Day 3 Golf: Ryder Cup

Look at these enormous gatherings all the way down the fairway. They

are ten, 20, 30 deep. It is remarkable. Who will decide the

outcome of this contest between Europe and United States of America?

Don't you just love this? This is Sunday, and the Ryder Cup.

But a stage, poised for more court shots, yards of parts made and

missed and heart pounding drama, particularly for the two captains,

Paul McGinley and Tom Watson. Europe are strong favourites. If the US is

to avoid an eighth defeat in ten Ryder cups, they will have to match

the biggest final day comeback in history. It has been done before by

the US in 1999 and by Europe away from home at Medinah last time. But

can lightning strike twice again, and so quickly? Gleneagles held its

breath as young Jordan Spieth stepped up.

Only 21 years of age, and what a brilliant start he has made to his

career. Very good nerve. Safely down the

fairway. This could be a cracking game. Representing Europe, Graeme

McDowell. APPLAUSE. Wonderful applause for the hapless

McDowell. Not had the best of seasons, but here we go. -- for the

hat less McDowell. HAZEL IRVINE: the United States

needs to garner a half points from these 12 matches to win back the

Cup. It is a very tall order and to that end, Tom Watson has put some of

his strong stand most inform layers out first. -- players.

One by one, the players made their way to the first tee, each of them

dealing with the unique pressures of this contest in their own way. Bubba

Watson was whipping up the crowd. This is where we join the action.

Less join Peter Ellis, Ken Brown and Mark James.

He has played a good one. Two of the greats of golf, captain Watson on

the left, Jack Nicklaus on the right. Jack, of course, we designed

this golf course they are playing today. -- redesigned it. This to win

the hole. First blood to the United States.

Second shot at the 2nd, par-5. Is an after a magnificent drive absolutely

crushed it. Absolutely superb. Mahan, rose in the bunker. A chance

to put this close. A deep iron. That is a fine shot. Absolutely beautiful

from Mahan. If he misses this, it is pretty much

all over. He missed it fairly easily. Stenson will go one up in

match two. Match one, third green. This four par for McDowell. A chance

for America to go two up in this match. 234 yards McIlroy.

An absolute corker. Perfect distance.

The US one up. This isn't really the start the Europeans wanted. But it

is early days, of course, of course. Spieth did not waste much time. In

she goes. Hunter may hand, Justin Rose in a

greenside bunker. Going for the green in two. -- Hunter Mahan macro.

That did very well. His opponent has gone from bunker to

bunker. Rory has got that look in his eye today.

CHEERING A little skinny. A bad mistake from

Rose. The 39-year-old Ryder Cup rookie.

This would give him the perfect start. Unlucky. It was not about

putt. -- not a bad putt. A good effort.

APPLAUSE A happy Bubba Watson. He loves all

this. Ladies and gentlemen, this is match

number six, the team representing the United States of America, Bubba

Watson. CHEERING

He wants the noise. He loves it. This fellow is a modern golfing

genius. I don't know how he does it. Then I do not know how Willie Nelson

can sing but they both get the job done remarkably well. Just watch

this action, the footwork, the swing, everything is wrong. That was

not a bad swing. That was one of his good ones. And a magnificent tee

shot. He is enormous fun to watch. Huge talent.

He wins that comfortably. Two up, played two, won two. On the tee

representing Europe, Martin Kaymer. CHEERING

Martin Kaymer has not been at his best for the last few days. There is

scrappy stuff. CHEERING

Superb. Rickie Fowler's attempt to save par

at the 3rd. This will be another hole to McIlroy. Three up after

three. Another concession. McIlroy is striding ahead, three up after

three, up against the young Tiger, Fowler.

He gouged it out with a hook. Good shot.

Martin Kaymer at the 1st. Bubba was already on the green. Not too bad

for Kaymer. This is a very important putt for

McDowell. He has got away to a very shaky start. Spieth will only have

had one birdie. Not great scoring. This to win the hole. A lovely

stroke, good role. Yes, your beauty! Well done, Stephen

Gallacher. That will get him going. Martin Kaymer. What a lovely start.

Just what he needed. He has been ragged over the last couple of

days. But when he is in full flow, he really is very good.

McIlroy, second to the fifth. An inviting target. So far, he has

struck the ball majestically. Always balanced. That looks good. He is

following it, I it up. It looks as if he is in one of those moods

today. Stenson has opened the door a

fraction. That was right at it. A lovely shot from Patrick Reed. An

absolute beauty. McIlroy after that beautiful second.

