Rory McIlroy faces Sam Burns and Justin Rose against Patrick Cantlay, whose dramatic four-ball victory sparked heated debate on day two; Watch Sunday’s singles live from 9am on Sky Sports Golf at 10.35am
By Ali Stafford in Rome
22:35, UK, Saturday 30 September 2023
Masters champion John Rahm will lead Europe in Sunday’s singles as he faces world No.1 Scotty Scheffler in the opening match, while Rory McIlroy plays Sam Burns on the final day in Rome.
Rahm is unbeaten in his three matches so far, winning two and drawing the other, while Scheffler will be looking to bounce back from a tear after a 9&7 loss – the biggest in Ryder Cup history – during Friday’s foursomes.
It was the first time McIlroy had not been out of the opener since 2014, when the four-time major winner pulled out at 11.11am BST instead of playing Burns in the fourth, while Victor Hovland – who caused Scheffler’s humiliating defeat on Friday morning. Facing two-time major champion Colin Morikawa.
Watch some of Team Europe’s best shots during Saturday’s four-ball session at the Ryder Cup in Rome.
Europe leads the Marco Simone GC singles 10.5-5.5 and needs four more points to reclaim the trophy, while Team USA must pull off the biggest final-day comeback in Ryder Cup history if it is to complete 30 years. Drought in the soil.
Patrick Cantlay was involved in a heated dispute with McIlroy on the 18th green and car park after their dramatic final-hole four-ball victory, playing Justin Rose in the third match of the day.
Team Europe captain Luke Donald weighed in on the cap drama that emerged on the 18th and insisted players should not be paid to play in the Ryder Cup.
Matt Fitzpatrick takes on Max Homa and Tyrell Hutton takes on Brian Harman, while rookie Ludwig Aberg plays Brooks Koepka and Seb Straka plays Justin Thomas.
Nicolai Hojgaard faces Xander Schauffele, who opened for America on the final day of his record-breaking win at the Whistling Straits in 2021, while Shane Lowry comes up against Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood is drawn with Rickie Fowler.
A furious Rory McIlroy confronted Team USA caddy Jim 'Bones’ Mackay in the post-round in the car park after an incident on the 18th hole.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre takes on US Open champion Wyndham Clarke in the day’s final, Europe’s seventh consecutive biennial victory at pole position on home soil.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir looks at the stories surrounding Patrick Cantlay and why Day Two has led to high tensions between the two teams.
Sunday Singles (all times PST)
1035 Jon Rahm (Esp) vs Scotty Scheffler
Scotty Scheffler and Brooks Koepka were defeated 9&7 by Viktor Hovland and Ludwig Aberg in Saturday’s foursome at the Ryder Cup in Rome, losing the tournament.
1047 Victor Hovland (NOR) vs Colin Morikawa
1059 Justin Rose (England) vs Patrick Cantlay
1111 Rory McIlroy (NIRL) vs Sam Burns
Team USA’s Sam Burns finished 4&3 with partner Colin Morikawa inside the 15th hole and the team hopes to rebuild the Ryder Cup.
1123 Matt Fitzpatrick (England) vs Max Homa
1135 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng) vs Brian Harman
1147 Ludwig Aberg (Sway) vs. Brooks Koepka
1159 Sep Straka (ad) vs Justin Thomas
Nicolas Colzerts hit the Ryder Cup crowd on the first tee two days earlier at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.
1211 Nicolai Hojgaard (Den) vs Xander Schauffele
1223 Shane Lowry (IRL) vs. Jordan Spieth
1235 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) vs Rickie Fowler
Watch Europe’s struggles during Saturday’s four-ball at the Ryder Cup.
1247 Robert MacIntyre (Sco) vs Wyndham Clarke
Can America rise from the ruins of Rome?
Team USA overcame a 10-6 deficit in Brooklyn in 1999 and Europe fought back to win the 'Miracle at Medina’ in 2012, the biggest final day of the Ryder Cup by four points. A historic Sunday must be produced to retain or reclaim the trophy.
European captain Luke Donald: „Listen, we’re in a great position, five points up in the singles at home. I like where we’re at.
Luke Donald discusses Group Europe’s success so far, looks at the selection of the day’s pairings and the discontent in the USA camp.
„I love the feeling in the locker room. Patrick [Cantlay] Obviously made some great putts and flipped that match at the end, but, to be honest, we’ve got a lot of momentum going our way, so we’re in good shape.”
US Captain Zach Johnson: “A tall task [to win], but these are a welcome and created task. So, I can’t wait for tomorrow. We have 12 people; We have 12 points [to play for]. I believe every person in my team can win a point.”
Watch the Ryder Cup live this week on Sky Sports! Live coverage of the singles starts at 9am on Sunday, with a first tee time of 10.35am. Stream Ryder Cup And now for £21 a month for six months.
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