Europe’s Ryder Cup team were rallying behind flag-bearer Ian Poulter ahead of Sunday’s closing Ryder Cup singles as they targeted a historic come-from-behind win.
Never before has a European team rebounded from a 10-6 deficit at the end of the second day to win the trophy, but morale was given a timely boost when they won the final two fourballs in the gathering gloom at Medinah Country Club on Saturday evening.
The final action of the day came from Ryder Cup firebrand Poulter, who downed a 15-footer at 18 to ensure he and world No 1 Rory McIlroy held on to defeat Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.
Poulter closed with an incredible five straight birdies as McIlroy was reduced to the role of a casual observer.
That win made it three out three for Poulter, half of the European total and once again underlined his passion and drive for matchplay and the Ryder Cup in particular.
A wild card pick for the second time, the 36-year-old Englishman has hammered out one of the finest Ryder Cup records of all time with 11 wins and just three losses in four appearances.