This for a win. He is in one of those moods, I tell you!

Did you see how far it went down the green? That was almost a total

miscue. Rose, match four against Mahan. Currently two down. He has

got to hole this one. Well done! Stenson with this for a par-3. No.

That will be a win, Patrick Reed gets the match back to all square.

14.5 points needed to win the Ryder Cup. 14 will tie. McIlroy at the

6th. The second of the par-3s. He is at it again, I fancy, if he has got

the right club. And he has. There is nothing finer than this young man in

full flow. Early days, lots more holes to go, but he is going for it.

He has got a rhythm and a temper and is lovely to watch.

Rickie Fowler must feel like a 7 or eight handicapper at the moment

against McIlroy. He needs some good luck but that was not it. McIlroy

will have a chance to go five up. It is hardly a day for ice cream. Yes,

it is you! CHEERING

I thought he had that look in his eyes.

Fifth green and Hunter Mahan. He wins the hole. He goes three up.

Some glorious golf being played. Birdie attempt from Henrik Stenson.

Yes, you beauty. That puts the pressure right back on Patrick Reed.

This for a half at the 7th for Patrick Reed. Well done.

He has not come to play, he has come to win. It is a bit quieter up here

by the clubhouse! A steady start. Up over a little cape in the green

for Bubba Watson. Bubba goes one down against Martin

Kaymer at number five. This is exciting stuff. Craig Connelly

getting the crowd going. Matt Kuchar at the 2nd. United

States go one up after two holes. He has always got that smile as if to

say I have got some chewing gum in my pocket and I am not sharing it

with you. Every time we see Hunter Mahan, he has got a putt to win the

hole and this is another chance. Rose is going to have to dig deep.

Fairly even Stevens. The Americans with a slight advantage.

I caught Stephen Gallacher outside the hotel this morning chatting to

Alex Salmond, the Scottish First Minister.

This is Martin Kaymer, the German open champion. He is playing Bubba

Watson. There is not a whole heap in it.

Some great matches at the bottom to come.

That was an exact replica of Stephen Gallacher's putt. Simpson goes one

art after one. -- one up. He is in. Read birdies six, seven

and eight and moves one up. He has got it. Yes, a birdie for

Mickelson. Back to all square. A lovely angle on the flag. If he

had marring it? Yes, he is will stop -- is he added my ring it.

Foul on the fairway, yet to play. -- Rickie Fowler on the fairway.

He is making a bit of a Cilic of fish of this one.

McIlroy is giving Fowler a glimmer of hope in this match. A solid shot

from Rickie Fowler. That was an absolute cracker. It

must have come in from a mighty height. Bjorn at the 3rd.

No heroics, trickle it down and almost close enough. Conceded. All

square. Well done. Mahan 5-under par. Rose

right up against it. The third at nine for Jordan Spieth. Here the two

and therefore three. Beautiful shot. He finds the bottom of the Cup, wins

the hole and goes three up against Bubba Watson.

A chance gone. McIlroy chipped it close, stays four up. Graeme

McDowell knows what he has to do. He has pitched it delightfully

close. Terrific stuff. Really marvellous golf. He just thrives on

this, he loves it. The Americans are fighting back, big

time here. Oh, sit down! That was a bit of a gift.

A lovely birdie four. Here's a confidence player. -- he is a

confidence player. Big advantage to Stenson on this

one. Ruthless from Kaymer. He is

following Rory McIlroy's lead. Well done. A fightback from Rose.

Birdie birdie. Ooh, my goodness! Look at the spring

in their step for Graeme McDowell. That little boost, just what he

needed. Well done for Stenson. Match all

square. The match is all square. Well, it has been a big five minutes

in this match. There is a buzz from behind the tee.

Oh, you little gemstone, you! Pretty good. Better than pretty

good. Spieth and his caddy have worked out

a plan. A pretty good plan, too. What can you say? Except well done.

6-under for nine holes is not too shabby.

Remarkable. Fowler played the whole are much more conventional way.

What a delightful putt. So the Americans are just one up. Gutsy,

very gutsy. Is it bunker bound all water bound?

On to the bank, and... Back to the eighth.

The match is all square now. Nicely done. From the angle he was coming

in from, he did it easily. Since you, Sir, since you! Tell you

what, those are two bobby dazzlers there.

That was a lovely birdie. He goes one up against Stenson.

He played that as if it was a stinker. When you play in Ryder Cup

singles, it is delightful if someone gives you