U.S. takes big advantage

Americans lead Europe, 11-5

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — The pressure and drama so typical of the Ryder Cup finally arrived on Saturday, with one big difference. The suspense was whether Europe could try to make a game of it.

The Americans held their own over the final hour as Dustin Johnson completed a perfect week of team play and Scottie Scheffler delivered the biggest putt of his young career.

That staked them to an 11-5 lead, their largest ever against Europe and their biggest in the Ryder Cup since 1975.

No one has ever come back from more than a four-point deficit in Ryder Cup history. That’s the order facing Europe, which has yet to win a session at Whistling Straits.

The Europeans tried, getting another big win from Jon Rahm and a clutch moment from Shane Lowry, who holed a 10-foot par putt on the 18th green and was pumping his arms so furiously in celebration that he finally dropped his putter on the ground.

So much was as stake. So little was gained.

“We’re not in a good position and it’s going to take a beyond monumental effort,” said Ian Poulter, who has failed to deliver a point in two matches. “So we need a couple of miracles.”

“We’re out there fighting as hard as we can,” Lowry said.

The Americans routed Europe again in foursomes Saturday morning — a third straight 3-1 margin — to build a 9-3 lead. And while Europe was ahead in three of the afternoon fourballs, Scheffler’s 15-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole and his nifty upand-down for birdie on the next hole carried him and Bryson DeChambeau to victory in the final match on the course.

Next up is the final session of 12 singles matches, historically an American strength. They need to reach 14 1/2 points to win back that gold trophy.

“I think we have a lot of guys on this team that really hate losing, and so individual matches tomorrow, I think guys are going to be fired up and ready to play,” Scheffler said. “Hopefully, finish this thing off.”

The U.S. team led 12 1/2-3 1/2 going into Sunday in 1975 when it played against only Britain and Ireland.

GETTY IMAGES COMING THROUGH: Bryson DeChambeau, left, and Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. celebrate on the 15th green during Saturday afternoon fourball matches of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisc.