could really convince the Europeans.
With the victory on Saturday morning against Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger, García had already made history: It was the 24th match win for the 41-year-old in his tenth Ryder Cup participation.
With the further success in the afternoon against Koepka and Jordan Spieth Garcia extended his record to 25 wins.
No other player has won more victories in the history of the competition.
In addition, the Spaniard improved his own point record to 28.5.
Also a Ryder Cup record.
sak / dpa