Europe on the brink after chaotic Ryder Cup Saturday in New York

Europe moved to the brink of Ryder Cup victory after a ferocious Saturday at Bethpage Black, building an 11.5-4.5 lead over the United States as spectators created scenes that underscored the event’s wild mix of sport and theater.

Across a day that saw morning foursomes carry Europe 3-1 and evening fourballs again go 3-1, Luke Donald’s players combined relentless pressure with top-tier putting to extend their advantage. Rory McIlroy endured a torrent of taunts from the home crowd, including personal attacks aimed at his marriage, while the atmosphere around the greens grew increasingly tense, with police dogs deployed at some holes late in the afternoon. McIlroy, who had been central to the European effort, kept his focus enough to contribute decisive moments, including a late key putt that shifted momentum in a moment of heightened emotion.

On the course, the Europeans highlighted their depth. Fleetwood and Rahm formed a formidable core, with Fleetwood continuing a perfect record to four wins from four, and Rahm delivering steady, high-impact performances across the weekend. Ian Poulter did not play this year, but the rest of Europe contributed at the highest level, with Tyrrell Hatton accruing three points and a long list of partners contributing to the cause. Ian Rose, at 45 years old, moved well and took two wins from two appearances, reinforcing the veteran core. McIlroy dropped a half-point, while Scottie Scheffler endured the toughest individual stretch in recent Ryder Cup memory, going 0-4 across his four matches as the American table struggled to keep pace with Europe’s putters. The European side used a laser focus at critical moments, with 11 birdies in a 16-hole session marking a rare offensive burst for a format that thrives on pressure and consistency.

The Americans found little relief from the mood on the course, though there were bright spots. Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele snatched a late win on the final hole in one fourballs pairing after being two down at the turn, offering a crumb of solace to a day that otherwise slipped away. The day’s emotional crescendo came at the 14th hole, when McIlroy surged ahead with a 10-foot putt to reclaim a lead and responded with a shout to the crowd that echoed Hazeltine’s infamous moments, underscoring the gravity of the moment for both teams.

Keegan Bradley’s captaincy drew scrutiny as the United States tried to recalibrate amid a storm of noise and mounting losses. In redeploying Harris English and Collin Morikawa for back-to-back foursomes, Bradley faced questions about whether the lineup adjustments helped or hindered the cause. The move produced a predictable 3-and-2 defeat, a result that intensified the debate over whether more preferential mixes should have been used across the four sessions. By contrast, Justin Thomas offered steadier rhythm for the Americans, adding a measure of resilience even as the overall scoreboard tilted decisively toward Europe.

As the night wore on, it was clear that Sunday’s 12 singles matches would determine the Cup’s fate, but the scale of Europe’s lead on the home soil suggested a path to victory that would be difficult, though not impossible, for the United States to overcome. The Europeans entered the final session with a blue tide of confidence, backed by a lineup featuring multiple world-class performers who have carried the momentum through the first two days. The Americans, though frustrated by both results and the atmosphere, remained intent on fighting to the end and preventing a total collapse that would redefine the memory of this edition.

For Europe, the performance underscored the depth and composure of a squad that appears to be peaking at the right time. For the United States, the challenge now shifts to Sunday’s singles, to salvage pride and perhaps mount a late rally that would stun a widely dominant adversary. Either way, Bethpage Black etched another chapter in Ryder Cup history, where the drama of sport collided with the raw intensity of a global match-play battlefield.