A leaderboard that once was a sea of blue is now taking on a familiar look. This morning turned around the turn, and it's happening again this afternoon.
Rickie Fowler keeps the Big Mo going with a hole out on the 12th to move 2-up on McIlroy/Garcia. McIlroy's face as he walks off the green speaks a thousand words. But here's three. Not good enough.
In short, Mickelson has got it going. That match will go down to the wire, for sure.
And Furyk keeps the foot on the gas with a great tee shot at the short 17th to really apply the pressure on Westwood, who steps into the tee box knowing a match-long lead hangs by a thread.
Furyk holes out for four and he and Kuchar get back to 1-down versus Westwood/Donaldson, who have dominated from the start. The worm is turning again...
The Rose/Stenson defence has finally been breached. After holding a 1-up lead for what seems like an eternity, Hunter Mahan holes a putt and it's back to all square. A good five minutes or so developing for the USA.
Some joy for the US, and some red on the board. Rickie Fowler holes out on the 11th to put them 1-up against McIlroy/Garcia, who are now looking like the lame duck of the European side rather than the stellar pairing.
(Seriously, no official reading has been released)
We have two green speeds in Scotland - wet or dry.
What an effort that was from Johnson. But it's a halve and he and Mahan remain 1-down with five to play.
Justin Rose just about holes another great putt. His putter is the hottest in the entire event, no question. It means Zach Johnson has a chip from the edge of the green to win the hole. This would bring the house down if he holes it...
Lee Westwood with a lengthy putt to win the hole on the 12th. It's not hard enough (I've said that a few times today) and the US will have a putt for the halve.
It won't drop for Fowler and that game remains all square.
Very well executed chip by Garcia at the 10th, a par-3, after McIlroy overshot the green. But it still leaves Rickie Fowler with a putt for the hole after Jimmy Walker's tee shot.
McIlroy/Garcia halve the ninth with Walker/Fowler. It remains all square and is yet to catch fire. Truth is, all four look tired.
Golfing questions that never go away: just how does Jim Furyk make such consistent contact with THAT swing?
If all of the Americans had putted half as well as Rose has today, this would be one of the most one-sided first days in Ryder Cup history.
Justin Rose is making a helluva case for player of the day. His putting is supreme. Another halve secured with another nerveless putt. He and Stenson remain 1-up.
I think it's split. They haven't really gelled at all, but they're both far too valuable to sit.
McIlroy and Garcia are struggling. Garcia drove into the bunker at the ninth, McIlroy attempts to escape and clips the top of the huge face at the front of the trap. Yikes.
Finally, Mickelson locates the centre of the cup from six feet and that keeps him and Bradley 3-down after seven.
Dubuisson, right on cue, holes a lovely putt for par to put the pressure back on Mickelson/Bradley, who have to hole out now. And that hasn't gone too well so far this afternoon.
Dubuisson is having a corker as well of course. Stephen Gallacher, not so much.
Jamie Donaldson holes out confidently to keep him and Westwood 2-up on Furyk/Kuchar. Of the European rookies, he's arguably had the best day.
A European one-two - first McIlroy lands a blow with a terrific putt, then Justin Rose knocks in a pearler as well. Jimmy Walker holes for a hard-earned halve at the eighth in the McIlroy/Garcia match, but the Rose putt keeps Europe 1-up with seven to play against Mahan/Johnson.
Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson - played four, won four.
It's going to be the American talking point, for sure. From a European perspective, a handy dismantling of the Bradley/Mickelson pairing will do the same for team spirit as the defeats of Poulter and McIlroy this morning did for the US.
And thank you for sticking with us - it's been a blast. And there's still a whole lot of drama to come.
Westwood undoes some of that good work by hitting his tee shot at the 13th into the thick rough. Furyk plays nicely down the right of the fairway, the complete opposite to what Westwood did and a much better position.
Great putt by Westwood at the 12th to remain 2-up against Furyk/Kuchar. That was a nerveless hole-out from 10 feet.
U.S. won the 18th hole just once at Medinah. Have already done so twice on opening day of Ryder Cup. espn.go.com/golf/rydercup1…by Bob Harig via twitter 9/26/2014 3:49:57 PM
April 10: Free practice 1