US retain lead
- 00:01:23
- ITN
US retain lead
The United States go into the Ryder Cup singles with a two-point lead after battling Europe to a dramatic draw over an extraordinary stretch of closing holes at Valhalla Golf Club on Saturday. But European captain Nick Faldo believes his side has a "great opportunity" to win a fourth straight Ryder Cup after puuting in a battling display on the second day. He said: " There were moments it could have gone either way but the team is really upbeat. We know and believe we have a great opportunity." Both sides won one match with two others halved in the fourballs on Sataurday afternoon to leave the US with a 9-7 lead in a competition that will be decided when all 12 players from each side square off in head-to-head singles matches. The Americans are trying to pry the Cup loose from Europe, who have won the last three meetings and five from the last six. The United States last won the trophy in 1999. Europe sliced a point from the US lead of three in the morning foursomes and were in position to draw even closer in a final series of holes of agonising pressure. Dramatic moments on the greens had putts roll tantalisingly over edges, die just short, lip around and out, and once fall in after spinning 360-degrees around the hole. In the end, Europe's Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell beat Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk 1-up to neutralise Boo Weekley and JB Holmes' earlier 2 and 1 win against Lee Westwood and Soren Hansen. Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey halved with Americans Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis, whose compatriots Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan also finished all square against Swedes Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson.
ITN | September 21, 2008
