Reed all about it: America leads Ryder Cup by 3 with one day left

CHASKA, Minn. — Patrick Reed, the feisty Texan who gets as amped as it comes in team golf, made six birdies and one crowd-pleasing holeout eagle in his match paired with Jordan Spieth to defeat Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson 2 and 1 in the four-ball session at Hazeltine National. The clutch performance was part of a red afternoon for the Americans, winning three of four matches to take a 9.5-6.5 lead into today’s singles finals.

Rose and Stenson had a 1-up lead after four holes before Reed evened the match with a birdie. Then on the par-5 sixth Reed turned the match with one swing. His third shot from 90 yards away landed behind the hole and spun back into the cup for an eagle that shook Hazeltine’s perfectly manicured grounds.

Reed looked unstoppable after that, sticking approach shots close and brushing in putts as if he was casually playing a five-dollar Nassau — not with the eyes of the golf world on his ear-popping shots and loud “C’mon!” shouts.

Rose and Stenson didn’t go away quietly; Rose, the Olympic gold medalist this summer, chipped in twice to keep this international competition close.

Europe picked up its lone point of the afternoon session when the red-hot duo of Rory McIlroy and Thomas Pieters took down Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson 3 and 1. McIlroy, who dealt with rude fans throughout his match and saw one get ejected after shouting a vulgar suggestion his way, didn’t have his best match. But Pieters picked him up.

“The more they shouted, the better we played,” McIlroy said. “I hope they shout at us all day (today).”

McIlroy and Pieters won both their matches with some flair before huge crowds that cheered them only when they made mistakes.

Lee Westwood, making his 11th Ryder Cup appearance for Europe, watched a point slip off the board thanks to the blade of his putter. Westwood missed putts from inside 5 feet on the last four holes to lose his match paired with Danny Willett 1-up to J.B. Holmes and Ryan Moore.

In perhaps the most surprising match of the afternoon, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar took a 1-up lead on Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer on the third hole and lever let go, winning 2 and 1. Kuchar did not play in the morning session and Mickelson, paired with Rickie Fowler, looked anything but steady in a convincing 4 and 2 loss to McIlroy and Pieters.