USA CLOSES ON RYDER CUP

UNITED States seized a commanding 11-5 lead over Europe at the Ryder Cup, with the visitors needing a record comeback on the final day to deny the Americans the trophy. The US squad, boasting nine of the world’s 11 topranked players, needs only 3.5 points in the 12 final singles matches at Whistling Straits to reclaim the Ryder Cup while Europe need nine points to keep it. “It’s not over,” said US star Dustin Johnson, the only 4-0 player at this year’s Ryder Cup.

“We’ve still got to go out and everybody needs to play well. We’ve still got to get four points or 3 1/2.”

There was a sense the final day could be a “Wake by the Lake” for Europe on the Lake Michigan shoreline as no team has rallied from more than a 10-6 last-day deficit to capture the Ryder Cup, that coming for Europe in the 2012 “Miracle at Medinah.”