Ryder Cup News: Dominant USA team on the verge of victory

Mickelson and Bradley were the stars on Saturday

USA have built up a big lead in Chicago and Europe's hopes of retaining the Ryder Cup are all but over says Mike Norman...

USA 10 1.162/13, Europe 6 10.5n/a, Tie 20.019/1

Team USA are just four and a half points away from winning the Ryder Cup after another dominant day in Chicago, thanks in large to a putting master class.

Leading 5-3 overnight USA captain Davis Love III went into Saturday morning's foursomes without the out-of-form pairing of Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods, and his decision was fully justified thanks to a 3-1 session victory.

Stars of the morning were Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson, who demolished England's two best players Lee Westwood and Luke Donald 7 & 6. Bradley was sensational on the Medinah Country Club greens, holing almost every putt he had a look at.

There were also victories for Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson over Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia (2 & 1) and Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker over the lacklustre pairing of Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (1 up).

As good as USA were - and yes they were outstanding - Europe were extremely disappointing. Donald and Westwood were over par for their rounds, whilst McDowell and McIlroy - the number one player in the world remember - failed to make a single birdie until four holes from home.

The glimmer of light for Jose Maria Olazabal was the pairing of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter who defeated Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson (1 up) to avoid the session whitewash.

Ironically it was Watson and Simpson who earned USA's first point from the afternoon fourballs, beating Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose 5 & 4 thanks to an incredible putting display from the US Open champion. At one point, the European pair made three birdies in four holes yet they went from being two down to three down thanks to Simpson's sensational putting display.

The other afternoon fourballs were closely-fought affairs but nothing summed up this Ryder Cup more than what happened on the 17th green in the Dustin Johnson/Matt Kuchar v Paul Lawrie/Colsaerts match. With the match all square, all four players found the green with their tee shots; Lawrie's long putt missed, Colsaerts' 30-footer slid an inch past the hole, but Johnson's slick 25-foot down hill putt found the bottom of the cup.

It was a huge blow to the European team, but illustrated perfectly how brilliant the Americans have been on the greens. Team USA won the match one up.

In the last two matches it was good news for Europe, Donald/Garcia hanging on grimly to condemn Woods/Stricker to their third successive defeat, whilst Poulter/McIlroy birdied the last five holes to beat Dufner/Z.Johnson.

USA are now as short as 1.162/13 to win the Ryder Cup but if you don't want to get involved at those prohibitive odds then we still have a plethora of In-Play markets for you to consider. And tomorrow we'll be In-Play on all 12 Singles, as well as having a Day 3 Correct Score market.