Rickie Fowler gets a hole back against McIlroy at the seventh. He's now only 4-down. Only.
Reed hits a stonker into the eighth green. He's a little ruddy in the cheeks right now.
Hunter Mahan destroying Justin Rose - he's 4-up after six. That's just brilliant golf to get to that stage.
McDowell holes his putt and remains 3-down after eight.
The media tent at Gleneagles is some 100 yards from the first tee - and all we can hear is chants of "Ole!" and "Europe!" Some great songs to be heard out there - best was Victor Dubuisson's name sung to the tune of KC and the Sunshine Band's Give It Up.
Matt Kuchar to go 1-up on Thomas Bjorn at the second - and he holes it. A good five minutes developing for the USA.
He doesn't. Great putt. McDowell's putt is now for a halve.
Birdie putt for Spieth at the eighth. If he misses, it's a chance for McDowell.
He can't and Rickie Fowler might have a little chance, at last.
McIlroy doesn't really have a shot from where he is at the seventh - a small tree is in his way and hitting the green looks fanciful.
McDowell is trying desperately to get into the match against Spieth - but his best is only matching the young American.
Patrick Reed ... Jeff Overton at the Celtic Manor anyone?
Bubba loses the third and is 1-down to Kaymer.
He holds a finger to his lips after holing it, then starts yelling at the gallery. Think it's all got to the flammable American. Not really what we want to see in a match that's been played in very good spirit.
Patrick Reed holes a cracker for a halve at the seventh and then gets into it with the crowd. That's not good form.
Jim Furyk holes a terrific putt at the first and is 1-up on Sergio Garcia after one hole.
Super putt from Hunter Mahan, who is arguably playing the best golf for America so far. He's 3-up on Justin Rose.
Morning everyone. And hello from a colourful Gleneagles. Just in from the first tee. How do I describe it? I can't, really. There is nothing else like it in sport - certainly that I've experienced. The first tee grandstand - capacity 2,500 - was jam-packed THREE HOURS before the first tee-time. And not a single minute of silence.
Bubba in the bunker at the third off the tee, and he's hit the face coming out. He could be losing that one after that.
McIlroy is human. He's found the rough off the tee at the seventh.
Patrick Reed hits a great approach to the seventh - he's picking up pace against Henrik Stenson in a match that is all square.
Thomas Bjorn and Matt Kuchar halve the first in Match 7.
Rory is 6-under through six, and 5-up. That's just untouchable.
This is ridiculous. That wasn't an easy putt and it's dead centre the whole way. Rory McIlroy, take a bow.
Great effort from Fowler to stop the rot against McIlroy. His pitch lips out and looked in for a moment. McIlroy will need to hole out for the win.
Hunter Mahan hits a fine iron into the fifth green - he's playing very steadily against Justin Rose.
Spieth is human. He misses his putt at the seventh. That's a relief for McDowell, who still trails by three holes.
Rickie Fowler is crumbling under the McIlroy pressure. He's underclubbed enormously at the sixth and is going to lose that one, too. Yikes.
It's just not happening for McDowell - Spieth will have a putt for another win to go 4-up in the first match.
Rory McIlroy has played some unbelievable golf this year - this might be his best six holes yet. He's flushing everything. It's majestic.
Stephen Gallacher remains 1-up through three against Phil Mickelson and is playing regulation golf - fairway, green, putt. Hard to beat that in matchplay.
Jordan Spieth is playing very nicely indeed and looks good for the point against Graeme McDowell's struggling putter.
Stenson misses his par putt and conceded Reed's birdie putt. That match is back to all square.
Mahan secures a halve against Rose and remains 2-up.
Stenson looks like he's going to be pegged back to all square having not hit his chip hard enough at the sixth.
Justin Rose finally holes a putt and stops the rot against Hunter Mahan. That was needed and he's geeing himself up off the back of that.
McIlroy with a putt to go 4-up. He nails it, of course. What an absolute mauling this is, of America's best young hope, too.
Patrick Reed hits a great tee shot at the par-3 sixth. He needs to spark something and that's one way to do it.
Worth pointing out neither of those players have hit a shot in anger since Friday. Only three rounds between them in the first two days.
Gallacher off next against Phil Mickelson - no big deal...
Fowler drills his birdie putt past the hole, and McIlroy has two for it and a two-hole lead.
Spieth for the hole at the third - never a doubt. 2-up after three.
Rickie Fowler in the rough at the second with his third shot, and he's about equidistant with McIlroy having played a shot more.
The crowd just sung 'Flower of Scotland' for Stephen Gallacher. Now they are chanting for him to do a dance! Good luck Stevieby Gleneagleshotel via twitter 9/28/2014 11:23:20 AM
April 10: Free practice 1